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Agriculture Committees OK Fair Share Clean Water Plan for Farmers

The Senate and House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committees this week unanimously approved funding increases for cost share, technical assistance and the REAP Tax Credit Program designed to help farmers reduce nutrient pollution to meet federal Clean Water Act mandates.

The increases were included in Senate Bill 1449, sponsored by Sen. Roger Madigan (R-Bradford) and House Bill 2656, sponsored by Rep. Mike Hanna (D-Centre), and recommended by the Fair Share for Clean Water Coalition.

“We want to thank all the sponsors of these bills and the members of the Agriculture Committees for recognizing the urgent need to help farmers in Pennsylvania meet state and federal Clean Water Act mandates,” said Matthew Ehrhart, Pennsylvania Executive Director for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. “Farmers play a critical role in water quality improvements, but they can’t do it alone. These bills provide much needed assistance to farmers to install conservation practices and the technical assistance they need to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus pollution.”

Sen. Mike Brubaker (R-Lancaster) serves as Majority Chair of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and Sen. Michael O’Pake (D-Berks) serves as Minority Chair. Rep. Mike Hanna (D-Centre) serves as Majority Chair of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and Rep. Art Hershey (R-Chester) serves as Minority Chair.

“The problems caused by the runoff of fertilizer and other nutrients into groundwater and streams have to be addressed, but many agricultural producers struggle with the cost of implementing a nutrient reduction plan," Rep. Hanna said. "This program would help farmers reduce nutrient runoff while easing any financial burden involved."

"Almost 70 percent of Pennsylvanians obtain their drinking water from surface water sources, and we have a vested interest in helping farmers, businesses and wastewater facilities meet water quality standards all across the state," Brubaker said.

"These investments are a significant step to getting Pennsylvania on track for cleaner water, benefitting everyone in the state," Sen. Brubaker said.

The PA Fair Share for Clean Water Coalition includes the Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, Pennsylvania Builders Association, Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and a growing list of 30 other environmental, business and local government groups.

Both the Senate and House bills outline a seven year program to provide farmers with $390 million in 50-50 cost share and technical assistance funding. For fiscal year 2008-09, funding includes:

· $10 million in funding for the Department of Agriculture;

· Increasing the Resource Enhancement and Protection Act (REAP) farm conservation tax credit to $35 million,

· $10 million increase in county conservation district funding; and

· Creating a new $15 million 50-50 cost share program to put farm conservation practices on the ground.

"We are at a cross-roads. Farmers are continuously asked to produce more food and fuel for our growing populations, yet environmental requirements for improvements and maintenance pose a heavy financial burden for them,” said Joel Rotz, State Governmental Relations Director for the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. "Senate Bill 1449 and House Bill 2656 will help provide the financial support that farmers need to meet ever-increasing demands in achieving water quality mandates

“The PA Association of Conservation Districts commends the bipartisan support of both Senate and House Agriculture Committees in approving Senate Bill 1449 and House Bill 2656, and look forward to working with sponsors to insure the funding programs are included in the state budget, to secure adequate agricultural funding including conservation district funding in the state budget,” said Susan Marquart, Executive Director of the PA Association of Conservation Districts. “County Conservation Districts provide essential technical assistance and implementation of proper conservation practices on farms, yet we’ve seen cuts in funding in the past year, at a time when these services are most needed by farmers.”

“Because of the short deadlines imposed by the federal Clean Water Act and the state Department of Environmental Protection, the General Assembly and the Governor must address funding for farmers and wastewater treatment plants as part of this year’s budget,” said Ehrhart. “If this issue is not addressed in the next few weeks, sewer system ratepayers will see their rates double and triple and family farmers will incur financial burdens they cannot pass along in the cost of their crops and livestock.”

The legislation approved this week will address the agricultural funding needs proposed in the Fair Share Plan. Other recent legislative initiatives have addressed other aspects of the Fair Share Plan and include:

· Senate Bill 2, introduced by Sen. Jane Earll (R-Erie), provides a priority for funding for nutrient reduction projects at wastewater treatment plants. It passed the Senate last week and is now in the House;

· Senate Bill 1341, introduced by Sen. Ray Musto (D- Luzerne), authorizes a $400 million bond issue referendum to fund drinking water and wastewater projects, including nutrient reduction projects and is in position for a final vote in the Senate next week;

· Senate Bill 1493, introduced by Sen. Pat Vance (R-Cumberland), provides enhancements to the state’s Nutrient Credit Trading program that will drive down the cost of meeting clean water mandates; and

· House Bill 2654, introduced by Rep. Mike Hanna-D-Centre establishing the entire Fair Share for Clean Water Nutrient Reduction Program, farm and wastewater infrastructure.

Additional Supporting Groups

These groups have joined the growing list of over 35 supporters of the PA Fair Share for Clean Water Plan—Pennsylvania Environmental Council, Coldwater Heritage Partnership, Somerset County Conservation District, Chester County Conservation District, York County Conservation District, Westmoreland County Conservation District, Sullivan County Conservation District and Dover Township, York County.

The PA Fair Share for Clean Water Plan would 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;

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

· 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.

Over the course of seven years the Fair Share for Clean Water Plan will invest up to $890 million in upgrades to sewage treatment plants and agricultural practices for nutrient reduction efforts for the Chesapeake Bay and cleaning up streams statewide.

For more information, visit the PA Fair Share for Clean Water Plan website.

NewsClips: Fair Share Bill Passes Senate, House Ag Committees

Chesapeake Plan Meeting Scheduled in Williamsport

Lower Lackawanna Sewer Rates Could Increase 50 Percent

Huntingdon Hikes Sewer Rates to $42

Bradford Authority Discusses Proposed Sewage Facilities Update

Susquehanna River In Need of Help (Online Video)

Editorial: Water, Sewer Needs Worthy of Gaming Revenues

Links: Coalition Proposes Fair Share Clean Water Funding Plan, Original Announcement

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