MERCER COUNTY State environmental officials schedule information forum

MERCER, Pa. -- The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is bringing its forum on environmental priorities to Mercer County next week.
The DEP will have an informational meeting on its new watershed-focused, priority-setting approach, said Steven Beckman, DEP regional director.
"We need help from our citizens, watershed groups, farmers, local governments, business people and others in our community on identifying our environmental priorities," Beckman said.
The forum, one of many being scheduled across the state, is set for 6:30 p.m. May 30 at the Mercer County Cooperative Extension office on U.S. Route 19, 2 miles north of Mercer.
Beckman said the Environmental Future Planning Process will address how decisions are made about spending and employee duties.
Focus: In this area, a DEP team will be establishing the baseline environmental conditions for the Moraine watershed, determining the causes of environmental problems and identifying priorities, Beckman said.
That watershed includes the Shenango and Beaver rivers, Sandy Creek, Slippery Rock Creek and Buffalo Creek.
"Our resources will be assigned to address top priorities, and we'll also look to the community to work as our partner in protecting and restoring our environment," Beckman said.