Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding told the House Appropriations Committee Wednesday more resources are needed to meet Pennsylvania’s commitments to cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

Secretary Redding said implementing the Chesapeake Bay Program Reboot plan announced in January, in particular the requirement to inspect 10 percent of the farms in the Pennsylvania portion of the Bay Watershed, will require additional staff.

County conservation districts and farmers will also require additional resources to implement farm conservation practices.

Secretary Redding made his comments in response to a question from Rep. Garth Everett (R-Lycoming) who represents Pennsylvania on the Chesapeake Bay Commission.

At a House committee hearing last week on the Chesapeake Bay Program Reboot, DEP Secretary John Quigley said Pennsylvania’s Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Program is all about improving local water quality, but has been faced with inadequate resources and data on conservation practices to do its job.

Click Here for video of the House budget hearings.

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3/14/2016