Radioactive Drilling Waste Proposal In Budget Could Be Dumped Into Broader Landfill Overhaul

The Kasich administration's plan to regulate radioactive drilling waste will likely be stripped from the budget and handled as part of a more comprehensive revision of the state's landfill laws due this fall, a key House Republican said Thursday.  Both environmentalists and the oil and gas industry have opposed a proposal in the executive budget (HB 59) that would require horizontal well operators to test drilling waste for radioactivity and create new requirements for how it could be handled and disposed.

Rep. Dave Hall, ( http://www.ohiohouse.gov/david-hall ) chairman of the House Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee and a member of the House Finance: Agriculture & Development Subcommittee, said that the technically complex issue should be handled in separate legislation.  "It looked like it just needed a little more work and I expect that will probably end up being a bill itself," he said in an interview. Rep. Hall said the drilling waste issue will likely become more pressing in the future as producers start to recycle more fracking fluid because it picks up more radiation each time it comes into contact with naturally occurring radium beneath the surface.  Chairman Hall said the issue of radioactive drilling waste would more appropriately addressed in the context of a much broader review of landfills that he is anticipating will come before the Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee after summer recess.

While many Finance Committee members studying the issue believe the radioactivity issue should be separated from the budget bill, no final decision has yet been made, he said. "It's up to what leadership wants to do on that, but I think it does need some work."  The administration has said radioactive drilling waste is already being dumped in solid waste landfills and the proposal would ensure it was handled appropriately. In addition, the budget would allow the industry to reuse the material by diluting it with inert substances that could then be used for other purposes, like covering landfills.

The Ohio Oil and Gas Association ( http://ooga.org/ )  has said the administration's proposal for dealing with naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) and technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive material (TENORM) is unnecessary.  Testifying before the Agriculture & Development Subcommittee earlier this month, OOGA Treasurer Jim Aslanides cited the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' own testimony that well sites in the Utica Shale formation "indicate very low levels of NORM and TENORM."  "There is no problem. This is the classic regulatory solution looking for a problem to solve," he said.  Mr. Aslanides, a former lawmaker, also expressed concern that the proposal, which would grant the Ohio Department of Health new rulemaking authority, would muddy the current regulatory structure where ODNR has "sole and exclusive" jurisdiction over oil and gas operations. "That concept should not be compromised without a significant showing of compelling need. There is none here."

The Ohio Environmental Council ( http://www.theoec.org/ ) takes the opposite view and has criticized the proposed regulations as too lax to adequately prevent dangerous radiation from entering the water supply as large-scale drilling of Ohio's shale formations ramps up. OEC Director of Legal Affairs Trent Dougherty said the amount of TENORM that would be allowed to be dumped in landfills was too dangerous to public health and the environment.  "If the legislature allows the provisions to remain, Ohio will be opening the floodgates for massive volumes of radioactive material to legally enter into Ohio's landfills," he said. "Ohio's waste water treatment plants will very likely begin treating radioactive waste water produced from radioactive leachate at landfills, putting an untold number of Ohioans at risk."  Ohio's solid waste landfills were not designed to safely contain TENORM, he said, noting that some other states, like Washington and Utah, require special facilities to handle low-level radioactive waste.

Water Quality Rules Proposed

Experts have been talking for years now about impending and increasing regulation on agricultural nutrients in an effort to address the notorious toxic algal blooms plaguing the state’s water. As of March 7, those regulations have been proposed for Ohio.  Read rest of article here:

http://ocj.com/2013/03/water-quality-rules-proposed-for-ohio/

What is a Conservation District?

Conservation districts were born out of the 1930s Dust Bowl to address America’s devastating soil erosion. At that time, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared soil and water conservation a national policy priority, leading to the creation of conservation districts.

Conservation districts are local units of government established under state law to carry out natural resource stewardship programs at the local level. Conservation districts have been involved in delivering voluntary, locally‐led conservation across America for more than 70 years. They exist in nearly every county and community in the nation, where they work with landowners, farmers, ranchers and non-industrial private forestland owners to help them manage and protect natural resources on private land.

Conservation Districts at a Glance 

• Promote voluntary, incentive-based and locally-led solutions to natural resource concerns 
• Provide technical assistance to landowners to address natural resource concerns 
• Help farmers, ranchers and non-industrial, private forestland owners implement best management practices to protect soil health, water quality and quantity, air quality and wildlife habitat 
• Assist landowners in their efforts to secure financial assistance to implement conservation practices 
• Support a strong agriculture base and believe conservation practices should be economically-viable in order to encourage maximum participation by agriculture operations 
• Facilitate wetlands conservation and restoration to purify water and provide habitat for birds, fish and other wildlife 
• Provide support to farmers and ranchers in complying with federal and state regulatory requirements 
• Assist local communities in managing stormwater, reducing runoff and keeping sediment out of streams and lakes 
• Work with communities and homeowners to plant trees and other vegetation to hold soil in place, clean the air, provide cover for wildlife and beautify neighborhoods 
• Educate communities and schools about the value of natural resources and encourage conservation efforts

Conservation districts’ work results in clean air, clean water, healthy habitat and productive soils across the nation.

New Pest Found in Hocking Hills State Park

The discovery of hemlock woolly adelgids in about 50 trees within 1 acre of Hocking Hills State Park is the start of a big problem for state and local tourism officials, who say they knew the pest’s arrival there was merely a matter of time.   Read rest of story here:
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2013/03/21/new-pest-found-in-Hocking-Hills.html

Pruning Workshop Offered - OSU Extension Master Gardeners

Chronic Wasting Disease Not Detected In Ohio Deer

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) announced today that testing of Ohio’s deer herd found no evidence of chronic wasting disease (CWD).
CWD is a degenerative brain disease that affects elk, mule deer and white-tailed deer.

According to the ODNR Division of Wildlife, state and federal agriculture and wildlife officials collected 519 samples in 2012. For the 11th consecutive year, all samples were negative for CWD.
Since CWD was first discovered in the late 1960s in the western United States, there has been no evidence that the disease can be transmitted to humans.

Since 2002, the ODNR Division of Wildlife, in conjunction with the ODA Division of Animal Health and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife and Veterinary Services, has conducted surveillance throughout the state for CWD.

While CWD has never been found in Ohio’s deer herd, it had been diagnosed in wild and captive deer, moose, or elk in 22 states and two Canadian provinces. Since CWD was discovered in the western United States in the late 1960s, there has been no evidence that the disease can be transmitted to humans.

The ODNR Division of Wildlife continues to carefully monitor the health of Ohio’s wild deer herd throughout the year. Visit ohioagriculture.gov or wildohio.com for the latest information on CWD or the Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance at cwd-info.org. All CWD testing is performed at the ODA Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory.

ODNR Seeks Nominations of Farm Families who Excel in Conservation

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) will acknowledge Ohio farm families who are
leaders in the areas of conservation for the 2013 Conservation Farm Family Awards. The awards
program is sponsored by the ODNR Division of Soil and Water Resources, Ohio Farmer Magazine
and the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation.

The Conservation Farm Family Award program has recognized Ohio farm families since 1984 for
their efforts in managing natural and human resources while meeting both production and
conservation goals. Individual farmers, partnerships or family farm corporations are eligible for
nomination, provided a substantial portion of their income is derived from farming. The judging is
based on the nominee's use of new and traditional conservation techniques, comprehensive
management, individual initiative in applying conservation measures and the nominee’s willingness to
share conservation information, experiences and philosophy with others.

Five area finalists will be selected from across the state, and these finalists will be recognized at the
annual Farm Science Review in September. They will also receive a $400 award, courtesy of the
Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, and be featured in the September issue of Ohio Farmer Magazine.
Nomination forms can be obtained from local county soil and water conservation districts or by visiting
the division’s website. The forms must be returned by May 1 to Ohio Farmer Magazine, 117 W. Main St., Suite 202, Lancaster, Ohio 43130.

Food and agriculture are Ohio’s largest industries and the largest land use in the state. More than 60
percent of Ohio's land is used for crop production and pasture. Farming has a large impact on the
state's land, water, woodland and wildlife resources. It is important to maintain a balance between
agriculture’s important contribution to Ohio’s economy and the environment through conservation and
wise resource management.

For more information, contact:
Blaine Gerdes, ODNR Soil and Water Resources  614-265-6938
Matt Eiselstein, ODNR Office of Communications  614-265-6860

How tall is that tree going to grow?

As spring planting begins to enter your mind, new trees may be part of your landscape plan.  Winter ice and summer thunderstorms show the effect trees can have on the flow of your electric service, which is why it’s important to think about more than just the tree.  So while you make plans for what threes will enhance the look of your property, make sure you LOOK UP to see how those trees will affect the overhead utility lines.

Decorative trees generally don’t grow extremely tall, such as a Dogwood that reaches a mature height of about 20 feet.  But those big hardwood favorites that bathe a yard in shade during the hot summer months can get much bigger.  Maple trees will grow to between 60 and 80 feet tall when mature; oak trees can reach 75 to 80 feet; and the might sycamore can reach upwards of 115 feet when fully grown.

Don't let this happen to your shade trees - think before you plant!

A good rule of thumb to consider is to plant trees at least as far away from utility lines as the tree is expected to grow. When it comes to trees your power company needs your help in maintaining a constant flow of power for you and your neighbors.  Please plant responsibly.  

Salamander Adventure!

Belmont SWCD Wildlife/Forstry specialist Liza Butler, landowner Rosemary
Campbell, and Joe Lehman, Guernsey SWCD Wildlife/Forestry specialist.

On Monday evening during a warm early spring rain, Joe and Liza led a group of adventurers to Rosemary's farm, where they found spotted salamanders, newts, wood frogs, and spring peepers (frogs), all moving from the place of winter hibernation to vernal pools in the woods of Rosemary's property.  In the vernal pools, they will mate, lay egg masses, and in so doing, reproduce the next generation of amphibians. 
Spotted salamanders are an indicator of good water quality, so finding them on your property is a welcome sign that water quality is good in your little corner of the Wills Creek watershed! 

2 spring peepers and a wood frog

More spotted salamanders

Some suggestions for Groundwater Awareness Week - March 10th-16th

Keep hazardous chemicals, such as paint, fertilizer, pesticides, and motor oil far away from your well, and maintain a "clean" zone of at least 50 feet between your well and any kennels and livestock operations.

Maintain proper separation between your well and buildings, waste systems, and chemical storage areas.

Periodically check the well cover or well cap on top of the casing (well) to ensure it is in good repair and securely attached. Its seal should keep out insects and rodents.

Keep your well records in a safe place. These include the construction report, and annual water well system maintenance and water testing results.

Celebrate Agriculture Week!

This week, celebrating agriculture in our county, state, and country; helps remind us of our personal responsibility to be good stewards of the soil that produces the food we eat.  Assuring food for the future is one of the most basic issues any society faces, and is quite complex. In today's world, and for tomorrow's needs, an ample supply of food requires productive soils and ample water supplies, maintained in a clean and healthy condition by people who practice effective stewardship.