PRINTER'S NO. 217
No. 226 Session of 1997
INTRODUCED BY GREENLEAF, HECKLER, RHOADES, COSTA, KASUNIC,
TOMLINSON, WOZNIAK AND LEMMOND, JANUARY 27, 1997
REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, JANUARY 27, 1997
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of June 28, 1995 (P.L.89, No.18), entitled "An
2 act creating the Department of Conservation and Natural
3 Resources consisting of certain functions of the Department
4 of Environmental Resources and the Department of Community
5 Affairs; renaming the Department of Environmental Resources
6 as the Department of Environmental Protection; defining the
7 role of the Environmental Quality Board in the Department of
8 Environmental Protection; making changes to responsibilities
9 of the State Conservation Commission and the Department of
10 Agriculture; transferring certain powers and duties to the
11 Department of Health; and repealing inconsistent acts,"
12 further providing for rivers conservation; establishing the
13 Water Recreation Advisory Board; and making an appropriation.
14 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
15 hereby enacts as follows:
16 Section 1. Section 307 heading of the act of June 28, 1995
17 (P.L.89, No.18), known as the Conservation and Natural Resources
18 Act, is amended and the section is amended by adding a
19 subsection to read:
20 Section 307. [Rivers conservation] Water resources and
21 recreation.
22 * * *
23 (c) Inventory of recreational opportunities.--The department
1 shall inventory all rivers, streams and lakes in this
2 Commonwealth to identify current boating, canoeing, rafting and
3 other recreational activities, including water levels and
4 related water conditions, for the purpose of making the
5 information available to the public in published form. The
6 inventory shall include, but not be limited to, recreational
7 activities offered by the department, the Pennsylvania Fish and
8 Boat Commission, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the National
9 Park Service, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the
10 United States Soil Conservation Service, the Federal Energy
11 Regulatory Commission, the United States Forest Service and
12 other public and private entities. The Water Recreation Advisory
13 Board shall assist the department in compiling the inventory.
14 The first inventory shall be completed by January 1, 1999, and
15 shall be updated every two years.
16 Section 2. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
17 Section 315.1. Water Recreation Advisory Board.
18 (a) Establishment.--There is hereby established the Water
19 Recreation Advisory Board to assist the department in
20 identifying water resources for recreational activities and in
21 compiling the inventory required by section 307(c).
22 (b) Members.--The board shall be composed of representatives
23 of environmental and recreational organizations, especially
24 interested in water resources and water recreational activities.
25 The members of the board shall be appointed by the secretary and
26 shall represent the various geographical regions of this
27 Commonwealth. The secretary shall designate a member of the
28 board as presiding officer. The board shall meet at least
29 annually.
30 (c) Expenses of members.--The members of the board shall
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1 receive no compensation for their services but shall be
2 reimbursed for expenses actually incurred by them in carrying
3 out their duties as members of the board.
4 (d) Other duties.--In addition to assisting the department
5 in identifying water resources for recreational activities and
6 in compiling the inventory required by section 307(c), the board
7 shall have such other duties as may be determined by the
8 secretary.
9 Section 3. The sum of $350,000, or as much thereof as may be
10 necessary, is hereby appropriated to the Department of
11 Conservation and Natural Resources for implementation of this
12 act.
13 Section 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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