News Release

PACD Sets Legislative Agenda

Harrisburg - The Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts (PACD) held a Capitol Day Legislative luncheon today focusing on key legislative issues important to conservation districts across the Commonwealth. Over 150 participants attended the event, including representatives from county conservation districts, members of the PA House and Senate, and members of the Governor's cabinet.

The many legislative issues discussed included funding for the Conservation Districts, nutrient trading, amendments to the Conservation District Law, the prevailing wage law, and farmland preservation.

"These issues are vital to Pennsylvania's Conservation District," stated Victor Cappucci, president of the PACD. "We are talking with our friends in the PA General Assembly to explain the importance of these legislative initiatives."

Susan Marquart, executive director of PACD, added, "The focus of our Capitol Day luncheon is to bring forth ideas and generate enthusiasm for our concerns. This successful event is an extension of an ongoing dialog between the Conservation Districts and our elected leaders."

Some of the highlights included:

Funding for the Conservation Districts
The review of the Operation and Structure of County Conservation Districts released on June 7, 2005 by the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee concurs with the position of the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts (PACD) that Pennsylvania's conservation districts are under funded. The study recommends that the General Assembly appropriate one Conservation District appropriation directly to the State Conservation Commission. These funds should meet the Commission's 50% cost-share policy, be non-lapsing, and allow monetary advances to conservation districts. Additionally, 30 conservation districts are currently administering the Chapter 105 program with no state funding. Funding is needed to reimburse those districts and to expand the program to other counties.

Nutrient Trading
PACD supports the general concept of nutrient trading to achieve environmental benefits. Nutrient trading is trading nutrient credits between point dischargers such as sewage treatment plants to farms who can help reduce non-point sources of pollution. The potential benefits from trading include environmental benefits, monetary benefits for farmers who are willing and able to implement additional conservation practices, and benefits for treatment plans that can reduce costs by implemented the needed reductions in nitrogen and phosphorus discharges.

Amendments to the Conservation District Law
Conservation districts administer a wide array of delegated and contracted state programs with a number of funding sources. To update and strengthen Act 217, and continue to meet the conservation needs of the Commonwealth, three major enhancements were suggested as amendments to the Conservation District Law: increasing the capacity of districts to deliver locally led conservation; further define and strengthen the State Conservation Commission; and establish a non-lapsing Conservation District fund with dedicated funding.

Prevailing Wage
Prevailing wages have been problematic in rural PA. Districts have encountered projects within the agricultural community where the costs have been significantly inflated due to prevailing wage requirements. The PACD recommends increasing the prevailing wage threshold to allow Districts to work more effectively with the agricultural community.

Farmland Preservation
PACD supports legislation that allows for new revenue generation from a slight increase in the realty transfer tax that would be returned to the counties and used for farmland and open space preservation. We believe that these funds should be available for the administration of farmland protection programs including conservation planning and inspections.

PACD, Inc. is a private, non-profit organization representing Pennsylvania's 66 conservation districts. For more information on the PACD visit www.pacd.org.

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