EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Amy Van Blarcom-Lackey completed a multi-day trip in Pennsylvania across Lancaster, Dauphin, and Centre counties to view, tour, and discuss water quality projects, research, and infrastructure.
"Our visits underscored a simple truth: collaboration works—and Pennsylvania communities are proving it with cleaner streams, healthier habitats, and resilient infrastructure. I’m grateful to our Pennsylvania partners, conservation districts, local governments, universities, and community leaders for their continued collaboration. Together, we’re safeguarding the environment for families today and for generations to come," Van Blarcom-Lackey said.
Van Blarcom-Lackey began her trip in Lancaster County by visiting the Blue Green Connector Project alongside EPA Deputy Administrator David Fotouhi; representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection; the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission; Lancaster County Conservation District; Economic Development Company of Lancaster County; Lancaster Clean Water Partners; the Steiman Foundation; Little Conestoga River Foundation; and Franklin and Marshall College. The tour focused on environmental and economic benefits of the project as well as partnership importance and ongoing monitoring for effectiveness and responsible funding.
In Centre County, Van Blarcom-Lackey visited Spring Creek in Bellefonte Nature Park with the Fish and Boat Commission to tour a stream restoration project funded through an EPA Chesapeake Bay Implementation Grant. The project includes habitat restoration efforts supporting a wild brown trout fishery that contributes to tourism in the area. She also attended training related to planning agricultural best management practices eligible for Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program funding.
Additional field visits in Centre County included demonstrations highlighting benefits of improvements to dirt roads and farm lanes for local landowners. Another stop focused on Halfmoon Creek where pesticide research and EPA-funded stream restoration are advancing habitat recovery. During a tour of Capital Region Water facilities in Harrisburg, EPA reviewed wastewater treatment upgrades as well as an energy-recovery project converting biogas into renewable natural gas for local use.
The trip concluded with meetings involving federal, state, local governments, academia, and other partners all focused on improving local water quality according to the official roster page.
