Erosion & Sedimentation Control

The NCCD administers the Chapter 102 Erosion Control program through a signed delegation agreement with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Under Chapter 102 delegation, NCCD conducts the following program responsibilities:

• Technical Plan Reviews
• Site Inspections
• Complaint Investigations
• Information & Education

The Erosion & Sediment Technician reviews and approves E&S Control Plans for earthmoving sites. Inspections of sites are conducted to assure the plans are properly implemented. Click here for the fee schedule and application. For small projects, click here for the fee schedule and application.

For more information, contact Pete Ackley at 570-286-7114, ext. 4 or packley@nccdpa.org.

National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)

In conjunction with the E&S program is the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Program. This program requires any earthmoving activities disturbing greater than 5 acres over the life of the project to obtain a permit. In addition, earthmoving activities disturbing between 1-5 acres with a point source discharge require a permit in accordance with Phase II. Under the requirements of the NPDES program, these activities must have an erosion control plan submitted to the District for review. Permits are not issued until the plan is in compliance with Chapter 102, Title 25 Rules and Regulations of the Clean Streams Law. In addition, projects with less than five acres of disturbance may require District review to meet municipal, state, or federal requirements.

NPDES Documents

• PAG-2 Instructions
• PAG-2 Form and Checklist
• Approval of Coverage Under the General NPDES Permit for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Construction Activities
• Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory Search Form (PNDI)
• Notice of Termination
• Transferee/Co-Permittee Application
• General Information Form
• Checklist
• Licensing/Permit Questionnaire

For more information, contact Pete Ackley at 570-286-7114 ext. 4 or packley@nccdpa.org.

Environmental Education

The NCCD offers a variety of Environmental Education programs for teachers, students, and members of the community on a regular basis. Our Environmental Education coordinator will be happy to do a presentation for your organization or classroom. We also house the Dave Unger Environmental Education Center, where we hold a number of educational programs throughout the year. Our programs include a Poster Contest, Birth of a Tree, YAC! (Youth in Agriculture and Conservation!), Ag-Citement!, National Wildlife Week, Middle School, and High School Envirothons.

This year's poster contest winners have been annouced!  Click here for more information. 

Click here for Pennsylvania's State Envirothon results.

For more information on programs we offer, or to schedule an educational program, contact Jaci Lucas at 570-286-7114 ext. 4 or jlucas@nccdpa.org.

Nutrient Management

NCCD, under a delegation agreement with the State Conservation Commission, administers the Pennsylvania Nutrient Management Program, Act 38 (formerly Act 6 of 1993), in Northumberland County.

Under Act 38, Concentrated Animal Operations (CAOs) are required to develop and implement a Nutrient Management Plan. CAOs are defined as agricultural operations where the animal density exceeds 2 animal equivalent units (AEUs) per acre of land suitable for manure application on an annualized basis. An AEU is defined as 1,000 pounds of live animal weight and includes all livestock, whether for production, transportation, or recreation. Land suitable for manure application includes cropland, hayland, or pastureland (owned or rented) that is, or will be, available for the application of manure from the operation. Farmstead and forestland cannot be included in the acres suitable for manure application. Agricultural operations having less than 8 animal equivalent units are not classified as CAOs, regardless of animal density.

For help determining whether or not your agricultural operation is a CAO, contact Amy Tull at 570-286-7114 ext. 4 or acroll@nccdpa.org.

Chesapeake Bay Program

The Chesapeake Bay Program is a cooperative effort involving all of the jurisdictions in the Chesapeake watershed in the goal of reducing nutrient and sediment pollution and removing the Chesapeake Bay from the federal Clean Water Act's list of impaired waters by 2010. Pennsylvania is critical in this effort as fifty percent of the fresh water to the Chesapeake Bay flows from the Susquehanna River. The Chesapeake Bay 2000 agreement is a multi-state and federal partnership to clean up and restore the Chesapeake Bay. The new agreement includes the goal of developing locally supported watershed management plans in two-thirds of the bay watershed by addressing the conservation of stream corridors, riparian forest buffers and wetlands.

DEP provides for funding of a Conservation District staff person to implement the program. For information on funding possibilities for this program contact Amy Tull at 570-286-7114 ext. 4 or acroll@ncccdpa.org.

Dirt & Gravel Roads

The Dirt & Gravel Roads program is designed to fund environmentally sound maintenance of unpaved roadways that have been identified as sources of sediment pollution. Signed into law in April 1997 as Section 9106 of the PA Vehicle Code, the State Conservation Commission allocates Dirt & Gravel Roads Maintenance Funds to County Conservation Districts. The funds are available to local municipalities that maintain dirt & gravel roads. Also, someone from the applying entity must have completed the Environmentally Sensitive Maintenance Training, a two-day course that includes modules on drainage, road maintenance techniques, erosion prevention & sediment control, bank stabilization, roadside vegetation management, and grant procedures.

The NCCD Quality Assurance Board (QAB) accepts and reviews applications each fall. Contracts will then be signed with work begun in the spring.

QAB Members:

• Judy Becker, NCCD
• Pete Ackley, NCCD
• Mike Erdley, NCCD
• Kevin Blake, NRCS
• Mark Pisko, Fish & Boat Commission

For more information on the Dirt & Gravel Road program, contact Pete Ackley at 570-286-7114 ext. 4 or packley@nccdpa.org.

Agricultural Land Preservation

The NCCD coordinates the activities involved in the Agriculture Land Preservation Program for the county on behalf of the Northumberland County Agricultural Land Preservation Board. Applications are received during open application rounds, which are advertised. A $100 fee is required with applications.

Applications are ranked using a two-part Land Evaluation and Site Assessment (LESA). The LESA looks at the quality of soils/site assessment, and considers local factors that may have an impact on the current or future viability of a farm.

Once the farms are ranked and the funding is provided from the State, the land development rights are purchased from the highest-ranking farms. The total number of farm easements purchased to date in the County is 15, totaling 1,830 acres.

Northumberland County Agricultural Land Preservation Board

• Bill Geise, Chairman, Farmer
• Rich Daniels, Vice-Chairman, Farmer
• Mary Crone, Secretary/Treasurer, Farmer
• Dave Crowl, Contractor
• Benny Snyder, Township Supervisor
• Tom Boop, At-Large Member
• Dave Becker, At-Large Member

For an application, click here. For more information on the AgLand Preservation Program, contact Judy Becker at 570-286-7114 ext. 4 or jbecker@nccdpa.org.

Watershed Protection and Education

The Conservation District supports watershed association development and projects with organizational and technical assistance provided by the Watershed Specialist. Watershed Associations invite members of a community to work together to solve or repair complex issues within their waterways and watersheds. Currently there are six active watershed associations in Northumberland County. They are:

• Shamokin Creek Restoration Alliance
• Little Shamokin Creek Watershed Association
• Chillisquaque Limestone Watershed Association
• Roaring Creek Valley Conservation Association
• Tri-Valley Watershed Association
• Mahanoy Creek Watershed Association

For more information on the Watershed Protection and Education Program, contact Jaci Harner at 570-286-7114 ext. 4 or jharner@nccdpa.org.

In order to request information under the Right-to-Know law, complete the Right-to-Know Request Form and then email to Judy Becker, or fax to (570) 988-4488, or send to the US mailing address, or hand deliver to the physical location address listed below during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays or other announced office closings.  All Right-to-Know requests must be submitted in writing.  Verbal or anonymous requests will not be accepted.