Susquehanna River at Williamsport

In testimony before the House Republican Policy Committee this week, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Williamsport Sanitary Authority and other groups expressed their support for the proposed Pennsylvania Fair Share for Clean Water Plan that would help wastewater plant ratepayers and farmers finance improvements needed to reduce pollution in local rivers, streams, and the Chesapeake Bay.

The hearing, co-chaired by Reps. Garth Everett (R-Lycoming), Steve Cappelli (R-Lycoming) and Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny), was held at Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport.

Testifiers included the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Department of Environmental Protection, Chesapeake Bay Commission, Williamsport Municipal Water Authority and Sanitary Authority, Lycoming County Water and Sewer Authority, the Williamsport/ Lycoming Chamber of Commerce and the Lycoming County Commissioners' Office.

“There have been numerous media reports in recent weeks focusing on the high costs to municipal wastewater treatment plants associated with complying with the Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy,” said Harry Campbell, CBF’s Pennsylvania Scientist. “The critical point that has received far less attention is that these permit limits are not arbitrary – they are clearly required by the Federal Clean Water Act.”

“The cost of achieving compliance with these pollution reductions is high for all sectors,” said Campbell. “The most recent cost estimates for point source (sewage treatment) compliance ranges from $620 million to $1 billion. The cost for farmers to comply with the required reductions from agriculture is $593 million.”

Campbell notes the states of Maryland and Virginia have committed over $1.6 billion to help wastewater plants in the Bay watershed meet the new mandates, while Pennsylvania has not proposed a funding plan to meet the requirements.

“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 Campbell. “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.”

The Fair Share Plan is supported by a coalition of groups, including: CBF, Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, Pennsylvania Builders Association, Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts and others.

The Pennsylvania Fair Share for Clean Water Plan proposes to invest $170 million in 2008-09 in several ways to reduce the financial burden on ratepayers and farmers:

· $100 million to help wastewater plants finance required improvements;

· $50 million in direct cost share aid to farmers to install conservation practices (increase the cap on REAP farm tax credits to $35 million and $15 million in cost share grants);

· $10 million to county conservation district to expand technical assistance to farmers;

· $10 million to restore cuts to the Department of Agriculture budget in farm programs; and

· 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 water quality and sufficient future sewage capacity for new development.

“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 Campbell. “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.”

Campbell says each member of the Coalition supports the efforts to cleanup Pennsylvania’s waters, they just want state government to be a partner in that effort so ratepayers and farmer families do not have to shoulder that burden alone.

The Department of Revenue this week projected the Commonwealth will end this fiscal year on June 30 with a $437 million surplus.

Marel Raub, Pennsylvania Director of the legislative Chesapeake Bay Commission, outlined the federal Clean Water Act requirements and the steps taken to get Pennsylvania to this point in implementing the Chesapeake Bay Compliance Plan required by federal law and a federal court decision.

Raub also said all sectors responsible for nutrient pollution—wastewater plants and agriculture—must be part of the solution.

“It is clear that we cannot rely on one sector to be solely responsible—both from a policy perspective and from a scientific and mathematical perspective—for the reductions that must be achieved,” said Raub.

“I want to commend the coalition that has formed around the Fair Share (for Clean Water) proposal, because they have recognized that the best plan to meet our goals is one that is comprehensive,” said Raub. “I also want to recognize Rep. Scott Perry for taking the lead to develop legislation in this regard.”

Other witnesses from Lycoming County outlined the costs ratepayers expect to bear to pay for required reductions, if state and federal financial aid is not forthcoming.

"Implementation of the Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy is just one of many regulatory requirements impacting the cost of water and sewer infrastructure improvements," said Lycoming County Commissioner Jeff Wheeland. "In Lycoming County alone, required sewer and water infrastructure improvements are estimated to cost in excess of $200 million. We need a timely and well-defined funding strategy at the state and federal levels to support our local efforts. If the Chesapeake Bay is truly a national priority, as we believe it should be, then the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Congress need to join us at the funding table."

In addition to providing an overview of compliance efforts, Walter Nicholson, Director of Operations for the Williamsport Sanitary Authority said, “We support legislative initiatives such as the Fair Share for Clean Water Funding Plan… and also the adoption of House Bill 2441 which would furnish 50/50 matching grant funding for Chesapeake Bay-related wastewater treatment plant facility improvements….”

Rep. Scott Perry (R-Cumberland) has sponsored legislation—House Bill 2441 (not yet online) -- to help ease the funding burden on taxpayers and local governments within the watershed. The legislation includes appropriating $500 million over seven years to help local governments pay for needed plant upgrades and $250 million over five years to help fund agricultural best management practices to reduce nutrient and sediment runoff.

"The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement places a heavy financial burden on local municipalities, governments and citizens," said Rep. Perry. "My legislation helps to reduce financial pressures on communities located within the watershed by having the state share some of the costs of meeting the new federal requirements."

Reps. Dave Millard (R-Columbia), Sandra Major (R-Susquehanna), Tina Pickett (R-Bradford), Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) and Adam Harris (R-Juniata) were also in attendance at the hearing.

For more information on the Pennsylvania Fair Share Plan for Clean Water, visit the Fair Share Plan webpage.

NewsClips: April Tax Collections Brought Surplus for PA Coffers

Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Timetable Questioned

Editorial: Not Doing Enough to Help With Chesapeake Bay Mandates

Centre County Times Blog: Fair Share Clean Water Funding Plan

Letter: Our River-The West Branch of the Susquehanna

Duboistown Discusses Chesapeake Bay Plan

Video Blog: Remarks By Coalition Partners on the Fair Share Clean Water Plan

Links: Coalition Proposes Fair Share Clean Water Funding Plan

16,000 Miles of Polluted Streams Add Urgency to Call for Clean Water Funding

5/2/2008