Sen. Waugh Addresses Town Meeting

Nearly 50 people came to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s town hall meeting in York to discuss how Pennsylvania can encourage farmers to install best management practices on farms through the proposed Resource Enhancement and Protection Act (REAP).

So far over 200 people have attended local town meetings sponsored by the Bay Foundation to educate farmers, watershed groups and other interested citizens on this important issue.

Also attending and giving remarks were Sen. Mike Waugh (R-York), a sponsor of the legislation, Rep. Ron Miller (R-York), York County Commissioner Doug Kilgore (D) and Gary Swan, PA Farm Bureau.

This year Pennsylvania’s legislators have an historic opportunity to reduce pollution, protect the Commonwealth’s waterways and strengthen our economy by giving farmers better tools to reduce nutrient and sediment runoff.

REAP, a bipartisan initiative introduced first as House Bill 100 by Rep. Stern (R-Blair) and Rep. Daley (D-Washington) and as Senate Bill 690 by Sen. Brubaker (R-Lancaster), Sen. O’Pake (D-Berks) and Sen. Mike Waugh (R-York), would give farmers tax credits of up to 75 percent of the cost of installing best management practices like forested stream buffer, stream fencing and other measures.

Video Blog: Rep. Stern Talks About Challenges Faced by Farmers, REAP

"I applaud the REAP initiative because it will be a benefit to both farmers and the environment," said Vice Chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, Sen. Mike Waugh.

Pennsylvania has over 13,400 miles of rivers and streams that do not meet water quality standards and REAP is another tool that can help reduce pollution going into these streams and help the Commonwealth meets its commitment to cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay.

Visit the Resource Enhancement and Protection Act (REAP) webpage for more information.

Video Blog: Sen. Waugh Talks About REAP and Challenging Budget Year

Video Blog: Rep. Miller Talks About the Need Farmers Have for Support

Video Blog: Com. Kilgore Talks About How REAP is Part of the Solution

Video Blog: Farmer Ron Wood Encourages Farm Conservation

NewsClips: Bill Promises Cleaner Water

Strong Support for Proposal to Help Farmers Improve Waterways

REAP Gathers Momentum

Session Schedule

The Senate and House return to voting session April 16.

PA Environment Digest Video Blog

· John Quimby Receves CBF Educator of the Year Award

Online Training

· New Penn State Extension Online Pond, Lake Management Class Begins April 4

On the Hill

· On the Senate/House Agenda/Bills Moving/Bills Introduced

· Senate Committee Recommends Confirmation of McGinty as Secretary of DEP

· Senate Passes PA Center for Environmental Education Bill

· Rendell Oil Tax Has Unintended Impacts on Renewable Fuels, Domestic Energy

· Sen. Brubaker Introduces Senate Bill to Improve Farm Conservation Practices

· Conservation Districts Hold Capitol Lobby Day, Recognize Sen. Wenger

· Environmental Synopsis Online, Joint Conservation Committee Annual Report

Other News

· Conservation Districts Recognize Farmers Working to Protect Chesapeake Bay

· Proposed Federal Bill Would Increase Funding for Farm Conservation

· Grants Announced for Innovative Mine Drainage Treatment Projects

· Get Early-Bird Rates for PA’s Volunteer Water Monitoring Summit

· PA Water Works Association Annual Conference April 24-27 in Hershey

· Erie Source Water Protection Workshop to Be Held April 12

· What Do Exceptional Value, High Quality Stream Classifications Mean?

· Presentation on Fish Enhancement Structures Set for April 18 in Harrisburg

· Anglers Encouraged to Follow Guidelines for Eating Trout They Catch

· Wildlands Conservancy Seeks Nominees for Friend of the Lehigh River Award

· New Forest Education Program Geared Toward Young Students

· First Falcon Egg Arrives in Harrisburg, More to Follow (We Hope)

· DEP Accepting Composting Infrastructure Development Grant Applications

· Schools Invited to Enroll as Litter-Free School Zones Program

· Lower Susquehanna River Sweep Cleanup Set for June 2-3

· What Are You Doing for Earth Day in April? Here Are Some Suggestions

· Studies Identify Troubled Communities Statewide, Make Recommendations

· Deadline Extended to Apply for Low-Income Home Energy Assistance

· PA Biomass Working Group to Hold First Meeting April 16-17

· Heffner Appointed Director of DEP's Policy Office

Spotlight

· Nation’s New Thirst for Ethanol Could Leave Chesapeake Bay With Hangover, By Karl Blankenship, The Chesapeake Bay Journal

Environmental Heritage

· Three Mile Island, March 28, 1979 at 3:53 A.M.

Feature

· Game Commission Issues Springtime Alert: Do Not Disturb Young Wildlife

Go To: PA Environment Digest Calendar Page

3/30/2007