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Senate Puts Anti-Stream Buffer Bill In Position For A Final Vote, Not Over Yet

The Senate Wednesday put House Bill 1565 (Hahn-R-Northampton), that environmental groups say weakens DEP requirements for stream buffers in Special Protection Watersheds, in position for a final vote next week, the final two days of session.

An amendment offered Monday in Committee by Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne), Minority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, changed the provisions of the bill to give applicants the option to install practices other than a stream buffer, but only if they can prove other practices are “substantively equivalent to” a stream buffer.

The amendment also changes the provision allowing the installation of a buffer in other areas, but “as close as feasible to the area of disturbance” to limit the replacement buffer to areas within the same watershed.  Click Here for the amendment language.  Click Here for a summary.

If the bill is passed by the Senate in its current form, it must return to the House for a concurrence vote before the General Assembly adjourns.

“CBF is disappointed that House Bill 1565 has passed out of committee, and urges the full senate to reject this bill,” said Harry Campbell, PA Director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. “The bill will open up Pennsylvania’s most pristine waterways to increased pollution threats from development.

“Pennsylvania has a commitment to clean up our waterways, and streamside forested buffers are one of the most cost-effective, common-sense solutions to reducing pollution, managing floods, and maintaining iconic and economically important fish, like the brook trout.

A report released today (Monday) by CBF assessed natural values of forests, including forest riparian buffers, in Pennsylvania’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay watershed at being over $31 billion annually if the Clean Water Blueprint is implemented.  Pennsylvania’s Blueprint plan relies heavily on protecting and restoring forested buffers.

“It simply does not make sense to allow developers to cut down existing trees, especially along Pennsylvania’s last remaining pristine streams.

“Thousands of farmers and hundreds of developers, local governments, and businesses throughout the state have already planted and preserved buffers. These investments have all been made with the goal of managing polluted runoff, reducing flooding, and enhancing property values in the Keystone State.”

House Bill 1565 has been opposed by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA, PA Environmental Council, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, the PA Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, the Fish and Boat Commission, PA Chapter National Association of Water Companies, Clean Water Action, PA Council of Trout Unlimited, PA Federation of Sportsmen’s ClubsPA League of Women Voters, PA Land Trust Association, PA Landscape and Nursery Association and former DEP Secretary David E. Hess.

NewsClips:

PLS: Stream Buffer Bill Could See Final Passage

Stream Buffer Bill Clears Senate Hurdle

Putting A Price Tag On Clean Water In PA

Bill Would Have Lawmakers Approve Climate Plan


10/13/2014

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