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PRINTER'S NO. 595
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
519
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY STURLA, CONKLIN, SCHREIBER, THOMAS, SCHWEYER,
BOBACK, SCHLOSSBERG, FREEMAN, GABLER, RAVENSTAHL, TOEPEL,
FRANKEL, D. COSTA, LONGIETTI, MURT, MATZIE, BROWNLEE,
MULLERY, READSHAW, DEASY, JAMES, DeLISSIO, GOODMAN, COHEN,
GIBBONS, BENNINGHOFF, GILLEN, McCARTER AND SAMUELSON,
FEBRUARY 23, 2015
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY,
FEBRUARY 23, 2015
AN ACT
Establishing the Adopt-a-River Program; providing for powers and
duties of the Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources; and making an appropriation.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Adopt-a-River
Act.
Section 2. Declaration of policy.
The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) Widespread flooding and damage caused by severe
winter storms greatly damage the riverbeds and streambeds of
this Commonwealth. Flooding of urban and industrial areas
often results in the pollution of rivers and the accumulation
of extraordinary amounts of trash and debris in the
streambeds, on the stream banks and in floodplain areas.
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(2) There is a heightened public awareness of
conservation and the need to protect the rivers of this
Commonwealth from pollution, damage, trash and debris and to
provide the resources necessary to restore Pennsylvania's
rivers and streams.
(3) The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission personnel
and financial resources available for operation of its
existing Adopt-a-Stream Program are limited. The Pennsylvania
Fish and Boat Commission program is designed to expand fish
habitat, angling, boating and aesthetic values of
Commonwealth waters and would complement the Adopt-a-River
Act to be administered by the Department of Conservation and
Natural Resources.
Section 3. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Department." The Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources of the Commonwealth.
"Program." The Adopt-a-River Program established under this
act.
Section 4. Establishment of Adopt-a-River Program.
The department shall administer a program designed to remove
litter from and to beautify the rivers of this Commonwealth. The
program shall be known as the Adopt-a-River Program. The program
shall include public informational activities but shall be
directed primarily toward encouraging and facilitating
involvement of volunteer groups in litter cleanup work,
assigning each group to a specific river or stream segment.
Volunteer groups may include individuals, civic groups and
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businesses.
Section 5. Agreements.
An agreement entered into between the department and a
volunteer group under section 4 shall include, but not be
limited to, the following criteria:
(1) The volunteer group may request a specific segment
of the river or stream it wishes to adopt, but the assignment
shall be at the discretion of the department. In assigning
sections of a river, the department shall coordinate and
cooperate with affected Federal, State and local management
agencies and private landowners. The department may require
the volunteer groups to notify or obtain written permission
to perform cleanup activities from landowners immediately
abutting the waterways.
(2) The group shall remove litter along the designated
river or stream segment at least twice each year or as funds
permit and in a manner that is safe and appropriate for
members of the volunteer group.
(3) The group shall agree to abide by all rules related
to the program that are adopted by the department.
(4) The volunteer group shall contract to care for the
designated river or stream segment for at least two years.
Section 6. Department responsibilities.
(a) Distribution.--The department shall ensure a wide and
diverse distribution of the funds, materials and information to
a variety of projects throughout this Commonwealth.
(b) Assistance.--The department shall provide trash bags,
safety information and assistance to the participating volunteer
groups.
(c) Large and heavy items.--The department shall be
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responsible for facilitating contracts for the removal of large
or heavy items from a river or stream segment as deemed
necessary and feasible by the department. The department may
also use funds for tipping fees and disposal costs involved with
the removal of trash and debris.
(d) Private contributions.--The department shall encourage
private contributions to the program to aid in implementing the
program to the fullest possible extent.
Section 7. Volunteer recognition.
The department shall create a recognition program to
acknowledge the efforts of volunteer groups, agencies and
businesses that participate in the program, which may include
appropriate signage in areas of high visibility that does not
detract from the natural beauty of the stream.
Section 8. Reporting requirement.
The department shall report annually to the General Assembly
on the implementation and progress of the program established by
this act.
Section 9. Regulations.
The department may adopt the regulations necessary for
implementation of the program.
Section 10. Appropriation.
The sum of $1,000,000, or as much thereof as may be
necessary, is appropriated to the Department of Conservation and
Natural Resources for the fiscal year July 1, 2015, to June 30,
2016, to carry out the provisions of this act.
Section 11. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 120 days.
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