Sen. Pat Vance (R-Cumberland) this week announced plans to introduce a Senate resolution that would require a third-party study of the costs for sewage treatment facilities to execute the Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy.

Pennsylvania has been working with other states over the last two decades to implement programs to improve the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay. In 2005 the governor unveiled Pennsylvania’s bay strategy.

The Strategy was designed by the Department of Environmental Protection to implement multi-state agreements intended to achieve significant reductions in the pollutants that have degraded the bay by 2010. These pollutants can come from a variety of sources: agriculture, stormwater runoff, wastewater treatment plants, septic systems, forested lands and atmospheric deposition.

“A variety of municipalities have voiced concerns about the costs to implement the Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy,” Sen. Vance said. “The Department of Environmental Protection maintains compliance costs could be as low as $190 million. Municipalities believe it could exceed $1 billion. By having a third-party study the costs, we will have a better handle on it and be in a better position to consider requests for state financial assistance.”

The resolution would direct the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to review estimates of the costs that sewage treatment facilities will incur to comply with the Bay Strategy.

A 2006 resolution authored by Sen. Vance and Rep. Jerry Nailor (R-Mechanicsburg) delayed implementation of the strategy for nine months so public and legislative input could be considered. This input resulted in revisions regarding the implementation and calculation of discharge levels for nitrogen and phosphorus.

“Since 2005, I have been working to have the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection address issues surrounding the strategy,” Sen. Vance said. “While we have made progress, more study and work needs to be done. The strategy has the potential to significantly increase sewer rates for customers. It is critical that when undertaking something of this magnitude that it be thoroughly vetted.”

1/11/2008