Coalition Proposes Fair Share Clean Water Funding Plan to Meet Cleanup Mandates

A coalition of environmental, farm, businesses and municipal groups recently announced the Pennsylvania Fair Share for Clean Water Plan to help wastewater plant ratepayers and farmers finance improvements needed to address Chesapeake Bay and statewide water quality improvement mandates while preserving economic opportunity for future homeowners and businesses. 

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. http://www.cbf.org/site/News2?abbr=SB_News_&page=NewsArticle&id=32495