The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA sent a letter to the Chairs of the House Game and Fisheries and Environmental Resources and Energy Committee this week saying House Bill 1576 (Pyle-R-Armstrong) would dilute the scientific basis of designating wild trout streams and encouraged the Committees to look at the full ramifications of the language in the bill.

The letter says in part--

“As you are aware, Pennsylvania’s wild trout streams are revered across the country. Streams containing naturally reproducing wild trout populations are foremost indicators of exceptional water quality, and as such are found only in the Commonwealth’s most pristine and economically sensitive waters. These pristine streams must be protected and stream designation must continue to be based on scientific data.

“The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission designates wild trout streams pursuant to statutory authority. The criteria for designating wild trout streams include a review of location and habitat within the stream, a finding of natural reproduction of trout in the stream section or immediately adjacent to the stream section, tributary linkages, and specific biological criteria. (See 58 Pa. Code §57.11.) This scientific data is obtained through well-established and thorough scientific sampling methods which are reviewed critically by trained professionals to determine if the criteria to designate a stream are met.

“By interjecting the Independent Regulatory Review Commission and standing committees for both the House and Senate into the process as is proposed in House Bill 1576 and its counterpart Senate Bill 1047 (R-Scarnati), the scientific basis for these decisions may be diluted. None of the proposed committees would have the scientific expertise or standards needed to evaluate the need for stream designation changes. This layering of further oversight will fail to ensure that scientific data will be accurately assessed, and may in fact lead to merely increasing workloads on agency staff and slowing down the review process.

“While CBF recognizes the desire of individuals to be a part of the wild trout stream designation process, the ability to engage the Fish and Boat Commission already exists pursuant to the Commonwealth Documents Law, the Commonwealth Attorney’s Act and the Sunshine Act. Opportunities for public comment are available and review of the Commission’s reports, as well as summaries of the scientific data that is the basis for the proposed listing and designations, are easily obtained for scrutiny. Further expansion of this review process will only lead to unnecessary delays, thereby furthering endangering Commonwealth waters that warrant immediate protection.

“Given the importance of scientific data showing the need to designate a stream as a wild trout stream, and the fact that such a designation assures that the water quality in that stream is pristine, it is imperative that the full ramifications of House Bill 1576 and Senate Bill 1047 be considered before either piece of legislation is voted on in committee.”

NewsClips:

House Endangered Species Bill Spurs Debate

Pyle’s Endangered Species Bill Debated

Editorial: Phony Protection For Endangered Species

Letter: Changing Endangered Species System, Rep. Causer

9/23/2013