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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | June 19, 2013 11:52 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Eli Evankovich |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Restore Consistency To Air Quality For Southwestern PA |
| Over half a century ago the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania delegated to Allegheny County powers to regulate environmental air policy. At the time of the decision to use the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) as the body for this type of enforcement, the ACHD was a pioneering body in the development of air quality regulations for the entire nation. I believe that it is time to consider the efficacy of this delegation of responsibility, especially given that the taxpayers of Pennsylvania already fund the statewide Department of Environmental Protection to promulgate regulation and enforce the rule of law for air quality. In this regard, the taxpayers of Allegheny County pay twice for the same services. In addition to the duplicity of service, the ACHD makes decisions that impact the surrounding counties, yet those citizens who live outside of Allegheny County do not have a say in the policies that the ACHD promotes. The same does not apply, as a matter of environmental regulation, for Allegheny County residents because the surrounding counties do not have this duplication of government regulation and rely on the statewide PA DEP. In the near future, I will be introducing legislation to move the responsibility of developing and enforcing environmental air policy back under the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Under this proposal, the PA DEP would be responsible to facilitate the transition in a safe, responsible manner which would include a review of existing regulation. I ask that you please join me in this effort to streamline and improve government operations in Pennsylvania to restore consistency to air quality for Southwestern PA. |