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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 15, 2014 11:59 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator John C. Rafferty, Jr. |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Riparian Buffer Requirement |
| In the very near future, I will be re-introducing legislation, SB 1465, which creates 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. My legislation provides for a minimum 100 foot riparian buffer on each side of a surface water body and a minimum 300 foot buffer around streams designated as High Quality or Exceptional Value. |
Introduced as SB560