READING - A total of 8
people turned out for the
public hearings on the
state’s proposed index of
watersheds for storm water
management.
Two meetings, here, at the
Penn State Commonwealth
Campus, at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.
on Thursday found 5
representatives present to
voice then - concerns and
opinions about the proposed
plans.
Just iwo days before the
Berks session, another
Poor turn out
meeting in the state was held
at the Dußois Campus where
a total of 3 people attended.
Those 5 who did show up
for the Berks afternoon
meeting represented the
Berks Co. Planning Com
mission, the Berks Co.
Conservation District, and
the Montour Co. Com
missioners.
According to Eugene E.
Counsil, Chief of the Division
of Storm Water
Management in the
Department of En
for storm water hearings surprises DER
viroranental Resources, his
division didn’t know what to
expect in the line of public
attendance
“These two hearings
follow a series of four held
recently to review the storm
water guidelines. It’s not too
controversial a topic. And,
we had met directly with 36
counties throughout the
Commonwealth prior to the
hearings,” Counsilsaid.
However, Counsil ad
mitted he was surprised at
the light turnout, actually no
turn out at the June 26
evening meeting.
The Storm Water Chief
said his office has already
received some written
comments on the proposed
watershed areas, and that
the comment period is still
open until July 3.
After that deadline,
Counsil said the comments
will be incorporated in the
final watershed plan and
submitted to the En
vironmental Quality Board
on July 15 for adoption
probably sometime in
September.
Counsil pomted out the
storm water management
guidelines have already
been submitted to the
governor’s office, and are
waiting to be passed by each
house.
Also in the governor’s
office, he said, are the
financial assistance
regulations which
documents provisions for
reimbursing counties for
bookkeeping costs.
Once the storm water
plans are adopted statewide,
individual counties can
voluntarily start up their
own programs, Counsil
added. The storm water
plans and local regulations
then will have an impact on
everybody who engages in
activities that increase the
runoff characteristics of a
watershed, he explained.
Counsil added the county
governments will begin the
process by studying the
scope of their runoff
problems in relation to land
use. In an agriculturally
important area, he noted,
controlling soil erosion and
nonpomt source pollution,
covered by other laws, would
mean compliance with the
plan.
“Where the problem
comes in,” he said, “is when
the farms are sold for
development. Or if there is a
drastic change in
management that suddenly
increases the water pouring
off crop fields.”
One area where the new
law will help farmers,
Counsil said, is in preventmg
developments and road
construction crews from
dumping their water into
farmers’ fields.
Of course, there is one
Lancaster Famine, Saturday, Jane 28,1980—ASS
little catch. Although the law
says that all public works
should perform their work
consistent with the water
shed plan, state agencies—
like Penn DOT—are not
subject to local laws.
“That’s going to be a big
problem,” stated Counsil. “I
suppose there will have to be
foUowthrough by DER if
local governments need an
advocate when dealing with
other state agencies.
He added, however, that in
the past 2 years, the at
titudes in Penn DOT have
been changing. “They are
more sensitive to their
drainage once it leaves the
highway. So, I don’t foresee
too many problems. ”
Counsil noted that Gene
Hoffman, of the Penn
sylvania Farmers’
Association, and Ed Keener,
the engineer for the City of
Lebanon and a member of
the County Conservation
Myers named
associate agent
UNIVERSITY. PARK -
Clyde A. B. Myers, assistant
Berks County Extension
agent on Penn State’s ex
tension service staff, has
been promoted to the rank of
associate extension agent,
effective July 1.
Thomas B. King, Penn
State associate dean for
extension, who announced
the promotion, said that an
internal rank system
provides recognition for
extension staff members
who are conducting out
standing educational
programs.
Myers is conducting
educational programs
primarily in the area of
animal science, and related
District, have worked
closely with DER in
preparing the storm water
management guidelines and
watershed designations.
“Once the guidelines are
approved by die legislature
and the watersheds are
approved by the EQB, the
law calls for counties to
complete their own plans
within 2 years,” Counsil
said.
He pointed out, however,
that DER plans to grant time
extensions if needed based
on individual county request.
“Under the present policy,
DER is not gomg to seek
enforcement action if there
are delays.”
In closmg, Counsil em
phasized the storm water
plan is not a land use control
program. “We may identify
needed changes, but as long
as the storm water is con
trolled, the desired land use
is still possible.”—SM
youth activities. He was
appointed to the Berks
County staff in 19/7.
A native of Dover, he
received a bachelor of
science degree in animal
husbandry from the
Delaware Valley College of
Science and Agriculture in
1972 and master of science
degree from Penn State.
Prior to his appointment to
the Extension staff, Myers
was an agriculture in
structor m the Red Lion
Senior High School. In 1975,
he was named Teacher of the
Year by the York County
Conservation District.
He is a member of Delta
Tau Alpha, agricultural
honor society.