Bay-Related Legislation Awaits the Pennsylvania General Assembly’s Fall Return

Several bills remain pending or will soon be introduced related to funding for water quality improvements.

• Senators Yaw (R-23), Martin (R-13) and Laughlin (R-49) will be introducing SB 832, to establish a Clean Streams Fund to support non-point source pollution reduction in Pennsylvania. Programs to be funded would include the existing Nutrient Management Fund, Abandoned Mine Drainage Abatement and Treatment Fund, and Keystone Tree Restricted Account, as well as three new programs: an Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program (separately introduced as SB 465) to support ag BMPs, a pay-for-performance Nutrient Procurement program (separately introduced as SB 475), and a Municipal Stormwater Assistance Program. Initial funding of $250 million is proposed to come from Pennsylvania’s share of the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021.
• Senator Gordner (R-27) has introduced SB 525, to establish Growing Greener III. Originally created in 1999, Growing Greener funds local parks and trails, preserves open space, and reduces water pollution. Funding of $500 million is proposed to come from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
• The Fertilizer Bill, SB 251, has passed the Senate and is now in the House Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee. In addition to modernizing the PA Department of Agriculture’s current fertilizer program, the bill would establish nutrient content limits for do-it-yourself turf fertilizer products and establish training, certification, and application standards for professional turf fertilizer applicators.

Source: PA Department of Environmental Protection Newsletter 8/25/2021