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Chesapeake Bay Cleanup, Nutrient Trading Topics At Senate Budget Hearing
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Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding answered questions about his budget from the Senate Appropriations and Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committees for nearly two hours this week touching on dozens of topics, including the cleanup of the Chesapeake Bay. Sen. Mary Jo White (R-Venango), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, expressed concern about whether the state had a viable nutrient credit trading program that could help lower the cost of complying with Chesapeake Bay nutrient reduction requirements.
Secretary Redding said the PA Infrastructure Investment Authority is working with the Department of Environmental Protection and his agency to help smooth out the trading process and provide more certainty for buyers and sellers of credits. He noted the pace of credit trades has picked up in the last few months, but at the same time acknowledged there was more work to do.
Sen. Mike Waugh (R-York) said he was disappointed the proposed budget again cuts funding for county conservation districts which are vital to helping farmers develop and implement conservation plans.
Given a choice, Secretary Redding said he would have preferred no cuts for conservation districts because they are so valuable. He did point out the federal Farm Bill was providing $56 million to Pennsylvania for farm conversation, with $23 million of that for technical assistance.
A copy of Secretary Redding's written testimony is available online. You can watch the Senate budget hearing online in its entirity.
The House holds budget hearings on DEP and DCNR next week. The Senate has a hearing on DCNR's budget.
The March 1 Senate hearing on DEP's budget has been moved to 1:00.
Note: Senate and House budget hearings can be seen live online on the PCN TV website. Senate Hearings can be seen live and archived on the Senate Appropriations Committee webpage. Copies of agency testimony or budget presentations from this week:
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2/19/2010 |
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