The Environmental Resources and Energy Committee this week approved a resolution calling for totaling the costs of the Chesapeake Bay cleanup and legislation requiring municipalities to do more to protect the Appalachian Trail.

The bills include Senate Resolution 224 (Vance-R-Cumberland) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study the cost for wastewater treatment plants to comply with the Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy.

Sen. Pat Vance told the Committee her intent was not to delay implementation of the Chesapeake Bay point source reductions in nutrients, but to get to the bottom of the cost estimates for complying with this requirement.

The other bill was House Bill 1281 (Freeman-D-Lehigh) requiring municipalities to adopt zoning ordinances to protect the Appalachian Trail. This bill was amended to include provisions for the notification of communities that must comply with the requirements in the bill.

Sen. Mary Jo White (R-Venango) serves as Majority Chair of the Committee and Sen. Ray Musto (D-Luzerne) serves as Minority Chair.

2/8/2008