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Conservation Districts Honor House Speaker McCall, Sen. Wonderling
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The Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts this week honored House Speaker Keith McCall (D-Carbon) and Sen. Rob Wonderling (R-Montgomery) with the 2009 PACD Legislator Recognition Award.
 
The PACD presents this award to legislators whose outstanding efforts have helped further the activities and accomplishments of the PACD or Pennsylvania's 66 county conservation districts.
 
Larry Kehl, PACD President stated, “I am honored to present Sen. Wonderling and Speaker McCall with the PACD Legislator Recognition Award. Their numerous contributions to agriculture and the environment over the years have benefited all Pennsylvania citizens.”
 
Speaker McCall has served the people of Carbon County since 1982. A lifelong resident of Carbon County, Speaker McCall has never lost sight of his small-town values as he stands up for his county’s needs.
 
He has diligently worked to secure proper funding for not only his local Conservation District, but for the entire 66 conservation districts in the State. Working with PACD, the Carbon County Conservation District, and his fellow legislators, Speaker McCall has vowed his commitment to conservation districts.
 
In fact, last year he was instrumental in securing nearly $1 million conservation district funding after proposed budget funding levels were severely deflated.
 
Being an avid outdoorsman, Speaker McCall has supported conservation district programs and the conservation district Environmental Education Center activities for many years. He assisted in procuring computer equipment for the conservation district and Environmental Education Center offices.
 
He was instrumental in promoting Carbon County’s Christmas Tree Recycling Program, the Mauch Chunk Lake Park Dirt and Gravel Road project, and the Lausanne Tunnel mine discharge wetland project. In short, a number of projects were completed in Carbon County as a result of Representative McCall’s assistance and support.
 
Sen. Rob Wonderling has consistently supported conservation districts and PACD. He introduced and worked toward final passage of legislation amending the law that created the Commonwealth’s 66 conservation districts.
This new law designated conservation districts as a primary local government unit responsible for the conservation of natural resources in the Commonwealth. It specifically states that districts are responsible for implementing programs, projects and activities to quantify, prevent and control non-point sources of pollution.
 
The Senator’s steadfast efforts came to fruition last July when Senate Bill 1020 was signed into law.
 
Senator Wonderling also introduced legislation promoting the preservation of additional farmland by reducing the acreage required for preservation, legislation creating a program for reimbursement for costs associated with the remediation of brownfield sites including sites impacted by mining activity, supported legislation creating Growing Greener II to conserve and preserve Pennsylvania’s environment and natural resources, and is working to find alternative energy sources and innovative energy technologies.
 
In his home district, Senator Wonderling serves on the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation and was President of the PENJERDEL Council, an organization devoted to the Delaware Valley’s economic and environmental prosperity where he is involved in numerous policy initiatives related to the region’s environment, water supply, land use planning, and trails.

3/20/2009

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