The State Conservation Commission this week approved the guidelines and applications needed to apply for the Resource Enhancement and Protection Act (REAP) farm conservation tax credit.

The Commission will begin accepting applications January 2 and applications and other background materials should be available on the Commission’s website by December 1.

The REAP Program provides $10 million this fiscal year for agricultural Best Management Practices in the form of transferable or sponsored tax credits.

Personal and business state tax credits ranging from 50 to 75 percent of the cost to install conservation practices like barnyard improvements, riparian buffers, no-till planting equipment, stream fencing and other practices will be available.

Each farm enrolled in the program is eligible for up to $150,000 in transferable tax credits that can be used over a 15-year period or sold to other taxpayers. A business can earn tax credits by sponsoring projects on an eligible farm.

REAP was included in Senate Bill 97, but received overwhelming bipartisan support. It was sponsored in the House by Representatives Jerry Stern (R-Blair) and Peter Daley (D-Washington) and in the Senate by Senators Mike Waugh (R-York) and Michael O’Pake (D-Berks), along with 79 other co-sponsors.

Information on REAP is available online at the CBF REAP webpage and at State Conservation Commission REAP webpage.

Farmers or businesses interested in sponsoring farm projects who would like to receive an information packet on REAP should send an email to REAP@cbf.org or send their name and address to Chesapeake Bay Foundation, attn: REAP, 614 North Front Street, Suite G, Harrisburg, PA 17101.

Spotlight: The REAP Program: New Conservation Dollars for PA Farms

Session Schedule

The Senate and House will return to voting session November 19. The House cancelled November 27 & 28 as session days, but added December 5, 17, 18 and 19 as voting days and December 13 as a non-voting day. The Senate released its early 2008 session schedule this week—

January 1, 14, 15, 16, 28, 29, 30

February 4, 5, 6, 11, 12

March 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 31

April 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 28, 29, 30

May 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21

June 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30

PA Environment Digest Video Blog

Online Video

· PA Resources Council Promotes Composting Fall Leaves on KDKA Pittsburgh

On the Hill

· On the Senate/House Agenda

· Senate/House Bills Moving/Bills Introduced

· Senate Energy Policy Committee Hearing on Renewable Energy Investments

· House Sponsors of Clean Energy Bills Urge Action on Special Energy Session Bills

· Senate Agriculture Committee Acts on Land Conservation Bills

· Rep. Phillips’ Lyme Disease Task Force Bill Subject of House Hearing

· House Environmental Committee to Meet on Energy Session Bills

· Senate Committee Hearing on Transition to Market-Based Electricity Rates

· Environmental Issues Forum to Hear About Pittsburgh E-Waste Recycling Program

Other News

· A Helping Hand for Appalachia in the Clean Streams Practicum

· PA American Water Accepting Entries for Watershed Art Contest

· Insurance Dept. Proposes to Double Fee on Gasoline Sales for Tank Cleanups

· EPA Partners Recognized for Improvements to Environment, Balance Sheets

· Recycled Electronics, Demanufacturing Forum Set for December 11

· Student Winners of Radon Poster Contest Announced

· $5.4 Million in Energy Harvest Grants Announced to Support 28 Projects

· Penn State: Clean, Carbon-Neutral Hydrogen on the Horizon

· Bayer Plants Trees With Chartiers Valley Intermediate School Students

· Allegheny County Health Dept. Sponsoring Global Warming Poster Contest

· M&T Bank Launches $50 Million Municipal Energy Efficiency Loan Fund

· Electric Competition Spurs Efficiency, Puts Risks on Investors, Not Consumers

· DCNR Increase Fees for State Park Facilities 2008

· Larry Williamson to Be Honored as “Conservationist of the Year”

· Lehigh/Berks Air Quality Partnership Honors Tom DiLazaro

Spotlight

· The REAP Program: New Conservation Dollars for PA Farms, By Lamonte Garber, Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Grants & Awards

Go To: PA Environment Digest Calendar Page

11/16/2007