The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee amended and reported out House Bill 1565 (Hahn-R-Northampton) eliminating the nearly 4 year old requirement for stream buffers in High Quality and Exceptional Value streams after changing the bill to require applicants for a Chapter 102 Erosion and Sedimentation Control permit to use a stream buffer or a combination of other practices which are substantially equivalent to a stream buffer.
The amendment, offered by Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne), Minority Chair of the Committee, also changed the provision giving applicants the option to install a buffer in other areas to limit the replacement buffer to areas within the same watershed. Click Here for the amendment language. Click Here for a summary.
“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 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 is opposed by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA, PA Environmental Council, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, thePA Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, the Fish and Boat Commission, PA Council of Trout Unlimited, PA Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, PA League of Women Voters, PA Land Trust Association and former DEP Secretary David E. Hess.
Climate Plan Bill
The Committee also reported out House Bill 2354 (Snyder-D-Fayette) which authorizes one House of the General Assembly to veto any greenhouse gas emission reduction plan required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency after attempts were made by Democratic members of the Committee to amend the bill.
The PA Environmental Council put out a letter Monday to all members of the Senate opposing House Bill 2354 saying action on the bill was premature and not in the best interests of the Commonwealth.
Green State Building Standards
Senate Bill 1061 (Rafferty-R-Montgomery) requiring state buildings to meet green building standards was also reported out of the Committee after being amended to include the provisions of House Bill 34 (Harper-R-Montgomery) setting the same requirements.
In other actions, the Committee reported out--
-- House Bill 402 (Pickett-R-Bradford) further providing for the recording of oil and gas leases;
-- House Bill 2278 (Pickett-R-Bradford) requiring semi-annual reporting of oil and gas production; and
-- Senate Bill 1481 (Erickson-R-Delaware) prohibiting DEP from prohibiting the vehicular transportation of leachate to an offsite facility for treatment.
The bills now go to the full Senate for consideration.