NJ authority helping to develop trash-to-gas technology

Concerns about decreasing space, strict environmental regulations and how to handle trash disposal in the coming decades have the Atlantic County Utilities Authority looking at technology that would be the first of its kind in New Jersey.

On paper, the system is simple: Take household waste with the recyclables removed and apply heat at temperatures between 3,000 and 5,000 degrees.

The resulting material is a combination of gases that can be used to power steam turbines and a glass-like slag that can be used in construction. The leftover solid material is 5 percent of the original volume.

Read the full story in today's issue of  EnviroPolitics. Sign up now and you'll also get a free, no-obligation, 30-day trial subscription that will provide you with the top environmental and political news every business day in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York and Delaware. Plus regulations and legislation, too! 

Our most recent posts:
PA lawmaker's bill requires schools to recycle textbooks
Final hearings today on DRBC gas drilling

Troubling signs for PA shale gas drilling opponents?
Roll over Marcellus, the Utica is tomorrow's gas news
Suppressing the acidic damage from coal mine drainage

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Upcoming environmental events in NJ, PA, DE & NY

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 Check our our updated:

Environmental Events Calendar - Feb. 26, 2011

While you're on the site, be sure to:

 

• Use our easy form to sign up for free email alerts
  We'll let you know when new events are added.

                               -OR-

• Use the RSS form to add the calendar to your reader. 

Planning an event?  Send your information to: editor@enviropolitics.com
We'll post it for FREE to help boost your attendance.    

HINT: Follow our style to guarantee that your event gets posted.

Please tell your friends and associates about Enviro-Events Calendar.

Our most recent posts:
PA lawmaker's bill requires schools to recycle textbooks
Final hearings today on DRBC gas drilling rules

Troubling signs for PA shale gas drilling opponents?
Roll over Marcellus, the Utica is tomorrow's gas news
Suppressing the acidic damage from coal mine drainage

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PA lawmaker's bill requires schools to recycle textbooks

Photo: Times Union

Pennsylvania State Senator John Yudichak, a Democrat who represents parts of Carbon, Luzerne and Monroe counties, wants to be sure that schools are recycling--rather than just discarding--old textbooks. 

So he's introduced a bill, SB 624, that requires "public and nonpublic primary and secondary schools and institutions of the State System of Higher Education to use certified textbook recycling facilities for the collection and recycling of textbooks and other books that are to be discarded."

The legislation authorizes the state Department of General Services to set up regulations for the program and to enter into three-year contracts with facilities that recycle textbooks. To qualify, the  facilities must agree not to dispose of the books in landfills or incinerators, must compensate the schools for costs incurred in storing and shipping the books, and meet other requirements. 

What do you think?

Is this good legislation?  Is it necessary?  Is it workable?  

Share your opinion in the comment box below this post.

Our most recent posts:
Final hearings today on DRBC gas drilling rules

Troubling signs for PA shale gas drilling opponents?
Roll over Marcellus, the Utica is tomorrow's gas news
Suppressing the acidic damage from coal mine drainage
New Jersey Environmental Legislation - Feb 16, 2011
Pennsylvania Environmental Legislation - Feb 16 2011

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Final hearings today on DRBC gas drilling rules

 Photo:Keith R. Stevenson/Pocono Record

The Delaware River Basin Commission's proposed rules to regulate the location and operation of natural gas drilling operations in the basin are generating plenty of public comment, much of it reportedly critical, from both the pro-drilling and anti-drilling sides of the controversial issue.

The commission completes its public hearings with separate afternoon and evening sessions today at Trenton's War Memorial Building. Previous hearing were held on in Honesdale, Pa.and in Liberty, N.Y.

For more information on today's hearings, check out our Enviro-Events Calendar. 

The DRBC is a federal-interstate compact agency charged with managing the water resources of the Delaware Basin without regard to political boundaries. Its commissioners are the governors of the four basin states – Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania – and a federal representative, the North Atlantic Division Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Related:
DRBC gas regs not popular, on either side of the of natural gas drilling debate
Natural gas hearings draw huge crowds; most critical of proposed DRBC regs
Gas fuels controversy at hearing on proposed drilling regulations

Our most recent posts:
Troubling signs for PA shale gas drilling opponents?
Roll over Marcellus, the Utica is tomorrow's gas news
Suppressing the acidic damage from coal mine drainage
New Jersey Environmental Legislation - Feb 16, 2011
Pennsylvania Environmental Legislation - Feb 16 2011

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Troubling signs for PA shale gas drilling opponents?

Many environmentalists worry that Pennsylvania's new Republican Gov. Tom Corbett may be eager to help out his friends in the gas industry who pumped barrels of money into his election campaign. They won't be any less fretful today after reading a post in John Micek's Capitol Ideas.

The Morning Call's state house reporter notes that the Corbett Administration has dropped a Rendell-era policy mandating economic impact studies before natural gas drilling can take place on state parkland.
 Micek writes:

"The state Department of Environmental Protection published a four-sentence announcement in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, an official government publication, saying it will continue to solicit public input on drilling when it reviews permit applications, the AP reports this morning." 

Micek also reminds us that Gov. Corbett has yet to announce his choice to run the Department of Conservation Resources, a major player in shale drilling.

Finding that a bid odd, Micek said he questioned the governor's spokesman Kevin Harley about it yesterday. Here's how that went:

"Harley tersely answered that the administration was working on it. Asked when they might announce an appointee, he said, "we anticipate naming someone in the near future.

 "Asked to narrow that a bit, Harley responded again (this time sounding as if he might prefer a root canal to our line of questioning), "In the near future."

Ouch. Looks like the enviros might be in for some tough times in Harrisburg.

If so, they certainly didn't help themselves by turning up at Corbett's inaugural and shouting slogans in an attempt to disrupt the ceremony.

After a long and bruising campaign, any successful candidate should be able to celebrate the finest day of his or her political life with family and well wishers--and a nice dose of pomp and circumstances, too. Organizing catcalls from the peanut gallery is no way to ingratiate yourself with the guy who'll be calling the shots for the next four years.

Related:
Pa. gov scales back drilling policy on public land
Pa. loosens rule on gas drilling
Gas drilling in state parks draws fire 

Our most recent posts:
Roll over Marcellus, the Utica is tomorrow's gas news
Suppressing the acidic damage from coal mine drainage
New Jersey Environmental Legislation - Feb 16, 2011
Pennsylvania Environmental Legislation - Feb 16 2011
Bills today in PA Senate Environment Committee
Former PADEP chief sits down for a frank, fracking chat

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Roll over Marcellus, the Utica is tomorrow's gas news

The Marcellus Shale, the bodacious layer of natural gas below New York and Pennsylvania that has gas drillers salivating over potential yields--and earnings--may be yesterday's news.

The new pretender to the gas-profits throne is the Utica. Yes, the Utica.

It weighs in, on average, at 2,000 feet below the Marcellus formation, is 500 feet thick in places, and, formed some 440 million to 460 million year ago, is even older than Larry King.

Is it too deep to be commercially viable? No way, says Penn State University Geosciences Professor Terry Engelder, who notes that drillers using the same technology are pulling natural gas from the the Haynesville formation in Louisiana at depths as deep as 13,000 feet.

Some geologists estimate the Marcellus formation has 50 trillion cubic feet of recoverable gas, enough to supply the East Coast for 50 years. Imagine the implications if the Utica proves anywhere near as bountiful.

Kim Leonard has the promising Utica Shale story in today's Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Drillers set sights on shale reserve deeper than the Marcellus

Our most recent posts:
Suppressing the acidic damage from coal mine drainage
New Jersey Environmental Legislation - Feb 16, 2011
Pennsylvania Environmental Legislation - Feb 16 2011
Bills today in PA Senate Environment Committee
Former PADEP chief sits down for a frank, fracking chat
Green (and blue) roofs top NJ enviro panel's agenda

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Suppressing the acidic damage from coal mine drainage

A Temple University professor is working on a new technology to limit the damage to streams and lakes from coal mine effluent. 

Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) is a devastating environmental problem that is created when metal sulfides contained in mine waste are exposed to water and oxygen. The decomposition of the sulfide results in an a high level of  acidic and toxic metal-laden runoff that's harmful to surface and ground water.

US-based mines spend an estimated $1 million daily for the treatment of the waste effluent.  

“When water fills a mine’s underground tunnels, it leaches the sulfuric acid off the walls and can get into the nearby groundwater,” said Temple Chemistry Professor Daniel Strongin.

Chemicals such as lime are used to neutralize acidic runoff, but they do not eliminate the root cause, Strongin said. So his lab is developing a technology that uses lipid molecules that bind to the metal sulfide, forming a hydrophobic layer that keeps water, oxygen and bacteria from causing it to decompose.

Potential commercial application for the technology include the remediation of submerged underground abandoned mining sites and above-ground waste piles, and protection of coal stores at power plants that generate AMD.

Learn more at:
Researchers focus attention on threats to Pa. water resources 
Technology to Suppress Acidic Runoff from Coal Mines

Our most recent posts:
New Jersey Environmental Legislation - Feb 16, 2011
Pennsylvania Environmental Legislation - Feb 16 2011
Bills today in PA Senate Environment Committee
Former PADEP chief sits down for a frank, fracking chat
Green (and blue) roofs top NJ enviro panel's agenda

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New Jersey Environmental Legislation - Feb 16, 2011

The following environmental and energy bills are scheduled for floor votes tomorrow in the New Jersey Assembly and Senate: 

ASSEMBLY VOTING SESSION - 2/17/11 -  1 PM

A-763  DiMaio, J. (R-23); Riley, C.M. (D-3)

Establishes program authorizing lease of historic buildings and structures in State parks, forests, and wildlife management areas.

Related Bill: S-2570    

A-2721  Burzichelli, J.J. (D-3); Rumana, S.T. (R-40); Quijano, A. (D-20)

Changes five year chapter expiration date for rules to seven years; changes procedures for readoption of rules. Related Bill: S-2013

       

A-3444  Chivukula, U.J. (D-17); Coutinho, A. (D-29)

Provides certain exemptions from disclosure requirements for licensing of solid waste and hazardous waste operations.  Related Bill: S-2295

    

 A-3650  Wagner, C. (D-38); Coughlin, C.J. (D-19); Fuentes, A. (D-5)

Provides corporation business tax credit and gross income tax credits for purchase and installation of certain electric vehicle charging stations.  Related Bill: S-2612

     

A-3651  Benson, D.R. (D-14); Ryan, K.J. (D-36); Wilson, G.L. (D-5)

Provides corporation business tax credits and gross income tax credits for purchase of certain electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.  Related Bill: S-2611

       

A-3769  Burzichelli, J.J. (D-3); Quijano, A. (D-20)

Requires DEP to conduct analysis of "Pollution Prevention Act."

    

S-2295  Lesniak, R.J. (D-20)

Provides certain exemptions from disclosure requirements for licensing of solid waste and hazardous waste operations.  Related Bill: A-3444

SENATE VOTING SESSION - 2/17/11 - 2 PM

S-2433  Van Drew, J. (D-1); Addiego, D.M. (R-8)

Allows municipalities to reexamine municipal master plan every 10 years.

Related Bill: A-3272 

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Our most recent posts:
Pennsylvania Environmental Legislation - Feb 16 2011
Bills today in PA Senate Environment Committee
Former PADEP chief sits down for a frank, fracking chat
Green (and blue) roofs top NJ enviro panel's agenda
EPA's fracking study plan open for public comment
Former PADEP Secretary joins Eckert Seamans law firm

 

Pennsylvania Environmental Legislation - Feb 16 2011

The following environmental bills have seen recent action in the Pennsylvania General Assembly:

HB 569 (Benninghoff) An Act prohibiting the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources from promulgating certain rules and regulations.
Referred to ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, Feb. 9, 2011 [House]


HB 603 (Hutchinson) Amends the Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act to allow the use of premium fees to pay the costs associated with treating certain post-mining pollution discharges at ABS legacy sites.
Referred to ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, Feb. 10, 2011 [House]

HB 632 (Gillespie) Amends the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act, further providing for penalties and for fines, civil penalties and fees; and making editorial changes.
Referred to ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, Feb. 14, 2011

HB 690 (Hanna) Amends the Oil and Gas Act to provide property owners with a process for securing compensation for surface damage caused by oil or natural gas drilling.
Referred to ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, Feb. 15, 2011 [House]

Senate Bills

SB 447 (M. White ) Amends Ttle 58 (Oil and Gas) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, consolidating the Oil and Gas Conservation Law with modifications relating to definitions, standard unit order, process, administration, standard of review, hearings and appeals, establishment of units, integration of various interests, lease extension and scope; providing for gas and hazardous liquids pipelines; and making a related repeal.

Referred to ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, Feb. 11, 2011 [Senate]

SB 452 (Erickson) An Act updating and expanding the storm water planning requirements to be undertaken by counties; authorizing counties to regulate storm water within a watershed-based planning area; authorizing the formation of water resources management authorities; enabling counties, municipalities and water resources management authorities to develop integrated water resources management plans; imposing duties and conferring powers on the Department of Environmental Protection, the Environmental Quality Board, counties, municipalities and water resources management authorities; providing for financing and for waiver of use for certain grant or loan funds; and making related repeals.
Referred to ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, Feb. 7, 2011


SB 454 (Erickson) An Act establishing a program for the purchase of certain types of environmental liability insurance and for subsidies for the costs of premiums; and providing for powers and duties of the Department of Environmental Protection.

Referred to ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, Feb. 7, 2011 [Senate]

SB 460 (Yaw) An Act amending the act of July 20, 1979 (P.L.183, No.60), entitled "An act regulating the terms and conditions of certain leases regarding natural gas and oil," adding definitions; providing for payment information to interest owners for accumulation of proceeds from production, for nonpayment of royalties and for effects of nonpayment; and making editorial changes.
Referred to ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, Feb. 11, 2011 [Senate]

SB 531 (Rafferty) An Act amending the act of July 7, 1980 (P.L.380, No.97), known as the Solid Waste Management Act, further providing for criminal penalties.

Referred to ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, Feb. 14, 2011 [Senate]

SB 532 (Rafferty) An Act amending the act of July 7, 1980 (P.L.380, No.97), known as the Solid Waste Management Act, further providing for permit and license application requirements and for enforcement orders; and providing for repeat violations.

Referred to ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, Feb. 14, 2011 [Senate]

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Our most recent posts:
Bills today in PA Senate Environment Committee
Former PADEP chief sits down for a frank, fracking chat
Green (and blue) roofs top NJ enviro panel's agenda
EPA's fracking study plan open for public comment
Former PADEP Secretary joins Eckert Seamans law firm

Bills today in PA Senate Environment Committee

The  Pennsylvania  Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meets today
(Feb 14, 2011) to consider:

SB 151 (Pileggi) Provides for the sharing of Air Pollution Control Act fines and penalties.

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SB 265  (M. White) Amends the Coal and Gas Resource Coordination Act to further provide for drilling through coal reserves.


SB 302 (M. White)  Requires reporting t he use of monies from the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund

 

SB 303  (M. White)  Providing for reports under the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act,

 

SB 304  (M.White) Providing for review of Air Pollution State Implementation Plans.

 

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Our most recent posts:
Former PADEP chief sits down for a frank, fracking chat
Green (and blue) roofs top NJ enviro panel's agenda
EPA's fracking study plan open for public comment
Former PADEP Secretary joins Eckert Seamans law firm
Check out our updated Enviro-Events Calendar 
New Jersey solar zoning bills ready for final floor vote

Former PADEP chief sits down for a frank, fracking chat

John Hanger became secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection during the last two and a half year's of Governor Ed Rendell's term in office--roughly the same time that natural gas companies were snapping up drilling leases, boring hundreds of wells, and pumping millions of gallons of fracking fluids into sections of the Marcellus Shale that runs beneath Pennsylvania and New York.

Hanger had to play catchup with an industry that found virtually no environmental or political barriers to entry to the Keystone State, despite a few highly publicized events, including exploding wells and a contaminated community water supply.    

By most accounts, the DEP under Hanger, responded admirably, overseeing the development and  adoption of tough new rules on well placements and security and on the storage and treatment of wastewater from the controversial hydraulic fracturing technique--more commonly known as hydrofracking or 'fracking.'

Hanger sat for an interview, published today, with ProPublica, the prize-winning organization that published a series of  investigative reports that spurred wider media attention to the potential dangers associated with natural drilling methods and fluids.

In the interview, Hanger reviews the challenges the department faced and what it did to overcome them, and he answers the question: Is hydraulic fracturing safe?

He also expresses his view on the developing national regulation of natural gas drilling. 
His opinion might surprise you.

Overall, it's a piece worth your time. You'll find it at:
PA’s Former Environmental Chief, Talks About Challenges of Keeping Gas Drilling Safe

Related:
Former PADEP Secretary joins Eckert Seamans law firm

Our most recent posts:
Green (and blue) roofs top NJ enviro panel's agenda
EPA's fracking study plan open for public comment
Check out our updated Enviro-Events Calendar 
New Jersey solar zoning bills ready for final floor vote
Another sad day for journalism in New Jersey

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