(HARRISBURG) – The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee today approved a plan that would establish a Clean Streams Fund for Pennsylvania, according to Senator Scott Martin (R-Lancaster), who is a sponsor of the bill, along with Senators Yaw (R-Lycoming) and Laughlin (R-Erie).
“As a member of the Chesapeake Bay Commission, I believe that this bill protects our valuable natural resources while assisting local farmers with the cost of compliance of federal government unfunded mandates,” Senator Martin said. “Restoring our waterways will allow us to reduce the cost of drinking water treatment while investing in our top employers of tourism and agriculture as we increase recreational opportunities and help farmers improve soil health.”
The fund established under Senate Bill 832 would be dedicated to water quality, specifically focused on mitigating “non-point” sources of pollution, such as agricultural runoff and acid mine drainage.
The new fund would be dedicated to water quality, specifically focused on mitigating “non-point” sources of pollution, such as agricultural runoff and acid mine drainage, that are diffused throughout the landscape. Funding in the amount of $250 million dollars will be appropriated from federal dollars allocated by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
“Pennsylvania has been blessed with over 85,000 miles of rivers and streams, a density of surface water unmatched in the continental United States,” Senator Martin said. “Through this investment in waterways, we can reverse a legacy of intensive land use that has left almost one-third of those waters unsafe for either humans or fish.”
The bill now goes to the full Senate for consideration.
Contact: Terry Trego