PRINTER'S NO. 3304
No. 2421 Session of 1990
INTRODUCED BY SCRIMENTI, STEIGHNER, PISTELLA, MARKOSEK,
CAPPABIANCA, BOYES, MORRIS, DOMBROWSKI, COY, BROUJOS,
KOSINSKI, GIGLIOTTI, MERRY, VEON, JOSEPHS, MELIO, RUDY,
COLAFELLA AND CORRIGAN, APRIL 2, 1990
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CONSERVATION, APRIL 2, 1990
AN ACT
1 Establishing the Office of the Great Lakes within the Department
2 of Environmental Resources and designating the office as the
3 lead agency within State government for the development of
4 policies, programs and procedures to protect, enhance and
5 manage the Great Lakes.
6 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
7 hereby enacts as follows:
8 Section 1. Short title.
9 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Great Lakes
10 Protection Act.
11 Section 2. Definitions.
12 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
13 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
14 context clearly indicates otherwise:
15 "Department." The Department of Environmental Resources of
16 the Commonwealth.
17 "Office." The Office of the Great Lakes.
18 "Secretary." The Secretary of Environmental Resources of the
1 Commonwealth.
2 Section 3. Legislative findings.
3 The General Assembly finds that:
4 (1) The Great Lakes are a valuable resource and provide
5 an important source of food, fresh water, recreation, beauty
6 and enjoyment.
7 (2) The ecosystems of the Great Lakes, which provide
8 sustenance and recreation to the people of this Commonwealth
9 and other states and nations, have been severely affected and
10 are continually threatened by the introduction of foreign
11 species into the lakes and by pollution of the Great Lakes
12 waters.
13 (3) Careful management of the Great Lakes will permit
14 the rehabilitation and protection of the lakes, and their
15 waters and ecosystems, while continuing and expanding their
16 use for industry, food production, transportation and
17 recreation.
18 (4) This Commonwealth, because it borders upon the Great
19 Lakes and because the Great Lakes contribute in innumerable
20 ways to the Commonwealth's economy, recreation and way of
21 life, must act as a steward for the protection, enhancement
22 and wise utilization of the Great Lakes.
23 Section 4. Office of the Great Lakes.
24 The Office of the Great Lakes is hereby established within
25 the department and is designated as the lead agency within State
26 government for the development of policies, programs and
27 procedures to protect, enhance and manage the Great Lakes. The
28 Office of the Great Lakes shall:
29 (1) Advise the Governor, the secretary and the heads of
30 other appropriate Commonwealth departments and agencies on
19900H2421B3304 - 2 -
1 appropriate steps needed to coordinate Commonwealth policy
2 and action on the Great Lakes and to implement an ecosystem
3 approach to the Commonwealth's Great Lakes policies.
4 (2) Provide representation at the national level for the
5 Commonwealth's Great Lakes interests.
6 (3) Represent the Commonwealth before Great Lakes policy
7 development bodies such as the international joint
8 commission.
9 (4) Ensure adequate research and staff work to maintain
10 the Commonwealth's regional contribution in resolving Great
11 Lakes problems.
12 (5) Promote the wise use of the ports of this
13 Commonwealth and Great Lakes water transportation.
14 (6) Promote the Great Lakes tourism industry.
15 (7) Advocate the interests of the Commonwealth in
16 actions, policies and legislation affecting the Great Lakes
17 that are proposed in other Great Lakes states, Canadian
18 provinces, Great Lakes policy development bodies and the
19 Federal Government.
20 Section 5. Reports.
21 The Governor, with the assistance of the Office of the Great
22 Lakes, shall prepare and submit to the General Assembly the
23 following:
24 (1) An annual report, submitted by December 31 of each
25 year, on the state of the Great Lakes.
26 (2) A comprehensive analysis, in the Governor's annual
27 budget message, of all the funds from Federal and State
28 sources that the Governor recommends be expended for the
29 protection, enhancement and management of the Great Lakes.
30 (3) A comprehensive inventory, submitted within one year
19900H2421B3304 - 3 -
1 after the effective date of this act, of all Federal, State,
2 interstate and international agencies, programs and projects
3 associated with the protection, enhancement and management of
4 the Great Lakes.
5 (4) A report, submitted within 18 months after the
6 effective date of this act, giving the status of the
7 agreement between the United States and Canada, known as the
8 Great Lakes water quality agreement of 1978, and recommending
9 steps to be taken to execute the Commonwealth's obligations
10 in that agreement and to promote the Commonwealth's role and
11 objectives in the renegotiation of that agreement.
12 (5) A report, submitted within two years after the
13 effective date of this act, listing the priority research
14 needs with respect to the Great Lakes.
15 Section 6. Effective date.
16 This act shall take effect in 60 days.
A11L32CHF/19900H2421B3304 - 4 -