THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY STURLA, ARGALL, BEAR, BOYD, BRENNAN, BRIGGS, BUXTON, CALTAGIRONE, CARROLL, CLYMER, COHEN, CREIGHTON, DONATUCCI, FABRIZIO, FAIRCHILD, FLECK, FRANKEL, GEIST, GIBBONS, GOODMAN, GROVE, HARKINS, HESS, HORNAMAN, W. KELLER, KORTZ, KOTIK, LONGIETTI, MAHONEY, MANN, McGEEHAN, MELIO, MICCARELLI, MILLARD, PALLONE, PAYNE, PETRARCA, PICKETT, SANTONI, SIPTROTH, K. SMITH, STABACK, WALKO, YUDICHAK AND FREEMAN, FEBRUARY 18, 2009

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, FEBRUARY 18, 2009  

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 flood plain areas.

(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

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

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 hereby appropriated to the Department of

Conservation and Natural Resources for the fiscal year July 1,

2009, to June 30, 2010, to carry out the provisions of this act.

Section 11.  Effective date.

This act shall take effect in 120 days.