PRINTER'S NO. 1516
No. 137 Session of 1999
INTRODUCED BY ALLEN, PHILLIPS, ARGALL, LUCYK, FAIRCHILD, BAKER,
BELARDI, BELFANTI, BROWNE, CALTAGIRONE, CLARK, L. I. COHEN,
M. COHEN, COSTA, DeWEESE, DONATUCCI, FARGO, FICHTER, FORCIER,
FREEMAN, GEIST, GODSHALL, GRUCELA, HERMAN, HERSHEY, LAUGHLIN,
LEDERER, LESCOVITZ, MANDERINO, MASLAND, MELIO, MYERS, PESCI,
PETRONE, PIPPY, PISTELLA, READSHAW, ROBERTS, ROONEY, ROSS,
RUBLEY, SANTONI, SEMMEL, B. SMITH, STABACK, STERN, STURLA,
E. Z. TAYLOR, VAN HORNE, WALKO, WILLIAMS, WOJNAROSKI AND
YOUNGBLOOD, APRIL 19, 1999
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
APRIL 19, 1999
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating Saturday, June 5, 1999, as "Rivers Day" in this
2 Commonwealth in recognition of the value of Pennsylvania's
3 rivers and streams and the efforts of Pennsylvania citizens
4 who are committed to preserving water resources.
5 WHEREAS, Many individuals, organizations and agencies in the
6 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are committed to preserving over
7 83,000 miles of rivers and streams in Pennsylvania; and
8 WHEREAS, One of the most significant problems facing
9 Pennsylvania's rivers and streams is drainage from abandoned
10 coal mining operations; and
11 WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's rivers and streams have suffered the
12 effects of abandoned coal mine drainage which resulted in the
13 pollution of over 3,000 miles of these rivers and streams; and
14 WHEREAS, The Department of Environmental Protection, several
15 other State bureaus and agencies, the Eastern Pennsylvania
1 Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, the Western
2 Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, county
3 conservation districts and other State, county and local
4 organizations have been active in promoting the partnerships
5 necessary to effectively combat the problems of abandoned mine
6 drainage and so preserve the rivers and streams that are
7 threatened by this pollution; and
8 WHEREAS, The continued success of these partnerships is
9 dependent upon the support of citizens of this Commonwealth and
10 upon the demonstration of their commitment to the preservation
11 of Pennsylvania's rivers and streams; and
12 WHEREAS, This year the Schuylkill River has been named the
13 Heritage River for Pennsylvania and will be the poster river for
14 June, which is River Month, and in conjunction with this
15 designation the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
16 has picked the Schuylkill River for its "Heritage River
17 Sojourn," which is a canoe trip beginning in Schuylkill Haven on
18 June 5, 1999, and ending at Fairmont Park in Philadelphia on
19 June 11, 1999; and
20 WHEREAS, "Rivers Day" in this Commonwealth represents a
21 significant step toward raising public awareness about this
22 issue and encouraging the support of Pennsylvania citizens;
23 therefore be it
24 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate
25 Saturday, June 5, 1999, as "Rivers Day" in this Commonwealth and
26 urge the support of activities related to the preservation of
27 Pennsylvania's rivers and streams.
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