At a meeting of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee this week, Sen. Mike Brubaker (R-Lancaster) and Sen. Ray Musto (D-Luzerne) said Senate Bill 2 (Earll-R-Erie), a Senate Republican infrastructure proposal, should be expanded to help fund nutrient reduction by farmers and at wastewater plants and to eliminate combined sewer overflows.

Senate Bill 2 was introduced just last Thursday and reported out of the Committee on Tuesday. The legislation would provide $750 million for drinking water, wastewater, flood control and high hazard dam projects outside Pittsburgh and Philadelphia over ten years funded by gaming revenue.

Sen. Brubaker said the PA Fair Share for Clean Water Plan should be added to the legislation to make state government a partner in helping sewer system ratepayers and farmers pay for nutrient reduction mandates. To date the state has provided little or no funding to help communities and farmers comply with new nutrient reduction requirements.

Video Blog: Sen. Brubaker’s Remarks During the Committee Meeting

Sen. Brubaker also moderated the Water Resources Forum attended by more than 2,000 members of the PA State Association of Township Supervisors, a supporting organization of the Fair Share Plan, and said he would be working hard to see the Plan is adopted by the General Assembly.

A coalition of environmental, farm, businesses and municipal groups developed the Fair Share 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: PA Municipal Authorities Association, PA Farm Bureau, PA Builders Association, PA Association of Conservation Districts and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. In addition, the PA Association of Realtors, the Federation of Sportsmens Clubs, local government and other groups have voiced their support for the plan.

The seven-year plan includes $500 million to help finance a portion of the upgrades needed by 184 wastewater treatment plants in the region and $390 million to help farmers install conservation practices.

Sen. Ray Musto (D-Luzerne) said communities in his and other areas of the state are also facing significant costs for dealing with combined sewer overflows that allow raw sewage to flow into rivers and streams during periods of wet weather.

Sen. Musto has introduced Senate Bill 1341 (Musto-D-Luzerne) authorizing a $1 billion bond issue for the repair and upgrade of drinking water and wastewater treatment systems.

Senate Bill 2 was later referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The Committee also reported out Senate Resolution 283 (Brubaker-R-Lancaster) recognizing the accomplishments of Franklin & Marshall Professors Robert Walter and Dorothy Merritts on their research into legacy sediments. The resolution is now on the Senate Calendar for action.

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

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

NewsClip: Lawmaker Proposes Using Slots Money for Water Projects

Chesapeake Bay Compliance Could Cost $11.7 Million

Senate Committee OKs Slots Cash for Water Issues

Where are $$$ for Watershed Cleanup?

Woodward Township Pledges More Work to Meet DEP Mandates

Editorial: Chesapeake Cleanup, Large Costs for Small Municipalities

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

Video Blog: Sen. Brubaker’s Remarks on Fair Share Plan

Links: Coalition Proposes Fair Share Clean Water Funding Plan

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

CBF, Other Groups Ask State to Be a Partner in Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Plan

40,000 More Acres of Corn, Soybeans Increase Conservation Needs

Link: Franklin & Marshall Professors Announce Legacy Sediments Article in Science

Video Blog: Legacy Sediments, Floodplain Restoration

5/16/2008