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News & Notes May 2008
PACD a Member of Coalition Proposing
Funding Plan for Water Quality
PACD, along with the Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association,
Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, Pennsylvania Builders Association, and the
Chesapeake Bay Foundation proposed a state-funded $170 million plan
in 2008-09 to help communities and ratepayers in the Chesapeake Bay
Watershed and farmers statewide achieve mandated nitrogen and phosphorus
pollution reductions while accommodating future economic development
and providing more options for farmers, wastewater treatment plants,
and future homeowners and businesses.
PACD Executive Director Susan Marquart provides comments on the "Pennsylvania
Fair Share for Clean Water Plan" during a press conference in the
Capitol Rotunda on April 9, 2008.
"For the first time, the five groups that have the
most at stake in meeting the water quality mandates have put together
a responsible funding plan that we hope will help end the controversy
over how these projects should be paid for," said Matthew Ehrhart,
CBF's Executive Director for Pennsylvania. "This is a comprehensive
package that will enable Pennsylvania to meet our Chesapeake 2010 Agreement
obligations, improve statewide water quality, secure vital funds to
all county conservation districts, and provide for future economic development."
The Pennsylvania Fair Share for Clean Water Plan will 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 districts to expand technical
assistance to farmers, and $10 million to restore cuts to the Department
of Agriculture budget in farm programs. It also 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.
In future years, the Fair Share Plan calls for similar investments to
reduce costs for ratepayers and farmers. For more information visit
http://www.pacd.org/about/fairshare.
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The Pennsylvania Fair Share for Clean Water
Funding Plan
1. Funding to Reduce the Cost to Communities and Ratepayers
o State would pay 50 percent of the estimated $1 billion cost
of required wastewater plant improvements as other states have
done in the Chesapeake Bay watershed;
o Fair Share Plan: $100 million per year over three years,
starting in 2008-09, and $50 million per year for next four years
(duration = 7 years) to help authorities finance improvements;
o 184 plants in the Bay watershed are mandated to meet new permit
requirements and without state assistance, ratepayers will carry
the entire burden of these mandates.
2. Direct Help to Farmers to Reduce Nutrient Runoff
o Direct aid to farmers through statewide cost share programs
to help put best management practices on the ground, thus reducing
pollution and improving water quality;
o Fair Share Plan: $35 million per year in REAP tax credits
and $15 million per year in 50 percent cost share grants for necessary
practices, to be administered by the State Conservation Commission
(duration = five years);
o Without active farm participation, Pennsylvania cannot meet
mandated water quality improvements.
3. Funding for County Conservation District Farmer Assistance
o Provide new, on-going funding to county conservation districts
to provide technical assistance and planning services to farmers
statewide. These are the first steps to putting best management
practices on the ground to reduce nutrient and sediment pollution;
o Fair Share Plan: $10 million per year in new funding
beyond proposed budget;
o Without expanding district programs serving farmers, Pennsylvania
cannot meet mandated water quality improvements.
4. Keep PA Agriculture Growing: Restore Ag Funding
o Restore Department of Agriculture funding in 2008-09 and the
future, including the Nutrient Management Fund, Research, Crop
Insurance, State Conservation Commission, and Farmers' Market
Development;
o Fair Share Plan: $10 million needed in 2008-09 to keep
research, education, and promotion programs on track;
o This funding is critical for the health of Pennsylvania's number
one industry and to meet mandated water quality improvements.
5. Ensure a Workable Nutrient Credit Trading Program
o A viable nutrient credit trading program is needed to provide
sewage capacity for future economic development in large portions
of Pennsylvania.
o The current system must be strengthened by adding a nutrient
credit bank to provide greater stability and predictability, reduce
trading risks, and provide viable nutrient reduction alternatives
for wastewater treatment plants and other point sources.
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