FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
April 12, 2004
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Erickson Bill Would Create Office of Pollution
Reduction and Prevention
Harrisburg – State Sen. Ted Erickson (R-26) has introduced
legislation to establish an Office of Pollution Reduction and
Prevention, part of a comprehensive plan to create a cleaner
Commonwealth.
Erickson said Senate Bill 1042, the Pennsylvania Pollution Reduction
and Prevention Act, would establish an office within the state
Department of Environmental Protection that will focus solely on
reducing pollution in Pennsylvania.
"The office will be responsible for developing and coordinating
programs to reduce and prevent pollution," said Erickson, Vice Chairman
of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee. "This will
be good for the environment and good for jobs. Pollution means waste. We
not only want to cleanup the environment, we want to help companies cut
their environmental costs to keep good paying manufacturing jobs in
Pennsylvania."
Erickson said the Office of Pollution Reduction and Prevention would
provide training programs and workshops to assist small businesses and
the public on methods to reduce and prevent pollution. Senate Bill 1042
would also establish a technical assistance program to provide
assistance and planning grants to small businesses to help them comply
with environmental statutes and regulations.
DEP would receive 20 percent of all money collected from
environmental fines and penalties to fund the efforts, the senator said.
Additionally, under Senate Bill 1042 a Pollution Reduction Index
would be created to provide a measurable standard of tracking permanent
pollution reduction, as well as natural resource and energy conservation
that exceeds minimum requirements.
Finally, DEP would provide an annual environmental report card and
establish the Rachel Carson Environmental Excellence Award to recognize
individuals, businesses, local officials and non-profit organizations
who exemplify environmental excellence.
"The 295 winners of the Governor's Environmental Excellence Award
since 1997 alone have reduced solid waste and air pollution by hundreds
of millions of tons and water use by more than nine billion gallons,"
said Erickson. "But the big news is they saved over $1.1 billion in
operating costs. The more the Commonwealth recognizes such
accomplishments, the more they will be repeated across Pennsylvania.
Less pollution, lower costs and more jobs."
Senate Bill 1042 is part of a package of environmental measures being
unveiled to bolster environmental protection in Pennsylvania.
CONTACT: Tom Golden (717) 787-1350
