6/1/09
Program Coordinator Mike Klimkos Retires: Mike
Klimkos, Dirt and Gravel Road Program Coordinator for 5 years,
retires on June 19th 2009.
12/1/08
Center Moves to "Larson Transportation Institute":
The Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies has
moved within Penn State University. Formerly with the Penn State
Institute for Energy and the Environment, the Center became
part of the Larson Transportation Institute this month. The
move will give the center better access to transportation related
resources. Further details can be expected in the next newsletter.
3/15/08
CEU Credits for ESM training: Beginning in the
Fall of 2007, the Center's 2-day Enviornmantally Sensitive Road
Maintenance Training will carry 1.3 Continuing Education Unit
Credits. The CEUs credits are from the Penn State College opf
Engineering. Contact the Center for more information.
10/13/07
DGRoads GIS Training: November 13, 2007 in State
College. This training is different from the assessment trainings.
It is a walkthrough of the entire DGRoads GIS program for Conservation
Districts. Intended for new hires, but anyone is welcome for
a refresher. MORE
INFO
7/23/2007 New Center Director: Kevin Abbey has left
the Center and Penn State to pursue other interests. We wish
Kevin the best of luck in future endevaors. Dr. Barry Scheetz,
long time Cener Co-Director has taken over as Acting Director.
The Center and University look forward to the Center's potential
with Dr. Scheetz as Director. (contact
info for Barry Scheetz)
3/23/2007 Assessment Trainings: Six assessment trainins
have been scheduled for Conservation District Staff planning
to conduct a new assessment. Training Dates and Locations are
listed on the CDGRS Calendar.
A detailed summary of the assessment and assesment training
can be downloaded HERE.
2/2/2007 DSA Approved
for Liquid Fuels Spending: PENNDOT has approved
the Program's Driving Surface
Aggregate for purchase by state and local entities. This
means townships can now use their Liquid Fuels money to purchase
DSA. Guidance documents
are being prepared and will be available soon about the effect
this will have on the Dirt and Gravel Road Program.
11/22/2006 New
Assessment: The State
Conservation Commission has given approval for a new assessment
to be conducted in 2007 and 2008. Details:
- An assessment
involves field inspection of unpaved road to identify and evaluate
worksites.
- The voluntary
assessment will be conducted by Conservation Districts.
- Assessment
trainings will be held in the spring of 2007.
- Districts will have until the end of 2008 to complete their
new assessments.
- New assessment data will not affect County Allocations unless
Program funding is increased.
- Program administration and education funds can be used to
cover assessment costs. Much more assessment guidance will be provided in early
2007.
10/18/2006 New
Documents: 3 new Technical
Bulletins and a new Worksite in Focus have been added to the
RESOURCES listing
on this website: TB-pipes overview, TB-Crosspipe installation,
TB-"Through-the-Bank" pipes, WIF-Hatch Run Road
3/13/2006 Environmentally Sensitive Maintenance Eligibility List
Now Available On This Website Searchable database available
on Education
& Training tab. This is current through 1/30/2006.
11/10/05 Replenishment Contact Information Tammy Young, who has been
handling Dirt and Gravel Road Program allocation replenishments
has changed jobs. The new contact at DEP for Conservation District
replenishments is: Rob Filipowicz: Bureau of Watershed Management,
PO Box 8465, Harrisburg, PA, 17105, phone: 717-772-5648.
10/16/05
Environmentally Sensitive Maintenance (ESM) Training Policy
Change The following policy was
adopted by the State Conservation Commission and goes into effect
for 2006:
"In order to be eligible for Dirt and Gravel Road grant
funding, someone from the applying entity must have completed
the 2-day Environmentally Sensitive Maintenance Training within
the last 5 years" - Effective 1/1/2006. For a list of all
currently scheduled ESM trainings, check our calendar.
