The Senate Republican Policy Committee will hold a public hearing on the cost of the Department of Environmental Protection’s Chesapeake Bay cleanup strategy on February 21 in Harrisburg.

Scheduled to testify are representatives of several affected municipalities, including Lewistown Borough, Mifflin County Carlisle Borough, Cumberland County and Fairview Township, York County, the PA Municipal Authorities Association, PA Builders Association and the PA Farm Bureau.

Several other groups will present comments on DEP’s nutrient credit trading program—Red Barn Trading Company and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council.

DEP Secretary Kathleen McGinty is also scheduled to testify and a representative of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Chesapeake Bay Program was invited to provide comments.

The hearing is being held at the request of Sen. Patricia Vance (R-Cumberland). The chair of the Committee is Sen. Jake Corman (R-Centre).

NewsClips: Vance Bay Impact Bill Gets OK

Senate Calls for Study of Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Costs

Groups Push Funding to Revive Polluted Waterways

Lock Haven Bills to Skyrocket Under Chesapeake Bay Requirements

Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Funding Sought

Chesapeake Bay Sticker Shock

Plants to Keep Nutrients at Bay, But Cost a Concern

State Asked to Fund Sewer Plant Upgrades

Passing the Buck on Water Quality

Chesapeake Sticker Shock

Danville Challenges Sewer Upgrade Requirements

Links: Chesapeake Bay Foundation Urges Environment Be Given More Priority

County Conservation Districts Concerned With Gov. Rendell’s Proposed Budget

PA Farm Bureau Concerned About Budget Cuts to Vital Programs

PA Chesapeake Bay Program

2/15/2008