This week a coalition of environmental, farm, businesses and municipal groups announced the Pennsylvania Fair Share for Clean Water Plan to help wastewater plant ratepayers and farmers finance improvements needed to address Chesapeake Bay and statewide water quality improvement mandates while preserving economic opportunity for future homeowners and businesses.

The groups include: Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, Pennsylvania Builders Association, Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. In addition, the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors and the Federation of Sportsmens Clubs voiced their support for the plan.

“For the first time, the five groups that have the most at stake in meeting the water quality mandates have put together a responsible funding plan that we hope will help end the controversy over how these projects should be paid for,” said Matthew Ehrhart, CBF’s Executive Director for Pennsylvania. “This is a comprehensive package that will enable Pennsylvania to meet our Chesapeake 2000 Agreement obligations, improve statewide water quality, secure vital funds to all county conservation districts and provide for future economic development.”

Video Blog: Matthew Ehrhart’s Remarks

The Pennsylvania Fair Share for Clean Water Plan will invest $170 million in 2008-09 in several ways to reduce the financial burden on ratepayers and farms: $100 million to help wastewater plants finance required improvements; $50 million in direct cost share aid to farmers to install conservation practices ($35 for REAP farm tax credits and $15 million in cost share grants); $10 million to county conservation district to expand technical assistance to farmers and $10 million to restore cuts to the Department of Agriculture budget in farm programs. It also proposes reforms to the state’s nutrient credit trading program that will help to make it a viable alternative to provide for both environmental improvements to the Bay and sufficient future sewage capacity for new development.

In future years, the Fair Share Plan calls for similar investments to reduce costs for ratepayers and farmers.

This plan is the result of a unique partnership of groups with varying missions, but with similar interests and end goals who have worked together to develop solutions to a complex situation.

Representing a farming community of members across 63 counties, The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau acts on issues relating to farmland preservation, commodity pricing, tort reform, property tax reduction, health insurance reform, Sunday hunting, water rights and wildlife management. The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau supports the plan and the effort to enhance water quality through on-site agricultural improvements.

"Production agriculture is facing significant and potentially devastating economic burdens, said Joel Rotz, State Governmental Relations Director for the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. “Farmers are trying to comply with increased regulations recently imposed under revisions to federal and state regulations governing the handling and land application of manure and other nutrients, but they cannot do it alone."

Video Blog: Joel Rotz’ Remarks

The Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association and its members have been fighting for state and federal funding to help municipalities achieve required nutrient reductions at their facilities.

“Mandated nutrient reduction under the Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy for sewage treatment plants imposes a heavy financial burden on communities and ratepayers, said John Brosious, PMAA Deputy Director. “Upgrade costs for 184 impacted plants are estimated at $1 billion. With no current state or federal funding available to offset these costs it is imperative that Pennsylvania, like Maryland and Virginia, provide funding assistance to impacted communities.”

Video Blog: John Brosious’ Remarks

The Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts oversees numerous programs directly tied to water quality, among other environmental concerns. Funding for districts has been substantially below levels needed to provide technical assistance to farmers implementing environmental projects, meaning that on-site programs and assistance for conservation efforts have suffered.

“The current state budget proposal of $4.31 million for FY 2008-09 falls far short of the actual funding need, said PACD Executive Director Susan Marquart. “The PACD believes that it is past time for a generous increase in funding for Pennsylvania’s conservation districts.”

Video Blog: Susan Marquart’s Remarks

The Pennsylvania Builders Association represents 12,000-plus member-companies from across the state. PBA’s 528,000 individual members include builders, remodelers, material suppliers, subcontractors, consultants, lending institutions, utilities and others involved in the housing industry.

“The Pennsylvania Builders Association fully supports cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay. The solutions that have been offered up to now will not only fail to clean up the Bay, but will severely curtail economic growth and development in large portions of Pennsylvania,” said Robert J. Fisher, president of R. J. Fisher and Associates, a New Cumberland-based engineering, planning and surveying firm. “A functioning, viable nutrient credit trading program, combined with a funding plan that targets money where it can make the greatest environmental impact, can provide sewage treatment plants with a stable, economically feasible alternative to costly capital upgrades and protect future economic opportunity.”

Video Blog: Robert Fisher’s Remarks

With a PA state office in Harrisburg, CBF is dedicated to restoring the Chesapeake Bay and Pennsylvania's many rivers and streams. CBF works throughout the Chesapeake’s 64,000-square-mile watershed to protect and restore the Bay with programs in environmental education, resource protection and restoration.

“Pennsylvanians will be the first to benefit from making investments to meet our Chesapeake Bay obligations because it will be our streams and rivers that will be cleaner,” said Matthew Ehrhart, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Office of Chesapeake Bay Foundation. “We will have cleaner, cheaper drinking water, improved recreation opportunities and quality of life, improved animal health on our farms, improved opportunities for tourism, and a legacy of clean water to pass on to our children and grandchildren.”

The members of this coalition wish to acknowledge the hard work of many state leaders in bringing these issues to the forefront, developing solutions and addressing concerns of their constituents. Our coalition looks forward to working with these and other leaders to put the necessary measures in place to meet this very significant challenge.

For more information, download a Fair Share Plan fact sheet or visit the PA Fair Share for Clean Water Plan webpage.

NewsClips: As Bay Deadline Looms, Coalitions Says Time to Act is Now

Groups For Money to Help Clean Up Chesapeake Bay

PA Asked for Money to Help Clean Up Chesapeake Bay

Chesapeake Bay Players Proposed Joint Plan

PA Asked for Money to Help Clean Up Chesapeake Bay

Cleanup Plan Offered for Chesapeake Bay

Presentation Given on Chesapeake Bay Strategy

Scientists Say Local Stream Restoration Working

PA Municipalities Lawsuit Calls DEP Nutrient Strategy Unlawful

Links: Groups Say Funding Needed to Cleanup PA Waters Going to Chesapeake Bay

Pennsylvania Will Be First to Benefit From Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Plan

Nutrient Trading Valuable Tool to Reduce Water Quality Cleanup Costs

Video Blog: Cleaning Up 15,000 Miles of Impaired Streams in PA

4/11/2008