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Wonderling Says Conservation Districts Report Shows Reforms Are
Needed
Senator Requested Review to
Gauge Performance,
Efficiency of Conservation
Operations
HARRISBURG -- A
report approved today by the state Legislative Budget & Finance Committee
concludes that Pennsylvania needs to reform the way it administers, funds,
enforces and coordinates conservation efforts, Senator Rob Wonderling (R-24), a
member of the committee, announced today.
Wonderling explained that the
State Conservation Commission, along with county conservation districts, were
initially created by the Legislature in 1945 in reaction to the “dust bowl” to
prevent soil erosion and conserve water resources. The state’s 66 conservation
districts now have a wide range of responsibilities beyond enforcement of the
Erosion and Sedimentation Laws. Many districts must also administer the state’s
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program, Nutrient Management laws, Floodplain
Management plans, Waterway and Wetlands Protection measures, and a variety of
environmental education and agricultural conservation programs.
“This report sets forth a
comprehensive roadmap that will bring our conservation districts into the 21st
Century and keep them in the vanguard of environmental stewardship,” Wonderling
said. “It’s incumbent upon the General Assembly to adopt these findings to make
sure the conservation districts have the tools they need to carry out their
complex mission.”
Wonderling said that the
expansion of local, state, and federal environmental protection laws and land
use planning requirements over the years has greatly increased the conservation
districts’ role to serve the growing needs of our communities. The districts
advise county and local governments on land development issues, work with
farmers to comply with land management laws, assist non-profit environmental
organizations with watershed protection and conservation efforts, and review and
process land development plans and permits for builders and contractors.
“In order to enhance the
services of the conservation districts, the report recommends that we streamline
and increase operating funds, better coordinate conservation efforts, provide
uniform staff capabilities and establish fair review fees,” Wonderling said.
Wonderling commended the staff
of the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee for their comprehensive research
in surveying the state’s 66 conservation districts and related stakeholder
groups, as well as state departments and offices, to objectively review the
multifaceted responsibilities of these agencies and identify methods to improve
their services.
The report will be posted
later today or tomorrow on the LB&FC website at
http://lbfc.legis.state.pa.us/ under "Reports Released."
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