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Erickson Bill Would Create
Office of
Pollution Reduction and Prevention
HARRISBURG -- State Sen.
Ted Erickson (R-26) has introduced legislation to establish an Office of
Pollution Reduction and Prevention, part of a comprehensive plan to create a
cleaner Commonwealth.
Erickson said Senate Bill 1042,
the Pennsylvania Pollution Reduction and Prevention Act, would establish an
office within the state Department of Environmental Protection that will focus
solely on reducing pollution in Pennsylvania.
“The office will be responsible
for developing and coordinating programs to reduce and prevent pollution,” said
Erickson, Vice Chairman of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy
Committee. “This will be good for the environment and good for jobs. Pollution
means waste. We not only want to cleanup the environment, we want to help
companies cut their environmental costs to keep good paying manufacturing jobs
in Pennsylvania.”
Erickson said the Office of
Pollution Reduction and Prevention would provide training programs and workshops
to assist small businesses and the public on methods to reduce and prevent
pollution. Senate Bill 1042 would also establish a technical assistance program
to provide assistance and planning grants to small businesses to help them
comply with environmental statutes and regulations.
DEP would receive 20 percent of
all money collected from environmental fines and penalties to fund the efforts,
the senator said.
Additionally, under Senate Bill
1042 a Pollution Reduction Index would be created to provide a measurable
standard of tracking permanent pollution reduction, as well as natural resource
and energy conservation that exceeds minimum requirements.
Finally, DEP would provide an
annual environmental report card and establish the Rachel Carson Environmental
Excellence Award to recognize individuals, businesses, local officials and
non-profit organizations who exemplify environmental excellence.
“The 295 winners of the
Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award since 1997 alone have reduced solid
waste and air pollution by hundreds of millions of tons and water use by more
than nine billion gallons,” said Erickson. “But the big news is they saved over
$1.1 billion in operating costs. The more the Commonwealth recognizes such
accomplishments, the more they will be repeated across Pennsylvania. Less
pollution, lower costs and more jobs.”
Senate Bill 1042 is part of a
package of environmental measures being unveiled to bolster environmental
protection in Pennsylvania. |
