ANOTHER REPUBLICAN ATTACK ON CONSERVATION: PA House Moves Bill To Roll Back Stream Buffer Protection, Final Vote Monday This week the House moved House Bill 1565 (Hahn-R-Northampton) eliminating the nearly 4 year old requirement for stream buffers in High Quality and Exceptional Value streams which is positioned for a final vote next week. On Monday the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee voted 15 to 7 to report the bill out of Committee. Before being reported out, the bill was amended to make stream buffers a preferred option to help control erosion and sedimentation, but the keeps the provision eliminating the stream buffer requirement. The amendment was approved 17 to 5. The full House Wednesday amended House Bill 1565 (Hahn-R-Northampton) that would eliminate the nearly 4 year old requirement for stream buffers in High Quality and Exceptional Value streams to make buffers a “preferred” option, but the bill still retains the language eliminating the buffer requirement. Rep. Chris Ross (R-Chester) offered the amendment which was agreed to and passed by a vote of 191 to 0. Eight other amendments were offered to retain the current buffer requirement or make other changes, but those were defeated largely along party lines. The bill was referred to the House Appropriations Committee for consideration and will be put in position for a final vote next week. Amendments to Chapter 102 of DEP’s regulations have required stream buffers in High Quality and Exceptional Value watersheds since November of 2010. Section 102.14 provides a long list of exceptions to the buffer requirement, including: a project site located greater than 150 feet from a named waterbody; activities involving less than one acre of earth disturbance; activities when a permit is not required under Chapter 102; activities where the permit was acquired before November 19, 2010; road maintenance activities; repair and maintenance of existing pipelines and utilities; oil, gas, timber harvesting or mining activities; single family homes not part of a larger common plan or development; and activities authorized by a Department permit under another Chapter or title. paenvironmentdigest/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=29934
Posted on: Sat, 20 Sep 2014 11:56:43 +0000
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