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For Immediate
Release
1/11/08
Contact:
Tracy Polovick
(717) 787-8524
Vance Proposes Third-Party
Study of Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy Costs
HARRISBURG – Continuing her efforts to address the
financial impact of implementing the Chesapeake Bay
Tributary Strategy (CBTS), Sen. Pat Vance
(R-Cumberland/York) today announced plans to introduce a
Senate resolution that would require a third-party study of
the costs for sewage treatment facilities to execute the
strategy.
Pennsylvania has been working with other states over the
last two decades to implement programs to improve the water
quality of the Chesapeake Bay. In 2005 the governor
unveiled Pennsylvania's bay strategy. It was designed by the
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to implement
multi-state agreements intended to achieve significant
reductions in the pollutants that have degraded the bay by
2010. These pollutants can come from a variety of sources:
agriculture, stormwater runoff, wastewater treatment plants,
septic systems, forested lands and atmospheric deposition.
"A variety of municipalities have voiced concerns about
the costs to implement the Chesapeake Bay Tributary
Strategy," Vance said. "The Department of Environmental
Protection maintains compliance costs could be as low as
$190 million. Municipalities believe it could exceed $1
billion. By having a third-party study the costs, we will
have a better handle on it and be in a better position to
consider requests for state financial assistance."
The resolution would direct the Legislative Budget and
Finance Committee to review estimates of the costs that
sewage treatment facilities will incur to comply with the
CBTS.
A 2006 resolution authored by Vance and Rep. Jerry Nailor
(R-Mechanicsburg) delayed implementation of the strategy for
nine months so public and legislative input could be
considered. This input resulted in revisions regarding the
implementation and calculation of discharge levels for
nitrogen and phosphorus.
"Since 2005, I have been working to have the Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection address issues
surrounding the strategy," Vance said. "While we have made
progress, more study and work needs to be done. The strategy
has the potential to significantly increase sewer rates for
customers. It is critical that when undertaking something of
this magnitude that it be thoroughly vetted."
Vance's district includes all of Cumberland County and
Carroll, Fairview, Franklin, Monaghan, Warrington and
Washington townships and Dillsburg, Franklintown and
Wellsville boroughs in York County.
Additional Information:
Environment and
Energy
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