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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 12, 2014 04:16 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator John C. Rafferty, Jr. |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Riparian Buffer Legislation |
| In the very near future, I will be re-introducing legislation creating the framework for expanded water protection efforts in the Commonwealth. This legislation would authorize municipalities to adopt regulations applicable to riparian buffers, providing additional powers and duties to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to enforce these regulations and providing penalties for violations. This legislation seeks to improve the Commonwealth’s water quality by providing for vegetative buffers around waterways, wetlands, and surface water bodies. Riparian buffers have been proven very effective in reducing the amount of excess nutrients, pesticides, and sediment that enter our watercourses. Stroud Water Research, an organization in the forefront of water research, has proven how effective buffers are in maintaining healthy waterways. Maintaining forested or vegetated buffers between developed land and our wetlands,lakes, ponds, and streams is critical to improving our water quality and maintaining healthy aquatic environments for birds, fish, and wildlife. My legislation provides for a minimum 100 foot riparian buffer on each side of a stream and a minimum 300 foot buffer around streams designated as High Quality or Exceptional Value. The intent of this legislation is to establish specific regulations related to the future development of or construction within riparian areas in the Commonwealth and provide for the local government's ability to enact and enforce riparian buffer ordinances. This legislation will not affect pre-existing structures or developed properties currently located within riparian areas. Please join me in co-sponsoring this important piece of legislation. |
Introduced as SB1465