Rep. Scott Perry (R-Cumberland) and 40 bipartisan co-sponsors introduced legislation this week to make state government a partner in helping sewer system ratepayers and farmers meet federal and state mandates to reduce nutrients going into Pennsylvania’s streams and rivers.

The bill is House Bill 2441 known as the Chesapeake Bay Strategy Improvement Act.

"This bill calls for greater accountability, organization and cohesiveness in the deployment of the Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy developed by the Department of Environmental Protection," Rep. Perry said. "Over the past few months, I have heard from a number of constituents, local governments, and many organizations impacted by the Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy. This legislation addresses many of their concerns and ideas."

Rep. Perry said the Commonwealth entered into an agreement with several other states to improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay. These agreements outline certain standards for states to curtail pollution to the bay, and from these agreements, DEP put together a Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy.

To help limit pollution to the bay and fulfill the goals and standards set in the Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy, many wastewater treatment plants around the Commonwealth will need to be upgraded, costing local governments millions of dollars.

"While the Tributary Strategy has a laudable environmental goal, its practicality in terms of implementation costs, especially to local governments, is proving to be very problematic," Rep. Perry said. "Businesses and homeowners are already seeing double digit increases in their sewer bills."

The proposed legislation would:

· Provide an appropriation of up to $500 million over a period of seven years to help local governments fund the needed plant upgrades to reduce nutrient discharges;

· Appropriating up to $250 million over a five-year period to help fund agricultural best management practices to reduce nutrient and sediment runoff;

· Create the Pennsylvania Chesapeake Bay Nutrient Trading Board. The board will be made up of stakeholders in the nutrient trading process. Its overall mission will be to provide for a more reliable and viable nutrient trading process through independent oversight and management. The legislation also outlines a general process for the review, approval, acquisition, and trading of nutrient credits; and

· Establish in statute the Chesapeake Bay Advisory Council as an advisory body to the department.

The proposed legislation would also task the Council and the Citizens' Advisory Council with the responsibility to review the results of the department's annual evaluation and to report the results of their analysis to the Senate and House Environmental Resources and Energy committees.

The measure also requires the DEP to conduct an annual evaluation of the progress made toward meeting nutrient and sediment reduction goals, and provide an annual estimate of the overall costs and benefits related to compliance with the Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy.

Finally, the bill provides for a more appropriate and realistic phase-in schedule for wastewater treatment plant compliance, and requires that nutrient and sediment reduction, storm water control, and other water quality requirements be encompassed in legislation subject to review and approval by the General Assembly.

The bill contains many elements recommended in the Pennsylvania Fair Share for Clean Water Plan developed by a coalition of environmental, farm, businesses and municipal groups developed 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: 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.

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

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5/16/2008