Rep. Parke Wentling (R-Mercer) was unanimously elected to serve as Chair of the bipartisan, bicameral Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee (JLCC).

“The JLCC is one of those rare legislative agencies that exists in state government to provide valuable information, recommendations and insight into the wide-ranging, ever-changing environmental and conservation issues that are present in Pennsylvania,” said Rep. Wentling. “I am excited to work with my fellow colleagues to help lead the JLCC in advancing its pursuits of opening the door for productive discussions on Pennsylvania’s environment.”

Over the decades, the JLCC has helped formulate some of the Commonwealth’s most groundbreaking environmental laws including the Environmental Rights Amendment to the state Constitution and a variety of other legislative issues such as prescribed burns, waste tire remediation and electronic waste recycling.

The JLCC conducts studies, holds hearings and makes recommendations to the General Assembly on a variety of environmental issues. It also makes recommendations regarding the custodianship and care of land, water and air in the Commonwealth to determine where there are problems, possible solutions and what can be done to initiate positive change.

“Throughout my tenure on the JLCC, I have primarily focused on two critical areas,” said Rep. Wentling. “First, working with energy companies and stakeholders to create osprey nesting boxes in order to prevent electrical outages and to protect the osprey bird population; and second, in tandem with my role as majority chair of the PA House Cycling Caucus, developing rails-to-trails initiatives in Northwestern Pennsylvania which aim to boost recreational opportunities and tourism for local communities, as well as generate economic revenue for the state.”

The JLCC recently hosted in-depth presentations focusing on rails-to-trails initiatives and local bicycle tourism in Northwestern Pennsylvania.

During the two-day program, which was held in Mercer and Crawford counties, attendees heard from legislators and key stakeholders from Pennsylvania and Ohio regarding the development and progress of rails-to-trails projects spanning from Erie to Pittsburgh and Jamestown to Ohio.

During the current legislative session, Rep. Wentling has also introduced several environmentally focused resolutions including the recognition of Bike Month and Bike to Work Day/Week; the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Appreciation Day; and July 2019 as Lake Appreciation Month.

Rep. Parke Wentling (R-Mercer) serves as Chair of the Joint Conservation Committee.

For more information, visit the Joint Conservation Committee website, Like them on Facebook or Follow them on Twitter.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the Committee.

[Note: The Joint Conservation Committee is scheduled to be eliminated on July 1, 2021 as a result of the FY 2019-20 budget agreement.]

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[Posted: December 15, 2019]

12/16/2019