Two more elements of the PA Fair Share for Clean Water Plan will be considered June 16 and 17 in the Senate Appropriations and Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committees.

The Senate Appropriations Committee meets June 16 to consider Senate Bill 1341 (Musto-D-Luzerne) authorizing a $400 million voter referendum to finance drinking water, wastewater and stormwater projects.

The bill includes a special provision to finance improvements to wastewater treatment plants to meet federal and state nutrient reduction mandates.

The Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee meets June 17 to consider Senate Bill 1449 (Madigan-R-Bradford) establishing the Fair Share Nutrient Reduction Assistance Program for Farmers.

The legislation includes an increase in the Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) farm conservation tax credit program to $35 million, a new $15 million 50-50 cost share program for farmers to install conservation practices, $10 million for county conservation districts to provide farmers with technical assistance to install conservation measures and $10 million to restore cuts made to the Department of Agriculture to help farmers.

Similar measures will be introduced in the House with bipartisan sponsorship.

Related Story: Bills Including Fair Share Plan See Action in Senate, House

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.

6/13/2008