PRINTER'S NO. 3362
No. 2496 Session of 1998
INTRODUCED BY STURLA, DeWEESE, RUBLEY, ITKIN, BELARDI,
LEVDANSKY, BARRAR, MASLAND, HALUSKA, M. COHEN, FLICK, BROWNE,
WAUGH, HERMAN, READSHAW, VAN HORNE, TIGUE, C. WILLIAMS,
TRAVAGLIO, BOSCOLA, STABACK, CLYMER, DALEY, MUNDY, BAKER,
TRELLO, JOSEPHS, A. H. WILLIAMS, NAILOR, YOUNGBLOOD, SAYLOR,
McGEEHAN, CAWLEY, COY, FAIRCHILD, WOJNAROSKI, PLATTS,
BATTISTO, HORSEY, SHANER, LAUGHLIN, RAMOS, WALKO, ROBINSON,
PETRARCA, MELIO, GEIST, HERSHEY, HENNESSEY, LUCYK, ARGALL,
STEELMAN AND SATHER, APRIL 1, 1998
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY,
APRIL 1, 1998
AN ACT
1 Establishing the Adopt-a-River Program; providing for powers and
2 duties of the Department of Conservation and Natural
3 Resources; and making an appropriation.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Short title.
7 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Adopt-a-River
8 Act.
9 Section 2. Declaration of policy.
10 The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
11 (1) Widespread flooding and damage caused by severe
12 winter storms greatly damage the riverbeds and streambeds of
13 this Commonwealth. Flooding of urban and industrial areas
14 often results in the pollution of rivers and the accumulation
1 of extraordinary amounts of trash and debris in the
2 streambeds, on the stream banks and in flood plain areas.
3 (2) There is a heightened public awareness of
4 conservation and the need to protect the rivers of this
5 Commonwealth from pollution, damage, trash and debris and to
6 provide the resources necessary to restore Pennsylvania's
7 rivers and streams.
8 (3) The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission personnel
9 and financial resources available for operation of the
10 present program are limited. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat
11 Commission program is designed to expand fish habitat,
12 angling, boating and aesthetic values of Commonwealth waters
13 and would complement the Adopt-a-River Act to be administered
14 by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
15 Section 3. Definitions.
16 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
17 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
18 context clearly indicates otherwise:
19 "Department." The Department of Conservation and Natural
20 Resources of the Commonwealth.
21 "Program." The Adopt-a-River Program established by this
22 act.
23 Section 4. Establishment of Adopt-a-River Program.
24 The department shall administer a program designed to remove
25 litter from and to beautify the rivers of this Commonwealth. The
26 program shall be known as the Adopt-a-River Program. The program
27 shall include public informational activities but shall be
28 directed primarily toward encouraging and facilitating
29 involvement of volunteer groups in litter cleanup work,
30 assigning each group to a specific river or stream segment.
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1 Volunteer groups may include individuals, civic groups and
2 businesses.
3 Section 5. Agreements.
4 An agreement entered into between the department and a
5 volunteer group under section 4 shall include, but is not
6 limited to, the following criteria:
7 (1) The volunteer group may request a specific segment
8 of the river or stream it wishes to adopt, but the assignment
9 shall be at the discretion of the department. In assigning
10 sections of a river, the department shall coordinate and
11 cooperate with affected Federal, State and local management
12 agencies and private landowners. The department may require
13 the volunteer groups to notify or obtain written permission
14 to perform cleanup activities from landowners immediately
15 abutting the waterways.
16 (2) The group shall remove litter along the designated
17 river or stream segment at least twice each year or as funds
18 permit and in a manner that is safe and appropriate for
19 members of the volunteer group.
20 (3) The group shall agree to abide by all rules related
21 to the program that are adopted by the department.
22 (4) The volunteer group shall contract to care for the
23 designated river or stream segment for at least two years.
24 Section 6. Department responsibilities.
25 (a) Distribution.--The department shall ensure a wide and
26 diverse distribution of the funds, materials and information to
27 a variety of projects throughout this Commonwealth.
28 (b) Assistance.--The department shall provide trash bags,
29 safety information and assistance to the participating volunteer
30 groups.
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1 (c) Large and heavy items.--The department shall be
2 responsible for facilitating contracts for the removal of large
3 or heavy items from a river or stream segment as deemed
4 necessary and feasible by the department. The department may
5 also use funds for tipping fees and disposal costs involved with
6 the removal of trash and debris.
7 (d) Private contributions.--The department shall encourage
8 private contributions to the program to aid in implementing the
9 program to the fullest possible extent.
10 Section 7. Volunteer recognition.
11 The department shall create a recognition program to
12 acknowledge the efforts of volunteer groups, agencies and
13 businesses that participate in the program which may include
14 appropriate signage in areas of high visibility which does not
15 detract from the natural beauty of the stream.
16 Section 8. Reporting requirement.
17 The department shall report annually to the General Assembly
18 on the implementation and progress of the program established by
19 this act.
20 Section 9. Regulations.
21 The department may adopt the regulations necessary for
22 implementation of the program.
23 Section 10. Appropriation.
24 The sum of $1,000,000, or as much thereof as may be
25 necessary, is hereby appropriated to the Department of
26 Conservation and Natural Resources for the fiscal year July 1,
27 1998, to June 30, 1999, to carry out the provisions of this act.
28 Section 11. Effective date.
29 This act shall take effect in 120 days.
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