Dedicated to protecting a unique place on earth

It's been named one of the last great places worldwide by the Nature Conservancy and, last week, nearly 100 citizens came out to support protections for the unique Pocono Plateau of northeastern Pennsylvania.

Community groups and residents attended the April 23 Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) public hearing in Thornhurst Twp. to provide input on how to protect pristine waterways, wetlands, and habitats impacted by a planned electric transmission line. The hearing addressed the proposed PPL West Pocono-North Pocono 230kV line in Buck Township, Luzerne County and Thornhurst, Clifton and Covington townships, Lackawanna County as detailed in March 2015 in this blog space.

The proposed right-of-way for this project is twenty miles long and covers an area of approximately 296 acres in an area with at least thirty-four (34) perennial or intermittent streams and thirty-three (33) wetlands, the latter covering more than twenty-four (24) acres. A theme echoed by many of the sixteen speakers was the at-risk special features of these Exceptional Value (EV) streams and wetlands, and the importance of their habitat for native wildlife like otters, wild trout, deer, foxes, and an entire interdependent ecosystem enjoyed by countless Pennsylvanians. Among the potential negative impacts are loss of nesting and spawning sites, introduction of invasive species, toxic herbicide use, and water pollution during construction as well as in the permanent right-of-way clearing.

Area township elected officials, land trusts, conservation and angler organizations, and community residents were among presenters who provided thoughtful testimony asking DEP for specific improvements to conditions set in three environmental permit applications. North Pocono CARE's president and members, along with PennFuture staff attorney Mike Helbing, also testified. PennFuture and many speakers strongly urged DEP to set permit conditions that would give the highest level of protection to the region -- and limit the damage for humans and habitat in this special place.

If you have input on the environmental impact of the plans, please add your voice: DEP will accept written comments up until Thursday, May 7, 2015. Comments should be limited to the West Pocono-North Pocono 230 kV Transmission Line Permits #E40-761, E35-456 and PAI023514002. Please visit our page on this topic for the full permit applications.

Comments can be sent to: coconnolly@pa.gov or: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Wetlands and Waterways Program, 2 Public Square Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701-1915 attn.: Colleen Connolly re: West Pocono-North Pocono 230 kV Transmission Line Permits #E40-761, E35-456 and PAI023514002

Kate Gibbons is northeast Pennsylvania outreach coordinator for PennFuture and is based in Wilkes-Barre.

Guest post: Speak out on protecting exceptional streams in NE PA

Note: This week, we have a guest blog post from Barbara "Bonnie" Smith, president of the watershed protection group North Pocono CARE (Citizens Alert Regarding the Environment) and member of PennFuture's board of directors. NP CARE is working to protect over 20 Exceptional Value (EV) streams in the Lehigh River headwaters affected by a planned transmission line. PennFuture recently submitted technical comments on this project.

Thanks to the efforts of many local citizens and the Thornhurst Township Board of Supervisors, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has scheduled a public hearing as part of DEP's review of the PPL permit applications. The hearing is on the proposed PPL West Pocono-North Pocono 230kV electric transmission line in Buck Township, Luzerne County and Thornhurst, Clifton and Covington townships, Lackawanna County. This section of the line has an extraordinary number of exceptional value (EV) stream crossings and EV wetland crossings in its 21-mile length, all of which are highly sensitive to pollution. These permits -- NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) Permit (PAI023514002) and Water Obstruction and Encroachment Permits (E40-761and E35-456) -- address water and wetland protection issues that are so important to maintaining the health of our Lehigh River and its tributaries. This is our opportunity to provide comments.

Sand Spring Creek

We encourage all those who hike, fish, live alongside, and enjoy these streams and forests to attend and pre-register to speak at the hearing.

Details: DEP public hearing, Thursday, April 23, 2015, 6:00 p.m.
Thornhurst Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company, 351 Old River Road (formerly 125 River Rd.), Thornhurst, Lackawanna County

Keep in mind that the parameters of DEP's review are limited to environmental issues, and comments will be most actionable in setting permit conditions if they fall under the following areas:
•    Impacts on water quality - polluting streams, wetlands and the Lehigh River
•    Concern about forest destruction and fragmentation
•    Vehicles and equipment introducing invasive species into our woodlands and waters
•    Herbicide use that would be harmful to streams and wetlands

Please save the date and make plans to add your voice. Many thanks, Bonnie Smith, President, North Pocono CARE (Citizens Alert Regarding the Environment).