The number of groups supporting the PA Fair Share for Clean Water Plan has now grown to 43 environmental, local government, business and sportsmens groups.

To add your support, send an email or fax from the PA Fair Share for Clean Water Plan website to your House and Senate member and to Gov. Rendell.

Typical of the kinds of supporting statements issued by these groups is this from Pennsylvania Environmental Council--

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council this week announced its support for the Pennsylvania Fair Share for Clean Water Plan, a comprehensive funding package that would dramatically reduce nutrient pollution from wastewater plants and farms across the state.

PEC joins more than 30 other agriculture, environmental, local government and business groups in endorsing the Fair Share Plan.

"PEC has been an active participant in the development of the Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy and the Pennsylvania Nutrient Credit Trading Program, and recognizes that significant additional resources are needed to help municipalities and farmers meet federal mandates to reduce nutrient and sediment loading," said Scott Van de Mark, with PEC. "Maryland and Virginia have agreed to provide over $1.6 billion to support wastewater treatment facility upgrades. Pennsylvania should do the same to help municipalities meet federal water quality mandates and support our farmers as good stewards of the land.

"PEC supports the Fair Share Plan as a balanced approach to both municipalities and farmers by providing needed support for upgrading wastewater treatment facilities and for conservation practices to reduce nutrient and sediment runoff from agricultural operations," said Van de Mark. "PEC also supports the creation of a nutrient trading credit bank which can provide offsets for new development and to help municipalities meet short term nutrient reduction offset needs for publically owned treatment works."

The list of supporting groups includes: Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association, Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Pennsylvania Builders Association, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Pennsylvania Association of Realtors, Juniata Valley Audubon, PA Federation of Sportsmen Clubs, American Farmland Trust, Environmental Defense Fund, Middletown Twp. Land Conservancy, Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper, Northumberland Co. Conservation District, Brubaker Farms, PA State Assoc. of Boroughs, Lancaster Farmland Trust, County Commissioners Assoc of PA, PA State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS), Tioga County Conservation District, PA Landscape and Nursery Association, Chester County Economic Development Council, Tioga County Concerned Citizens Committee, Inc., PA Project Grass, GreenTreks Network, Inc., Warwick Township Municipal Authority, PA Association for Sustainable Agriculture, PA No-Till Alliance, PA State Grange, Cedar Meadow Farm, Somerset County Conservation District, Dover Township, Chester County Conservation District, York County Conservation District, Coldwater Heritage Partnership, Westmoreland County Conservation District, Pennsylvania Environmental Council, Sullivan County Conservation District, Lancaster County Conservation District, Manheim Borough Authority, Union County Conservation District and McKean County Conservation District

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

6/27/2008