On June 3, Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) was honored with the 2019 “Public Official of the Year” Award by the PA Water Environment Association during its annual award ceremony in State College. 

The award is given to an individual state or local elected or appointed public official who has demonstrated leadership that has had a positive impact or has made a significant contribution towards improving the water industry or the water environment.

Sen. Yaw serves as Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and has authored and championed several bills aimed at protecting and improving Pennsylvania’s water quality over the years. 

He also serves as Chairman of the Pennsylvania delegation to the Chesapeake Bay Commission.  The CBC is a tri-state legislative assembly representing Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania that coordinates Bay-related policy across state lines from managing living resources and conserving land, to protecting water quality.

“I am truly honored to be presented with the “Public Official of the Year” award by the PWEA,” Sen. Yaw said.  “As a legislator, I take very seriously my role in advancing measures that I believe will improve our environment and protect it for future generations.  Our water resources are an immeasurable asset that we must never take for granted.”

During the 2019-20 legislative session, Senator Yaw has sponsored several measures aimed at protecting Pennsylvania’s water resources:

-- Legislation amending Title 3 (Agriculture) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes (Fertilizer), setting clear standards for the application of fertilizer to turf, providing for labels and labeling and the disposition of funds. [Announced May 7.]

-- Senate Bill 634 Legislation to provide additional financial and technical assistance to farmers to install and implement best management practices on their land. [The bill is scheduled to be considered by the Senate Agriculture Committee June 4.]

-- Senate Bill 679 directing the Environmental Quality Board to develop regulations that authorize counties to adopt a program for “stream cleaning” and maintenance and the removal of obstructions and flood-related hazards from our local waterways. [The bill is in the Senate Environmental Committee.]

-- Legislation amending the Public School Code to require all school drinking water systems to be tested for lead contamination. [Announced April 27.]

-- Senate Bill 575 instituting a nutrient procurement program that will engage the private sector and incentivize them to reduce nitrogen pollution. [Scheduled to be considered by the Senate Environmental Committee June 4.]

-- Senate Resolution 92 recognizing the week of May 5 through May 11, 2019 as “Drinking Water Week” in Pennsylvania. [Passed April 20.]

-- Senate Resolution 121 designating the week of June 2-8, 2019 as “Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week” in Pennsylvania. [Passed May 7.]

[Note: Sen. Yaw was also the prime sponsor of legislation signed into law in April designating the Eastern Hellbender as Pennsylvania’s state amphibian and clean water ambassador.  The designation was a project of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation PA Student Leadership Council.]

The PA Water Environment Association was founded in 1926 to advance the preservation, protection and improvement of water resources. It provides accredited training to industry professionals and publishes a quarterly magazine spotlighting industry news, noteworthy projects, and continuing education opportunities.

Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) serves as Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and can be contacted by calling 717-787-3280 or sending email to: gyaw@pasen.gov.

(Photo: Duane Mowery, PWEA Member; Sen. Gene Yaw; Kevin Shannon PWEA President 2018-2019 and Scot Fertich, PWEA President 2019-2020.)

Related Stories:

Costly Taxpayer Funded Chesapeake Bay Nutrient Reduction Procurement Bill To Be Considered June 10 In Senate Appropriations

Senate Environmental Committee Reports Out Bills Making Fundamental Changes To The Definition Of Water Pollution, Setting Up Costly Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Program

Senate Environmental Committee Hears Ideas On 3rd Party DEP Permit Reviews, Including A Special Licensing Program For Consultants

[Posted: June 4, 2019]

6/10/2019