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For Immediate
Release
8/31/06
CONTACT:
PA
Senate Republican Communications
(717) 787-6725
Waugh & Wenger Convene Senate Agriculture Committee
Hearing on Conservation
YORK
-- On Wednesday, Senators Mike Waugh (R-28) and Noah Wenger (R-36),
Chairman and Vice Chairman, respectively, of the Senate Agriculture and Rural
Affairs Committee, held a committee hearing as part of their continuing efforts
to “Preserve the Pennsylvania Farmer” through their Farmers First Agenda.
This was the fourth hearing in a series to
be held with respect to the Farmers First Agenda, and the discussion
centered on:
-
The role of conservation and
Conservation Districts in Pennsylvania;
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Laws affecting how conservation
districts are managed and funded;
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Senate Bill 1323, a comprehensive
proposal sponsored by Senator Wonderling amending the Conservation
District Law;
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Senate Bill 1286, sponsored by Senator
Wenger, establishing the Resource Enhancement and Protection Tax
Credit.
“Local Conservation Districts in
Pennsylvania provide a multitude of invaluable services to our
communities,” said Waugh. “They work closely with county, local, state
and federal agencies to implement programs that promote stewardship and
responsible use of our land, water and other natural resources.”
Some of the services the state’s 66
Conservation Districts provide are mandated by law for farmers and
landowners, or are required in order to participate in other government
programs. Therefore, Senator Wonderling’s SB 1323, which is supported
by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, was a topic
of discussion at today’s hearing.
“We want to ensure the bill is on the right
track with respect to making necessary and feasible changes to the
Conservation District Law,” said Waugh.
In order to assist agricultural producers
with the implementation of conservation measures, Wenger and Waugh also
asked the testifiers at yesterday’s hearing to comment on SB 1286, their
Resource Enhancement And Protection (REAP) proposal. The bill would
establish a program to provide state tax credits worth up to $150,000
per farm to producers who install conservation practices.
“All the discussion on the REAP proposal has
been very positive so far, and I think the time is right to find
sustainable sources of funding for conservation practices on
Pennsylvania farms,” said Waugh.
During the hearing Waugh also reflected back
on the conservation-related accomplishments already realized through the
Farmers First Agenda. First, Wenger and Waugh were successful in
streamlining and consolidating the funding received by the State
Conservation Commission for the Local Conservation Districts, the result
of which is Act 110, signed by the Governor on July 7, 2006.
Additionally, through the leadership of
Senator Wenger in particular, funding was secured for the Susquehanna
River Basin Commission to develop and implement their agricultural
consumptive water use project. This project promises to clean up and
restore impaired waterways, as well as to meet the Commonwealth’s
agricultural operators’ compliance requirements under the SRBC’s
consumptive water use regulations, without further burdening the farmer.
“Overall, I am very proud of the success we
have seen through the Farmers First Agenda, and after today’s hearing I
am confident we will see continued success, especially with respect to
conservation efforts across the Commonwealth,” said Waugh. He also
thanked the Governor and his colleagues in the Senate and House of
Representatives for their support and assistance in realizing many of
the goals of the Farmers First Agenda, stating “our success is proof
that in Harrisburg we recognize the importance of our agricultural and
rural communities.”
The following individuals testified at the
hearing:
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The Honorable Dennis Wolff, Secretary,
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture;
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The Honorable Cathleen Myers, Deputy
Secretary for Water Management, Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection;
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Karl Brown, Director, State Conservation
Commission;
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Brenda Shambaugh, Government
Relations/Policy Specialist, Pennsylvania Association of
Conservation Districts;
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Mr. Mark Kimmel, Administrator, York
County Conservation District;
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Mr. Don McNutt, Administrator, Lancaster
County Conservation District;
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Mr. Walt Peechatka, Executive Vice
President, PennAg Industries Association;
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Mr. Lamonte Garber, PA Senior
Agricultural Consultant, Chesapeake Bay Foundation;
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Ms. Marel Raub, PA
Executive Director, Chesapeake Bay Commission.
Waugh
Sen. Mike Waugh (R-28), right, chair of
the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, speaks with state
Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff, left, prior to an Aug. 30 public
hearing in York on conservation issues in Pennsylvania.
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