February 14, 2012

Long-term, Sustainable Funding for County Conservation Districts to Come From Local Impact Fee
After years of discussion and scrutiny, and months of lively debate and negotiation, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett has signed a Local Impact Fee from the extraction of natural gas from underneath much of Pennsylvania.

“This is monumental for the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, its citizens, businesses and communities,” said Robert B. Maiden, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts. “The economic importance and significance of the Marcellus Shale and other natural gas formations cannot be denied, but the environmental health, conservation and safety of our natural resources must be a priority now and well into the future.”

“This week, the majority of the legislature and Governor Corbett demonstrated tremendous leadership to insure that our local communities and regions are provided with substantial resources,” continued Maiden. “These resources will allow our county conservation districts and communities to keep pace with the growing need for environmental safeguards, education and protection as the exploration and development of the shale continues well into the future here in Pennsylvania.”

The local impact fee will provide a dedicated funding stream to conservation districts. This new, stable stream of funding will allow the districts the opportunity to:

  • Provide much-needed local support and expertise to conserve and protect our resources in counties with Marcellus Shale development;
        
  • Support, protect and enhance the number one industry in Pennsylvania: Agriculture;
        
  • Provide technical assistance to install numerous Best Management Practices, such as riparian buffers and streambank stabilization, to reduce flooding and protect the quality of our water – sedimentation is Pennsylvania’s number one water pollution issue;
        
  • Provide important local support to help farmers meet the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) requirements without undue financial burden; and
        
  • Assist municipalities with floodplain ordinances and stormwater management plans that protect homes and businesses from being flooded.

The Districts will also continue to work in communities throughout the state on existing and additional utility right of ways, roads, bridges, sewage treatment, and water treatment facilities will be expanded or upgraded along with the expansion of the natural gas industry. Conservation District involvement is constant and will be requested and required as this important resource is developed.

In addition to their efforts to protect the environment from any impacts from natural gas drilling, additional funding would continue the Districts’ efforts to help Pennsylvania meet the goals outlined in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan; improve and protect the state’s water and air quality; administer stream bank erosion programs; and preserve valuable farm land.

February 10, 2012

Impact Fee Update
House Bill 1950, the impact fee bill, is on Governor Corbett’s desk for signing. PACD is hopeful that it will be signed the week of February 13. PACD will provide up-to-the minute updates to its members on the signing.

Governor Corbett Delivers Budget Address, Continues Support of Conservation Districts 
Recognizing the need to continue to support the important efforts and work of the county conservation districts, Governor Corbett maintained districts funding at near fiscal year 2011 – 2012 levels in his proposed budget delivered to the General Assembly on Tuesday, February 7th.

“With difficult choices needing to be made during continued difficult economic times, Governor Corbett has recognized the vital work that our districts do in communities in every corner of the state that cannot be sacrificed,” said Robert B. Maiden, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts. “The districts are the cornerstone of conservation and protection of the natural resources in each of our local communities. The funding provided by the Commonwealth under Governor Corbett’s direction will allow the districts to continue the important work they do every day.”

Governor Corbett’s $27.1 billion budget includes funding for the districts for fiscal year 2012 – 2013 as follows:

  • Department of Agriculture Appropriation to Conservation Districts: $1.019 million
  • Department of Environmental Protection to Conservation Districts: $2.856 million

“We are grateful to the Governor for his support and look forward to working with the legislature to make certain the proposed funding is supported in the final budget,” added Maiden.

December 5, 2011

Senate Passes Package of Flood Related Bills
The Senate passed a package of flood related bills and sent them to the House.  Among the bills approved were:
– Senate Bill 1264 (Baker-R-Luzerne) enacting the Flood Relief Act for September 2011 making an appropriation of $20 million for individual assistance;
– Senate Bill 1266 (Gordner-R-Columbia) authorizing the incurring of $150 million in debt to fund flood damage recovery projects;
– Senate Bill 1267  (Blake-D-Lackawanna) authorizing real estate tax abatement as a result of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee;
– Senate Bill 1268 (Gordner-R-Columbia) authorizing the incurring of debt to repair flood damaged highways;
– Senate Bill 1269  (Yaw-R-Bradford) adoption of capital projects to repair or replace flood damaged highways and bridges;
– Senate Bill 1271  (Yudichak-D-Luzerne) an itemized list of flood damaged highway and bridge repair projects;
– Senate Bill 1297  (Baker-R-Luzerne) establishing a $10 million Small Business Flood Relief Program of 2011; and
– Senate Bill 1323   (Yaw-R-Bradford) establishing the Agriculture Disaster Recovery Program to provide disaster assistance to agricultural operations.

November 21, 2011

PACD: Important Bill to Provide Long-Term Funding to Districts Sent to House
Passing the senate by a nine vote margin, the Marcellus Shale bill that includes long-term, sustainable funding for Pennsylvania’s county conservation districts has been sent to the House of Representatives for its consideration.

The bill, introduced and championed for by Senator Joseph Scarnati’s bill proposes imposing a sliding fee of $50,000 per well in the first year of production, with a $10,000 reduction each subsequent year. Starting in the 11th year until the 20th year of the well, an annual fee of $10,000 is imposed.

The Conservation Districts would receive $5 million annually, with $2.5 million for 2011; the State Fire Commissioner and the Fish and Boat Commission would each receive $1.5 million annually. That would come off the top of the total amount collected from the fees. The remaining amount of the fees would be split up between local governments impacted by natural gas activity and state government accounts for statewide funding.

The bill now moves to the House for its consideration.

PA House Passes Marcellus Shale Bill, Includes Funding for Conservation Districts
Following a week of lively debate and negotiation, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed House Bill 1950 that will allow counties and municipalities affected by the drilling of natural gas in the Marcellus Shale play to enact a local impact fee. For the first year, a $40,000 fee could be placed on wells that are in operation. Following that year, the fee would drop to $30,000 for the second year, $20,000 for the third year, and $10,000 for the fourth through 10th years.
 
This legislation includes $15 million per year starting in 2013 for the Conservation District Fund.  This funding will derive from gas royalties the state receives for gas production on state lands. As with the Senate impact fee legislation, one half of the CD funds will be distributed evenly among all 66 districts.  The second half of the CD funding will be distributed by the SCC according to their statement of policy. 
 
The bill now moves to the Senate for its consideration. 
 
PACD President MaryAnn Warren Testifies Before Senate Committee 
Pennsylvania Association of Conservation District President MaryAnn Warren testified before a joint public hearing of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and Senate Majority Committee to discuss flood mitigation and stormwater management in light of recent severe weather events that caused damage to communities across Pennsylvania.
 
The two-day hearing brought together experts, regulators, local government officials and others to discuss ways to improve flood prevention and mitigation.
 
“Pennsylvania’s abundance of water resources provides an exceptional quality of life for our residents, thriving ecosystems, agriculture prominence, and economic prosperity throughout the commonwealth,” stated Warren. “But this great fortune can also come with a price. Flood waters, as we know and have recently witnessed, can be destructive and devastating. Water can wreak havoc on homeowners, businesses, and entire communities when flood protection measures are overcome by an unrelenting mother nature.”
 
Warren continued, “And when we think about this devastation, we often think of the damage caused to homes, businesses and utilities, but what about Pennsylvania’s valuable agricultural industry? What about the crops? The land? The livestock? The nearby streams that can be polluted from runoff from the storm and damage caused by the flooding?”
 
Throughout her testimony, Warren outlined a number of recommendations on behalf of the county conservation districts to better assist the agricultural industry when a flood disaster strikes. From new regulations to policy changes, a complete copy of the testimony to the committee can be found here. Video: http://youtu.be/lsL3xajY9lw