THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY GIBBONS, BELFANTI, BRADFORD, BRENNAN, CALTAGIRONE, DONATUCCI, FABRIZIO, GRUCELA, HENNESSEY, HOUGHTON, JOHNSON, JOSEPHS, McGEEHAN, McILVAINE SMITH, MELIO, MUNDY, M. O'BRIEN, READSHAW, REICHLEY, SIPTROTH, SOLOBAY, SONNEY, STURLA, VULAKOVICH AND YOUNGBLOOD, MAY 29, 2009

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, MAY 29, 2009  

A RESOLUTION

Urging the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority and

the Department of Environmental Protection to establish a

task force to study the feasibility of implementing a water

resource restoration sponsorship program.

WHEREAS, The House of Representatives is increasingly

concerned with the restoration and preservation of Commonwealth

streams and wetlands; and

WHEREAS, A current lack in funding is deterring the

Commonwealth from readily addressing this important

environmental concern; and

WHEREAS, Ohio has established a program known as the Water

Resource Restoration Sponsor Program to permit communities to

provide funding toward stream and wetland restoration and

preservation projects in conjunction with improvements and

repairs to wastewater collection systems and treatment plants;

and

WHEREAS, Any community that receives a loan for wastewater

treatment or other improvements and agrees to sponsor a water

resource restoration project receives a reduction in its loan

interest rate under the Ohio program; and

WHEREAS, The loan recipient receives an additional reduction

in its interest rate as an incentive; and

WHEREAS, The lower interest rate produces a net savings for

the loan recipient over what the original loan would have cost

to repay without the sponsorship; and

WHEREAS, Ohio's program has successfully provided more than

$35 million to numerous restoration projects since its inception

in 2000; and

WHEREAS, Other states, including Washington, Michigan, Oregon

and Iowa, have established similar water restoration sponsorship

programs; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative that restoration and preservation

of streams and wetlands throughout this Commonwealth receive

adequate funding to further protect and conserve the environment

as a whole; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge the

Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority and the

Department of Environmental Protection to establish a task force

to study the feasibility of establishing a water resource

restoration sponsorship program in this Commonwealth; and be it

further

RESOLVED, That the task force be urged to present its

findings to the General Assembly.