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Dog Reminders

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Residents are reminded that dogs must kept on leash at all times, including when you are visiting one of the Township’s parks. We’ve had reports of dogs being left off leash in both Blue Spring and Kaywood Parks. The Township will follow up with the State College Dog Officer to ensure our regulations are being followed.

If you see a dog off leash, feel free to contact State College Borough directly at 814-234-7191 during regular business hours. After hours, please contact State College Police at 814-234-7150.

You can find our dog regulations here: https://ecode360.com/30337221

Stormwater Program Update

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Harris Township’s MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System) permit PAI34801 was renewed by PADEP with revisions effective July 1, 2020.  Through the five-year permit cycle, Harris Township aims to reduce the sediments and nutrient discharges to local waterways from the census-defined urbanized area by 10 percent.

Harris Township and PADEP aim to accomplish this goal through a series of projects and educational opportunities. If you know of a target audience who would benefit from participating in a stormwater informational session, please contact the Township’s MS4 coordinator, Jere Northridge, and provide the contact information for your group. Past presentations have been made to SCASD students, public works employees, first responders, the construction industry, scouts, realtor groups, and Leadership Centre County.  Future presentations will occur over the five year permit period.  Presentations may require an alternate format relative to gathering guidelines in place at the time of the presentation.

Educational materials are also available through the Harris Township website (https://harristownship.org/resident-info/stormwater-information/) and the MS4 Partners website (ms4partners.org).

For more information or to inquire about a presentation, please contact the Harris & College Township MS4 Coordinator Jere Northridge at (814) 231-3024 or jnorthridge@collegetownship.org.

Stormwater Update

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In the fall of 2018 Harris Township will begin a new round of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting for the Township’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4). For this upcoming permit cycle, Harris Township must prepare a Chesapeake Bay Pollution Reduction Plan (CBPRP).

The goal of the CBPRP is to reduce the amount of suspended solids by 10 percent, total Nitrogen by 3 percent, and total Phosphorous by 5 percent over a five year period. To simplify calculations, DEP is allowing the assumption that the reduction goals for Nitrogen and Phosphorous are met if the sediment reduction is achieved.

In 2016 Harris Township entered into an agreement with the other MS4 permit holders (College, Ferguson, and Patton Townships, State College Borough, and Penn State) to obtain a consultant to prepare a joint CBPRP. The consultant selected, Newell, Tereska, and Mackay, began work on the CBPRP in January of this year and completed the CBPRP report in October.

The report contains the existing sediment loading and details how the required 10 percent reduction in sediment may be achieved. For Harris Township, potential projects include stream bank restoration at the Military Museum and a retrofit of an existing stormwater management basin at Willowbrook.

As noted earlier, there is a five year time frame to achieve the 10 percent reduction in suspended solids. The CBPRP was prepared to show DEP that we have identified potential projects to meet our pollution reduction goals. It is not a static document that cannot be changed.

During the five year period it is likely that other projects may be identified or projects previously identified may be found to be unworkable. Updates may be made as needed and submitted to DEP along with our annual MS4 report. The bottom line is that we have to show that we reduced sediment load by 10 percent at the end of the permit. We look forward to the tasks that lie ahead as we work to meet our CBPRP goals.

A copy of the CBPRP can be found here: https://harristownship.org/resident-info/stormwater-information/.

Washing of Commercial and Fleet Vehicles

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Harris Township wishes to remind businesses that the Department of Environmental Protection has guidelines that must be followed when washing commercial or fleet vehicles.

Washing of commercial and fleet vehicles is prohibited when the wash water discharges to “waters of the Commonwealth.” Waters of the Commonwealth includes rivers, streams, storm pipes, inlets, ditches, swales, roadways, and any stormwater structure that makes up part of the Township’s storm sewer system.

Businesses can wash vehicles when the wash water will discharge to a public sanitary sewer system. An example of this situation would be a garage that has floor drains that are connected to the sanitary sewer system. Businesses can also utilize commercial car washes as they are set up with the proper recycling and disposal of wash water.

For more information on vehicle washing please go to the stormwater section of the Township website and click on Mobile Washing Fact Sheet.

Brush & Leaf Video

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The Centre Region recently prepared a video on properly preparing brush and leaves for collection.

  • To watch a video on brush and leaf collection, click here.

Open Burning Regulations  

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Residents in the Township are allowed to burn on their property. Under our ordinance, only yard waste can be burned, provided the following regulations are met:

(1) Residents wishing to burn must first call the Centre County Dispatch to make them aware of your plans. Dispatch can be reached at (800) 479-0050.

(2) Residents are only permitted to burn between sunrise and sunset.

(3) Campfires are permitted in the Township. These fires must be contained in an enclosed area, such as a ring or pit.

Anyone with questions about the burning ordinance may contact the Township Office at 466-6228 or by email at manager@harristownship.org. If you have a concern about a fire and its after hours, please call State College Police at 234-7150.

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