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 Michael McCleary at 570-286-7114, ext. 111 or mmccleary@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 1 acre over the life of the project to obtain a permit. 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 one acre of disturbance may require District review to meet municipal, state, or federal requirements.  For NPDES permitting forms, click here.

For more information, contact Michael McCleary at 570-286-7114, ext. 111 or mmccleary@nccdpa.org.

Chapter 105 Dam Safety & Waterway Management

Chapter 105 in Title 25 of the PA Code contains the permit guidelines for regulating work in or near streams.  These regulations are STATE regulations.  There are other rules and regulations that are enforced either locally through municipalities and/or by the federal government. 

There are 11 General Permits.  The NCCD accepts permits 1-9.  General Permits 10 and 11 must be forwarded to the Williamsport Northcentral regional office of DEP.  Erosion and Sediment Control Plan approval from the NCCD IS REQUIRED for permits 1-9.  Please submit three (3) copies of the General Permit application and the Erosion and Sediment Control Plan to the NCCD, along with the Erosion and Sediment Control Plan review fee (see fee schedule under Erosion and Sedimentation Control for amount).  Once the Erosion and Sediment Control Plan is approved, you will be notified, and we will forward the permit to DEP Northcentral regional office for their approval.   

General Permits (Click to open permit package)
GP - 1     Fish Habitat Enhancement Structures
GP - 2     Small Docks & Boat Launching Ramps
GP - 3     Bank Rehabilitation, Bank Protection & Gravel Bar Removal
GP - 4     Intake & Outfall Structures
GP - 5     Utility Line Stream Crossings
GP - 6     Agricultural Crossings & Ramps
GP - 7     Minor Road Crossings
GP - 8     Temporary Road Crossings
GP - 9     Agricultural Activities
GP - 10   Abandoned Mine Reclamation
GP - 11   Maintenance, Testing, Repair, Rehabilitation, or Replacement of Water Obstructions & Encroachments

For more information, contact Michael McCleary at 570-286-7114, ext. 111 or mmccleary@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.

For more information on programs we offer, or to schedule an educational program, contact Jaci Lucas at 570-286-7114 ext. 110 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.
**PLEASE TAKE NOTE**
Even if your operation is not a CAO, you are still required to have a Manure Management Plan if you land apply manure or agricultural wastewater.  Click here for the current version of the Manure Management Manual. 

For help determining whether or not your agricultural operation is a CAO, or putting together a Manure Management Plan, contact Todd Deroba at 570-286-7114 ext. 112 or tderoba@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 Todd Deroba at 570-286-7114 ext. 112 or tderoba@nccdpa.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.  For a grant application, click here. 

QAB Members:

• Michael McCleary, NCCD
• Judy Becker, NCCD
• Mike Erdley, NCCD
• Kevin Blake, NRCS
• Steve Boughter, Fish & Boat Commission

For more information on the Dirt & Gravel Road program, contact Michael McCleary at 570-286-7114 ext. 111 or mmccleary@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. 109 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. 115 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.

• Home
• |
• About
• |
• Programs
• |
• Publications
• |
• Events
• |
• Get Involved

A special thank you to our website sponsor Cherokee Pharmaceuticals in Riverside, Pennsylvania.