Opposing Senate Bill 994

PA Municipal Authorities Assn. Joins Chesapeake Bay Foundation In Opposing SB 994

"The PA Municipal Authorities Association this week wrote to members of the Senate expressing its opposition to the Senate Bill 994(Vogel-R-Beaver) nutrient reduction proposal saying it does not have a funding source to make the program work. PMAA joins the Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA and other groups opposing the legislation. The text of the letter follows-- “The Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association (PMAA), at their recent annual conference, took a position opposing the current version of SB 994, P.N. 1209.  The biggest concern expressed by our members with SB 994 was the lack of a delineated funding source.  “In addition, they expressed concern over potential inequity if a funding source such as a “flush tax” would be implemented.  Finally, they felt a minimum 10-year provision of credits from a sewage treatment plant would be too long, instead preferring a 3-5 year term. “PMAA represents over 720 authorities in Pennsylvania providing sewage treatment, drinking water, solid waste disposal, recycling and other services to over six million citizens.  In particular, PMAA represents many sewer authorities that invested millions of dollars to comply with EPA and DEP requirement to reduce nutrients to the Chesapeake Bay. “In total, authorities and municipally-owned sewer plants are estimated to spend $1.4 billion to meet their mandated nutrient reductions for the Bay." For More on this topic Original Blog Post Senate Bill 994 - Competitive Bidding - Low-Cost Watershed Nutrient Reduction -In Act providing for the creation of a major watershed improvement program, for establishment of a verified TMDL parameter credit program, for the powers and duties of the Department of Environmental Protection and the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority and for completion of a study by the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee Comments 1. Again our focus should be on controlling - phosphate, solids, BOD, oxygen demand, and ammonia.  2. Manure is a asset - not a waste and it is a potential biofuel. Lets not be short cited on this issue.