MARCH 2018

A Monthly Update from the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee

The Chairman’s CornerSenator Scott E. Hutchinson

The Environmental Synopsis

Agriculture is an iconic part of Pennsylvania’s heritage, and is a major contributor to our state’s economy. With many farmers

coping with invasive species and other pressures, some Pennsylvania growers are eyeing a niche product that can tap into the country’s fascination with a particular gourmet food: hazelnuts.

Farmers are often interested in diversifying, and adding hazelnut orchards could provide them with another high-value crop. Hazelnuts, sometimes called filberts, are oval-shaped nuts with a light-brown shell. Unlike most trees that bloom in the spring, hazelnut trees bloom from late December through February. When the ripened nuts fall to the ground, growers harvest them with tractor-pulled blowers and rakes.

The Republic of Turkey is the world’s leading producer of hazelnuts, producing 70 percent of the world’s supply. They are often associated with Italy, though, where they are an important crop in the country’s Piedmont region. In the U.S., hazelnuts have never quite enjoyed the popularity of peanuts, walnuts, or almonds – until recently.

Nutella, a creamy hazelnut and cocoa spread, is the most popular hazelnut product here in the states. Twenty-

five years ago, few people had even heard of it, but it had been a staple for years in France, Italy and Germany. By the late 1990s, it started to appear in American specialty stores before its manufacturer, Ferraro Rocher, built a new plant in Canada in 2006. Today, Nutella is available in practically every major grocery store, where it has gained a devoted following.

Hazelnut’s popularity is surging, especially in the food service industry. They are a popular ingredient in baked goods, candies and snacks. They are also used in ice cream, cakes and coffees. Hazelnuts are even turning up as a garnish in cocktails, as well as in salads, soups and entrees.

The growing popularity in the U.S. has driven up demand for hazelnuts

worldwide, exceeding the current supply. Ferraro Rocher, for example, has to buy over 90 percent of its hazelnuts from Europe, since stateside attempts to grow enough hazelnuts have been limited.

North America has its own domestic hazelnut variety – Corylus americana. However, hazelnut production in Pennsylvania is virtually non-existent

Continued on page 8

In ThIs IssueThe Chairman’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Notes from the Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Research Briefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3• Infrastructure Needs in the Great Lakes Region• Using Local Wildlife to Combat Agricultural Pests• Repairing Forests and Raking in the Green• The Global Impact of Cellphones on the Environment

Committee Chronicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Farewell from Committee Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

March 2018Volume 19, Number 3

2 E n v i r o n m E n t a l S y n o p S i S

Gifford Pinchot, Maurice Goddard, Rachel Carson and Edward Abbey – three of these are prominent figures to anyone who has even a passing acquaintance with the history of environmental conservation in Pennsylvania. However, the fourth name might be harder to recognize.

In fact, Edward Abbey might be Penn-sylvania’s most famous naturalist and novelist you have never heard of – unless you come from the small town of Home located in Indiana County. Even then, there is no guarantee. While he is hailed by some in the American Southwest as the most influential environmental writer of his generation, it is often overlooked that he got his start here in the Common-wealth of Pennsylvania.

Born in 1927, Abbey grew up in Home and attended the Indiana University of Pennsylvania before leaving the Com-monwealth to travel west. During a 1945 trip to the American southwest, he fell in love with the desert country and the “Four Corners” region where the states Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah meet. Abbey would spend most of the next 45 years of his life here.

Abbey’s advocacy for the environment and radical political views made him famous, and he published seven novels and numerous books of essays. Fellow

author Larry McMurtry once called him “the Thoreau of the American desert.”

His best known work tells a fictional account of a group of environmental ac-tivists who decided to take on what they considered the destruction of natural settings in the American West they loved so much; albeit by controversial means.

Born in Indiana Pennsylvania, Edward

Abbey’s book, Desert Solitaire: A Season in the Wilderness, is considered by many to be an integral addition to environmental

literature.In the 1975 novel “The Monkey Wrench Gang,” three men and one woman begin destroying highway billboards in the Four Corners region. They then esca-late their activities by damaging road construction and strip mining equip-ment. Ultimately, they target Utah’s Glen Canyon Dam for destruction.

The story launched a fringe environ-mental movement that lingers today. The book provided a manifesto for the radical environmentalist movement who

introduced “monkey-wrenching” into their vernacular. Monkey-wrenching refers to the illegal destruction of property to thwart ac-tivities that they deem destructive.

However, most people agree it is Abbey’s 1968 novel “Desert Solitaire: A Season in the Wilder-ness” that has proven to be his best – and most influential – work. In it,

Abbey reminiscences of his days as a park ranger at Arches National Park in Utah. This was during the 1950s in the days before the roads were paved and Arches was an obscure national monument.

“This is the most beautiful place on earth,” Abbey wrote in the first line of Desert Solitaire. He describes the land-scapes of Southern Utah and delights in his isolation as a backcountry park rang-er, recounting adventures in the nearby canyon country and mountains.

Abbey challenged the thinking of those who prefer to enjoy nature through a car window. He wanted his nature with its harsh beauty and accompanying discomforts. According to Abbey, “You can’t see anything from a car. You’ve got to get out of the contraption and walk, better yet crawl, on hands and knees, over the sandstone and through the thorn brush and cactus. When traces of blood begin to mark your trail, you’ll see something, maybe.”

Desert Solitaire sold millions of copies worldwide, and is considered by many to be on par with the best environmental writing ever put in print. It has been com-pared with Aldo Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac and Thoreau’s Walden.

Abbey died in Tucson, Arizona on March 14, 1989, at the age of 62. His closest friends held a private burial in Arizona, thousands of miles from his Pennsylva-nia birthplace, in accordance with his final wishes.

In 1996, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and the Histori-cal and Genealogical Society of Indiana County placed a state historical marker recognizing Edward Abbey as a “defender of the wilderness” along Route 119 near his hometown.

Notes from the Director Tony M. Guerrieri, Executive Director

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Research Briefs

Great Lakes Water Infrastructure NeedsTony M. Guerrieri, Executive DirectorThe Great Lakes hold 90 percent of the fresh surface water in the U.S. and supply drinking water to more than 48 million people in the U.S. and Canada. Despite the abundant fresh water resources, the Great Lakes region also saw one of the most serious water crises in recent history in Flint and Toledo. This interplay shows how the region exemplifies the challenges and opportunities inherent in the nation’s water systems. A report by the U.S. Water Alliance examines inequity issues around the infrastructure needs in the Great Lake region.

The report, An Equitable Water Future: Opportunities for the Great Lakes Region, takes a look at their water and waste-water systems and examines challenges facing economically disadvantaged communities for policymakers to consid-er. For example, the deteriorating state of infrastructure in Great Lakes communi-ties, the increasing lack of affordability of water rates for low-income communities and opportunities to make water access and service more equitable for all Great Lakes residents.

Eight states – Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Pennsyl-vania and New York – are all bordered by one of the Great Lakes. The region faces a staggering $175 billion bill to fix and modernize the drinking water and waste-water infrastructure through 2030. About $20 billion is required for Pennsylvania alone, according to the report.

The growth of the Great Lakes region was made possible by access to the abundant

resources of the lakes. However, the economic downturn, par-ticularly in the manufacturing industries, has impacted the cities and communities. Overall, 1.2 million manufacturing jobs were lost since 2000.

According to the report, jobs in economic sectors that depend directly on water infrastructure generate $447 billion in wages annually. Almost a quarter of the jobs in the region are in water-dependent industries such as agri-culture, recreation and manufacturing. As the region’s waters are cleaned and made available for development, recreation and tourism, they enrich the region’s quality of life and can help stimulate economic growth.

Given the nature and scale of the issue, governments at all levels need to focus on creating a framework for managing the region’s water resources. The report presents an outline that can move the region forward, focused on three pillars of equitable water management:

• Ensure all people have access to clean, safe, affordable water service;

• Maximize the social and economic benefits of water infrastructure invest-ment; and,

• Foster community resilience in the face of a changing climate.

The report also takes a closer look at nine strategies that are particularly important for the Great Lakes region, given its history and current challenges. Progress is already happening in all of these areas, according to the report. Examples of infrastructure projects and initiatives include making

upgrades to lead detection and filtration, preparing emergency plans for future water crises and supporting governments on water issues.

The Water Alliance is also recommending an inclusive water workforce, expanded opportunities for small, minority- and women-owned businesses in the water sector, planning and investment and bringing benefits to disinvested areas.

The report describes the institutions and resources that the Great Lakes region can draw on in advancing equitable water management. Regional assets highlighted in the report include dedicated community-based organizations, national philanthropic organizations, conservation and environmental organizations and renowned research institutions.

The US Water Alliance is a Washington, D.C., non-profit water advocacy group. Its report, An Equitable Water Future: Opportunities for the Great Lakes Region, is available at: https://s3.amazonaws.com/bncore/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/uswa_greatlakes_021318_FINAL_RGB.pdf.

Each month, the committee’s staff researches and prepares a number of “briefs” on several topics relevant to the committee’s mission. Very often these briefs include references to reports and further research on the topics so that readers may pursue issues on their own. Please note that the information and opinions expressed in the Research Brief articles do not necessarily represent the opinions or positions of the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee, nor those of the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

4 E n v i r o n m E n t a l S y n o p S i S

Natural Ways to Reduce Pests on FarmsColeen P. Engvall, Research AnalystOrganic produce grows in popularity with each passing year, incentivizing more farmers to pursue the label. However, the standards that allow farmers to apply the title of organic to their produce also restrict the use of many pesticides and other chemicals. While this is arguably healthier and more appealing to consumers, it leaves the issue of how to protect their fields and crops from destructive pests.

Researchers from Michigan State University decided to measure the potential services of animals for controlling pests. After arranging their experiment in various farms, they published their results in the journal Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. The article is entitled Enhancing Agricultural Landscapes to Increase Crop Pest Reduction by Vertebrates.

Their hypothesis was that carnivorous and insectivorous animals such as falcons and bats could reduce pest populations without disturbing crop yields. In addition, the practice could potentially divert some or all of the costs of pesticides, which can make up a significant portion of a farm’s expenses. Instead, the only cost incurred in their method was to enhance landscapes to provide habitat for the targeted predators.

For example, they constructed artificial nesting boxes for birds such as American kestrels, a small, abundant species of falcon, to attract them to the farms. In fact, they found that providing structures for nesting and perching was more effective at drawing local predatory birds than simply baiting them.

With more farmers pursuing organic

certifications, there remains a need to control

pests without the use of pesticides. Michigan

State University scientists showed that attracting

birds and bats to a farm can help control pest

populations.They note the success of intentionally attracting vertebrates on farms around the world. Indonesia saw 290 pounds in additional yield of cacao per acre, translating into $300 per acre profit increases. For the farmers and for those of us consuming their chocolate, that is very good news. What’s more, these substantial increases were directly correlated with the introduction of birds and bats into cacao agricultural areas. These results have been replicated in

many different countries, with Spain enlisting bats to monitor rice paddies and Jamaica used birds to control coffee-hungry insects.

New Zealand had success with a similar initiative. Grape vineyards employed New Zealand falcons to protect their crops while also providing the endangered raptor with protected territory for them to hunt, live and reproduce. They are currently working with the

Marlborough Falcon Trust to continue this symbiotic partnership which is helping New Zealand’s only falcon population recover.

The researchers demonstrated in the Michigan orchards that similar successes could be realized here in the U.S. They populated cherry orchards with more American kestrels by constructing nesting boxes. Once the kestrels had established themselves in the cherry orchards, they fed on grasshoppers, rodents and smaller birds. The kestrels were particular to starlings and other small birds which can be very destructive to orchards.

While the timeframe of their study did not allow them to estimate the total benefit to crop yields, it can be assumed that smaller pest populations means a healthier and more abundant harvest.

This is one of the few cases where humans and wildlife can overlap in a mutually beneficial manner. The farmers reduce fertilizer costs, gain organic certifications and increase yields. The vertebrates gain safe habitats and abundant food sources. For endangered or declining species of birds and bats, this could help populations rebound without needing costly environmental programs and protections.

However, the research is still preliminary. They note that the orchards they observed were still on a relatively small scale and would be difficult to compare to an industrial-sized operation. Additionally, there may be hidden difficulties associated with these creatures living near farming operations. They advocate for continued research to determine best practices for attracting and retaining the desired vertebrates, while avoiding competition with farmers and local wildlife.

To read the researcher’s findings in full, go to: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880918300501.

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Building a Forest Restoration EconomyTony M. Guerrieri, Executive DirectorIncreasing the pace of forest restoration is needed to address a variety of threats – including fires, climate change, invasive species and others. It is also vital to the health of forest ecosystems, watersheds, and forest-dependent communities.

Forest restoration can also be an important component of economic growth. However, one of the greatest challenges to building a forest restoration economy is finding initial sources of investment. Many investors don’t know what restoration is or realize the extent of its potential.

The report, The Business of Planting Trees: A Growing Investment Opportunity,

shows that restoring degraded and deforested lands is not only a boon for the environment, but a lucrative opportunity

for investors and entrepreneurs.

A report by World Resources Institute and The Nature Conservancy reveals that businesses around the world are making money by planting trees, unleashing a growth opportunity for venture capital, private equity and impact investors. Ac-cording to the report, the U.S. restoration economy alone generated $9.5 billion in annual economic output in 2015

The restoration sector is growing rapidly, with some businesses poised to grow revenues up to 10 times per year.

The report profiles 14 businesses suc-cessfully seeding growth opportunities in the forest restoration economy – including tech startups, smallholder fi-nance and timber companies – to inspire

venture capital, private equity and impact investors who know little about restoration opportunities. The business-es hail from eight countries including the United States. The 14 business are: BioCar-bon Engineering, Brinkman, EcoPlanet, Bamboo (USA), Ecosia, F3 Life, Fresh Coast Capital (USA), Guayaki (USA), Komaza, Land Life Company, Lyme Timber (USA), New For-ests, Symbiosis Investimentos, Tentree, and Terviva (USA).

A range of investors have financed the businesses featured in the report, from venture capitalists to development banks to foundations. Investments include debt, equity and grants. Several companies have raised millions of dollars in growth capital in recent years.

New technologies have paved the way for faster, cheaper and more efficient tree planting, allowing rapid reforestation of broad areas of land. From seed-planting drones to credit access for small farm-ers, technology is changing the face of ecological restoration. Many of these innovations were unavailable even five years ago.

Businesses such as BioCarbon Engineer-ing, which uses specialized drone tech-nology to reforest remote landscapes, are taking off, melding engineering advance-ments to restore age-old ecosystems; while Terviva plants pongamia, a non-GMO tree crop that needs little irrigation and produces biofuel on distressed agri-cultural lands. Forbes featured Terviva on a list of Top 25 Most Innovative Ag-Tech Startups in 2017.

Consumer goods companies are also integrating restoration in innovative ways, from selling yerba mate grown in restored forests, to using their profits to plant trees. As trendy consumers become more engaged in conservation, many companies are seeing a big opportunity

to market forest-friendly products that differentiate them in the marketplace.

There’s also a large market for companies to support the millions of acres of public land being restored. The political momentum for restoration continues as countries seek to meet their commitments to the Paris Climate Agreement, Bonn Challenge, Initiative 20x20, AFR100 and more. With nearly 5 billion acres of degraded and deforested land committed for restoration worldwide, these pledges present a growth pathway for the companies that design, manage and implement the projects.

Although the timber industry has been around for decades, sustainably managed timber that improves land quality has been a bright spot for innovation.

From institutional timber funds that set aside large amounts of land for conservation to business models that incorporate smallholder farmers or focus on endangered species, recent developments indicate that sustainable timber has a rising role to play in the growth story of restoration.

The WRI and TNC 65- page report, The Business of Planting Trees: A Growing Investment Opportunity, is available for downloading at: https://www.wri.org/sites/default/files/business-planting-trees_0.pdf.

6 E n v i r o n m E n t a l S y n o p S i S

Impacts of Communication Technology GrowthColeen P. Engvall, Research AnalystHow much energy does the phone in your pocket use? Most people would assume that the amount is fairly negligible, considering how many functions modern smart phones can perform. And if you are only counting the energy needed to run the device, that is probably true. However, smart phones require more than just the hardware within them to access messages, makes calls and connect to the internet.

Two researchers from McMaster University decided to look at the total resources being consumed, recycled and processed by the explosion of smartphones and other communications devices across the globe. After gathering data and analyzing the trends they found, they published their study in the Journal of Cleaner Production. The article is entitled Assessing ICT Global Emissions Footprint: Trends to 2040 & Recommendations.

Along with smartphones, professor Lotfi Belkhir and entrepreneur Ahmed Elmeligi studied the total footprint of laptops, tablets, personal desktop computers and the data centers and networks that allow them to function. They refer to these collectively as information and communications technology.

They start their article by pointing out that these technologies usually improve overall

efficiency of the individual or organization that utilizes them. Emails can replace the paper of memos and letters, the internet can cut down on print sources, video conferencing can save on extremely carbon intensive air travel, etc. However, with the astonishing rate of growth of ICT, they argue that it is still prudent to examine the cost of the system as a whole to identify possible improvements.

With the explosive rate of growth seen in

information technologies such as smartphones,

researchers from McMaster University

estimated their current total footprint, as well as projections for the

coming years.After analyzing each device and its entire life-cycle footprint, the article claims that ICT as a sector represents 1.5 percent of global emissions. On a world-wide scale, that is quite a large number. The study narrowed down the source of this impact within the sector to production and operation.

Production alone makes up the majority of the consumption at 85 percent. This includes the mining of raw minerals, the shipping of parts, the assembly and sale. Computers, like the one running

your smart phone, require precious metals that require a great deal of energy and effort to extract and refine. The use of virgin materials, rather than recycled materials, amplifies this effect. Another factor is planned obsolescence and the high turnover rate of devices amongst consumers, particularly smart phones. How often does a new iPhone

or Android phone model appear on the market and how many people do you know are constantly trading their old phone in for one? For middle class Americans, it is not uncommon for an individual to upgrade their smart phone every two years. If you are trendy, a four year old phone is downright ancient. This high turnover results in the high production footprint seen in the industry.

Operations make up the other part of the ICT sector’s footprint. Smartphones and tablets themselves are quite efficient in terms of electricity usage, however, the total infrastructure needed to connect these devices consumes a lot of energy. Data centers, cell phone towers, satellites, hardline fibrotic cables and much more technology goes into sending text messages, navigating, shopping and browsing online on a personal communications device. Data centers in particular are requiring larger facilities and more storage capacity to keep up with increasing bandwidths, usage and ownership. These facilities consume a great deal of electricity, and the report predicts that by the end of this decade, they will make the total footprint of smartphones greater than that of laptop and desktop computers. If the sector’s current trends continue, the footprint could grow from 1.5 percent of global emissions to a whopping 14 percent.

However, the researchers also note the positive steps taken by many private organizations. Some massive data centers have taken it upon themselves to source their electricity from renewable sources such as wind and solar. For example, Google plans to purchase or generate 100 percent of their electricity from renewable sources and make their data centers more efficient overall. These efforts, combined with more research will allow the ICT sector to grow responsibly.

The article, Assessing ICT Global Emissions Footprint: Trends to 2040 & Recommendations is available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S095965261733233X?via%3Dihub.

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On Thursday, February 22, the Committee held a public hearing on Pennsylvania’s Nutrient Credit Trading Program. The program allows non-point and point source polluters to reduce the discharge of nutrients, sediment and pollutants into the Chesapeake Watershed as efficiently as possible. However, low participation and other impediments have kept the program from accomplishing the reductions that were originally expected. Testifiers from across the spectrum of stakeholders presented at the hearing.

Committee Chronicles A review of some memorable Committee events

• Check Us Out on Social Media •You can now receive updates on committee events, new research and more by following the Joint Legislative

Conservation Committee on social media.You can find us on Facebook at www .facebook .com/jointconservationcommittee, or on

Twitter at www .twitter .com/PA_JLCC. Take a moment and follow us today for the latest on issues related to Pennsylvania’s diverse natural resources.

Farewell and Good Luck!

From the staff of the Joint Legislative Conservation Committee, best of luck to former Assistant Director Mike Nerozzi. His attention to detail and tireless work ethic defined his time with us and he pushed every day to make the Committee better.

He spent four years here and now begins a new chapter of his life as the Director of Policy and Planning for the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

Good luck, Mike! It was an honor and a pleasure working with you.

The Chesapeake Bay Commission’s Executitve

Director Ann Swanson (pictured at right) and Pennsylvania Director

Marel King (pictured at left) presented testimony to the

Committee.

Committee members as well as other interested members of the General Assembly listened to testimony by Philip Durgan (bottom right) of the Pennsylvania Budget and Finance Committee.

8 E n v i r o n m E n t a l S y n o p S i S

when compared with the Pacific Northwest, which accounts for 99 percent of the domestic hazelnut crop. To put that number in perspective, however, U.S. production only represents about 5 percent of the total world crop.

The American hazelnut tastes as good as its European cousin, but is only one-quarter the size, with a thick shell that stays tightly in its husk when mature, compared to European species that easily fall to the ground. This means that American hazelnut trees produce less than their European kin and they are more difficult to harvest. Additionally, most commercial equipment is designed for large-scale European producers, and is too big and expensive for local growers.

The popularity of products like Nutella

have sparked a surge in demand for hazelnuts.

Can a new hybrid species help Pennsylvania growers capitalize

on this traditionally European crop?

Some have tried to cultivate the European hazelnut in the U.S., but most have been unsuccessful. The trees suffer in the slightly colder climate or, more often, succumb to an endemic disease called Eastern Filbert Blight. A naturally occurring fungus in the indigenous American hazelnut causes the blight, with only minor damage to our native trees. To their European counterparts, however, it is almost always fatal. The fungus girdles the tree, stopping the flow of water and effectively killing the tree.

So how can American growers overcome these obstacles? The solution may involve a hybrid of the American and European species. The Philadelphia Inquirer recently highlighted research at Rutgers University in New Jersey. Scientists, blending the best of the American and Italian varieties, have developed resilient, blight-resistant hazelnut trees that produce high quality hazelnuts.

The research clearly shows potential for developing a domestic hazelnut tree that can thrive throughout the Northeast. Such a change would help Pennsylvania growers cash in on the increasing demand from consumers.

As a crop, the hazelnut tree is easy to maintain. Hardy trees do not require much irrigation, nor the extensive care of fruit trees. They are a low-input, low-impact perennial that remains fruitful for decades, and 70-year old nut-producing trees are not unusual. They require no pesticides, reduce soil erosion and nutrient runoff, capture pollutants and provide habitat for wildlife.

The higher demand for hazelnuts should eventually spark a sharp increase in price, making it a financially attractive crop for growers. Hazelnut production in the U.S. is forecasted to increase significantly over the next few years, perhaps even more so if these new hybrids prove viable. In the coming years, a profitable hazelnut crop might be a reality for Pennsylvania farmers.

Joint Legislative Conservation

Committee

Contact Information

Phone : 717.787.7570

Website : jcc .legis .state .pa .us

Location:Room 408

Finance BuildingHarrisburg, PA 17120

Mailing Address:Joint Legislative

Conservation CommitteePA House of Representatives

P.O. Box 202254Harrisburg, PA 17120-2254

The Chairman’s Cornercontinued from page 1