Sierra Club - Lehigh Valley Group Executive Committee
Monday, September 9, 2019 at 7:00 PM
100 Illicks Mill Rd.
Bethlehem, PA 18017

MINUTES

Executive Committee Members: Don Miles, Matthew MacConnell, Doug Roysdon, Brian Hillard, Marilyn Jordan, Nanci McGonigal.

Visitors: Maxwell Coniglio, Abbey Sauerwine, Andrew Conboy, Courtney Steinnick

Announcement:  Don informed us that Al Wurth recently had a heart attack and surgery. Don passed around a card which all present ExCom members signed. We are very concerned and wish Al a speedy and full recovery.

Short welcome presentation for visitors (Matt)

Slate Belt residents (and others) will have the opportunity to voice their opposition to a sludge-treatment plant on September 19 at the Plainfield Township Board of Supervisors special meeting. The location is the Plainfield Township Volunteer Fire Company in Wind Gap.  Synagro Technologies Inc. of Baltimore, Waste Management and a group called Green Knight Economic Development Corp. are behind the plant, which goes by the name Slate Belt Heat Recovery Center. They propose to dry processed sewage sludge using heat from Green Knight’s methane-to-energy plant on landfill property. The sludge would be converted into Class A biosolids, with the product usable as fertilizer or fuel. The Sierra Club is opposed to this proposal because of toxic/hazardous contaminants in sewage sludge.

Visitors explained their backgrounds and interests

• Maxwell: Stormwater and watershed management, cleanup, riparian buffers.
• Abby: (from Kutztown) is interested in recycling and works for Terracycle, a Trenton NJ based company that specializes in hard-to-recycle materials.
• Andrew: He is a Lehigh University graduate student in biology, and is interested in recycling and invasive species.
• Courtney: She is interested in environmental policy and economics.(Moravian College?)

Matt pointed out that grants up to $5,000 are available from the Sierra Club.  Doug said that most Ex-Com members have their own projects. If anyone has a project idea, and sets up a committee, Doug can allow them to hold a meeting at the Ice House in Bethlehem.

Motion to approve the Minutes from the July 15, 2019 meeting - Approved

Report by PA Chapter LV Community Outreach Coordinator (Rachel Rosenfeld)

Rachel was away so Matt distributed her September 9, 2019 Staff Report, and a flier about the “Old-Growth Forest Program and Dedication of Matson’s Woods” at Louise Moore Park, sponsored by the Northampton County Division of parks & Recreation.

Conservation projects report (Matt)

Matt projected images of his Ricky Park wetland project in Upper Macungie. A fountain will be added when the electric connection is made. An unexpected problem is a layer of filamentous algae in the pond. Matt has to scoop off the algae every day. The water source for the wetland is an uphill pond that contains runoff from a housing development. The algae are in the water from this pond that washes over a dam and feeds the wetland.

• Don moved to approve $ 5,646 in expenses for Ricky Park.

Matt explained his Water Quality Program, analyzing water quality in tributaries to the Lehigh River. He projected images and talked about the Lausanne Tunnel mine dewatering project, in which a wetland is used to convert part of the ferrous iron into ferric iron. The ferric iron precipitates out and smothers benthic invertebrates. Over the 15 years of operation the wetland has accumulated a lot of iron. The only way to remove the iron is to dredge, which would cost an unaffordable $250,000.

Matt also talked about the Nesquehoning Creek, toxic 10 ppm aluminum in Buck Mountain Creek. If limestone was added to bring the pH up to 6 the aluminum would precipitate out. Monacacy Creek has high dissolved salts and in pH 7.8. Several creeks have high nitrate. Matt explained how algal photosynthesis can raise oxygen levels up to 200%. Algal photosynthesis also affects the pH of stream water, anaerobic decomposition by microorganisms in organic sediments releases methane gas bubbles. The Aquashicola creek at Palmerton contains  0.34 ppm zinc. Matt said repair of the probe cost $1,077 for a pH sensor and nitrate tip.

• Don moved to approve $ 1,528.28 in total costs for all probe repairs.

Treasurer’s report (by Matt for Dave Reber)

The LV Group has $1,102 in our account. Don mentioned that we have bequest money in an account held by the National Sierra Club, for our use.

Climate Action Report (Brian)

1. The Lehigh Valley Climate Strike (part of a Global Climate Strike) will be on Friday September 20, 2:00–4:00 PM at Payrow Plaza, Bethlehem City Hall.
2. Progress of the Climate Action Network: its goal to form a collaboration of people, organizations, and government agencies to work together to motivate and empower pro-climate policies. 
3. Brian wants to work with other organizations on climate action– specifically-working with “Make the Road” to engage residents on climate justice. 

Presentation for the public in October (group discussion). Ideas:

Final decision: Meet at Ricky Park, do some work and watch the numerous bats that fly overhead at sunset. Courtney knows a man who records bat sounds. If he could join us he could identify the species of bats by their calls. Courtney’s senior project was on bats. Date and time to be determined by Matt and Courtney.

Other ideas:

1. Jennifer Quinn, Harrisburg lobbyist could present on environmental administrative horrors of the present US administration, and what is being done about it in Harrisburg (Don).
2. Climate Justice “make the road” group (Brian)
3. Energy Efficiency Day, October 2 –hold the event at the Bethlehem library (Brian)
4. Climate change – Allentown EAC (Brian)
5. Get ideas from our new guests (Doug)

Other discussion topics

• Make a short video documentary about what we (LV Sierra Group) have done to raise money to pay for past and new projects(Doug). Courtney said she can make imovies on Macbook Pro.
• Don mentioned the “Old-Growth Forest Program and Dedication of Matson’s Woods” at Louise Moore Park – we have 200 year-old trees. Woodlands should be protected. The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission wanted to create a model ordinance for Townships to use to protect woodlands. However the PA Attorney General said Townships should not have any say about lumbering.
• Plant trees and other vegetation in retention basins – discussion about desirability and feasibility.
• Drive Electric Day is September 22, noon to 5 PM. At Wescosville Memorial Park, Hamilton Boulevard, Allentown. (Brian)

The meeting adjourned at 8:45 PM.