PA Environment Digest

As the Department of Environmental Protection this week laid off 138 workers and concludes its hearings on excessive water use in six major river basins in Pennsylvania, PA Congressman Joe Sestak (D-Chester) this week announced legislation to implement a comprehensive plan for Pennsylvania's watershed management.

"Pennsylvania's water resources are at risk. A statewide plan that addresses this issue immediately will ensure the availability of safe and reliable water resources in Pennsylvania. My bill addresses the threat facing Laurel Hill Creek in Somerset and the other "critical water planning areas" by allocating resources to DEP to get people back to work protecting Pennsylvania's water resources," said Congressman Sestak.

138 of the 319 workers recently laid off from the state government worked for DEP.

The bill builds on the Congressman's efforts since 2007 to implement a wide scale solution to water overuse and pollution.

"Since I took office, I have called for a holistic approach to the critical issue of water resource security in Pennsylvania-one that addresses all the needs of all watersheds rather than through piecemeal projects," Congressman Sestak said. "My proposal brings the Army Corps of Engineers and the state government together to address system-wide problems with our water and develop a comprehensive watershed solution. Failure to act will mean environmental degradation in places like Laurel Hill Creek in Somerset -- ranked the seventh most endangered river in the country-- and eventually a shortage of clean water for Pennsylvania."

Among the bodies of water subject to DEP's hearings were: Laurel Hill Creek in Somerset, ranked by the conservation group American Revers as the seventh most endangered river in the country.
In addition, DEP heard public comments about ways to address preservation of: Connoquenessing Creek in Beaver County; Indian Creek in Fayette County, and Little Toby Creek in Elk County.

If enacted, the legislation would design and implement assistance for water-related environmental infrastructure, resource protection, flood damage reduction and ecosystem restoration projects. This will include projects for waste water treatment, water supply, ecosystem restoration, and surface water resource development.

Beginning in 2007, the Congressman Sestak began meeting with public and private groups to get feedback on the nature of watershed issues and how best to address them. In August of 2008 he held a summit that brought together federal, state, county and local officials along with representatives of area watersheds and subject matter experts.

Recognizing the need for a comprehensive solution, Congressman Sestak then successfully appropriated funds for a first of its kind partnership between DEP and the Army Corps of Engineers to support watershed management through expanded cooperation in his Congressional District. The success of this collaboration is the model for the statewide plan announced by the Congressman.

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