Old Business

1: Approval of April Minutes

Attachments: EAC April 2024 Minutes

2: Approval of revised 2024 Goals

Attachments: Allentown EAC 2024 Goals

3: Approval and presentation of 2023 Annual Report to City Council

Attachments: 2023 Annual Report of Allentown Environmental Advisory Council

4: Earth Day / Ecofest at Muhlenberg Update

5. Filling EAC vacancies

6. Status of budget for EAC

7. Letter Reviews

a. ECB-Storage Tanks Program, Chapter 245 Technical Memo Summary – RACR-SSS Review, 7

Eleven 23322, Facility ID#: 39-24557, Incident ID#: 52837, 11 E. Susquehanna Street.

b. Approval of Environmental Covenant Waiver Requests, 7 Eleven 23322, Facility ID#: 39-24557,

Remediation ID#: 52837, 11 E. Susquehanna Street.

c. ECB-Storage Tanks Program, RACR Approval Letter – Site-specific standard, 7 Eleven 23322,

Facility ID#: 39-24557, Remediation ID#: 52837, 11 E. Susquehanna Street.

d. ECB-Storage Tanks Program, 310(b) Site Characterization Report Approval, Storage Tank Release

–

October 2, 2023, Allentown 4th Street Gulf, Facility ID #:39-40343, Incident#(s): 59343 and 59344,

1224 South 4th Street

e. ECB-Storage Tanks Program, Chapter 245 Technical Memo Summary – SCR/RACR Review,

Allentown 4th Street Gulf, Facility ID #:39-40343, Incident#(s): 59343 and 59344, 1224 South 4th

Street.

f. Vorteq Coil Finishers, LLC regarding the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Discharges of Stormwater

g. Buckeye Terminals, LLC – Macungie Terminal, 5198 Buckeye Road, Emmaus, PA 18049, Annual 20

– Mile Downstream Notification

h. Buckeye Terminals, LLC – Annual 20 – Mile Downstream Notification, Buckeye Energy Services

LLC (Buckeye) – Macungie BES Terminals (1, 2, & 3), 5285 Shipper Rd., Macungie, PA 18062

Attachments: 7 Eleven 23322: Technical Memo

7 Eleven 23322: Environmental Covenant Waiver Approval

7 Eleven 23322: RACR Approval Letter

Allentown 4th Street Gulf: Report Approval

Allentown 4th Street Gulf: Technical Memo

Vorteq Coil Finishers, LLC: NPDES

Buckeye Terminals, LLC: Macungie Terminal

Buckeye Terminals, LLC: Macungie Terminals (1, 2, &3)

8. Status Reports from Leads on EAC Goals

1: Approval of April Minutes

●

Approved

2: Approval of revised revised 2024 Goals

●

Approved, need to be posted

3: Approval and presentation of 2023 Annual Report to City

Council

●

Approved, needs to be posted

4: Earth Day / Ecofest at Muhlenberg Update

Earth day at the park was a success for the EAC. Met with some

new individuals for the email list and were able to record an outreach

video with the help of the city. Kyle needs to touch base with them for

when it will be posted. Additionally, ecofest at Muhlenberg was a

success as well. Veronika from the city was able to join us and connect

with students and organizations alike.

The events revealed to us the need for the EAC to gather tabling

materials. An activity for engagement, flyers and such, potentially a tent

or banner. Future intern will be tasked with this.

5. Filling EAC vacancies

The City and website have apparently been out of the loop with

our members and their statuses. Coming up in the pipeline we have the

recommendations for Maria and Peter Dent’s applications. We need to

prepare for Jennifer’s departure as well.

6. Status of budget for EAC

Santo in coordination with several City employees were able to

locate the 5k allocation for the EAC. Unfortunately, it was never spent

during the budget year and was placed back into the general fund. The

push for funding can be accomplished in the 2025 budget, as talks for it

begin relatively soon. We need to be on the ball about it and develop a

more coherent budget.

7. Letter Reviews

New system in place. All good on these several letters.

8. Status Reports from EAC Goals

1. Neighborhood Cleanup Community Initiative - Jennifer deferred

to Mary and Tinku for an update. They recently met with St

Lukes / Sacred Heart on Friday. Their focus is community

engagement within the Jordan Heights neighborhood. The

discussion was centered around a potential project called

“Blueprint Communities” which is a 10 year program with a

committee led by local leaders in the neighborhood. The focus is

primarily associated with workforce development, healthcare

access, and community revitalization. We as an EAC can send a

member to serve as a part of the plan/committee. More info on

the plan can be found online.

2. Shared Energy Manager - As of now, the draft plan has been

developed. It includes the replacement of 7 vehicles in the fleet

and installation of charging infrastructure at the Bridgeworks site.

The deadline for the plan to be submitted is in July, then the

money can be allocated. The City is also looking to install

chargers throughout the city at other locations such as parks for

the general public’s access. A large part of getting approval is

getting the appropriate data to ensure the pros and cons are

properly discussed.

3. Recommended ordinance - Maria has an example ordinance for

us to review. She will send it to the group following the meeting.

We should discuss it at a future meeting (add to agenda). Santo

noted that the city is currently doing a housing study/zoning

review. It potentially will cover warehouses as well as a variety

of other outdated legislation.

4. Bird Town Environmental Education program - Birdtown has

been going well and Felice did an excellent job. It is in place

through the end of the year. Paid for through a grant by Bird

Town. Jessica from the City recently did one and it was

excellent. New intern Lauren will be picking it up.

5. Communication Efficiency, Transparency, and Accountability -

Things are going well! Email is operational and Kyle has begun

to collect new contacts to expand our reach. Note on the

potential expansion of administrative access for other EAC

members to the account.

6. Lead and Manage Muhlenberg Interns - Unfortunately, the

interns were unable to complete their inventories due to lack of

data availability. Jess was not provided gas data from UGI and

the carbon footprint was too small. Jess is interested in an

interim project report to be posted on the EAC website to get

some worth out of her project. Tinku will share with board

members to make edits by EOD Friday the 17th.

7. Community Education Programs - There was an article in the

newspaper a few weeks ago regarding air quality. We have

interest in received the data, but have had no input on any of the

studies for placement. Iota Communications / Center for

Sustainable Innovation is doing their own study on air quality.

Santo will reach out to them to see if they can join the next

meeting and speak briefly.

8. Annual CDP disclosures - It appears we will not be submitting

the CDP disclosures this year. Leaving it on the agenda to

discuss further in June.

9. No update.

10. Safe streets for all steering committee kickoff was attended by

Tinku. She is optimistic due to the amount of funds available for

infrastructure rather than just investments into behavior changes.

New Business

1: EAC involvement in Allentown’s Air Quality monitoring near Allentown Schools

2: Youth Climate Action Grant Opportunity Update

3: New EAC email list and shareable link

● https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdQU8I2T5qJRD0amk4_2Cjf1SQ

Rdrhy6YYY2VHTCPhcMs8MA/viewform?usp=sf_link

● Friendly reminder to CC atowneac@gmail.com onto any communications for organizational

purposes.

4: EAC Meeting Location

5: EAC Network Events?

6: COA Zoning Update (feedback due by June 15th, 2024)

1: EAC involvement in Allentown’s Air Quality monitoring near

Allentown Schools

Discussed above

2: Youth Climate Action Grant Opportunity Update

Veronika is leading it as of now. Someone from the EAC needs to be

on the review for the grants. Future agenda item.

3: New EAC email list and shareable link

●

<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdQU8I2T5qJ

RD0amk4_2Cjf1SQRdrh-y6YYY2VHTCPhcMs8MA/viewform

?usp=sf_link>

● Friendly reminder to CC atowneac@gmail.com

<mailto:atowneac@gmail.com> onto any communications for

organizational purposes.

4: EAC Meeting Location

Next EAC meeting will not be in the library basement due to spotty

reception and the administration’s stance on wanting us in City Hall.

Request must be made for us to be in Council Chambers with zoom

option and Santo will be included on the email.

5: EAC Network Events?

The Lehigh Valley has their own EAC network that includes a

committee of major members including Maria. There is an event

coming up led by Liesel Gross, CEO of LCA on the collaboration

between multiple municipalities for their Klines Island plan.

Additionally, there is a statewide EAC network that falls under

WeConservePA. Good handle on statewide EAC issues.

6: COA Zoning Update (feedback due by June 15th, 2024)

Not discussed.