Clean Water Testimony

Dear Secretary McGinty:

I am writing on behalf of PennEnvironment’s 20,000 citizen members and activists urging you to support the proposal to require a minimum of 100 foot forested buffers on each side of all streams in Pennsylvania.

PennEnvironment believes that undeveloped open spaces along our waterways are essential for clean rivers and streams, pristine habitats for native species and safe drinking water for all Pennsylvanians. As you know, overdevelopment is one of the greatest threats to Pennsylvania’s waterways, so having forested buffers of 100 feet or more will help us to protect our rivers, lakes and streams, as well as our communities. Forested buffers reduce pollution going into our waterways, and studies have shown that buffers of 100 feet or more will remove up to 90% of the nitrogen and phosphorus from runoff--and improve in-stream pollutant removal. Buffer zones also minimize erosion of stream banks, hold soil in place, improve fish habitats, and cool the streams they shade, in turn combating the effects of global warming.

We encourage the Department to include requirements for forested buffers of 100 feet on each side of all streams, 150 feet on headwater streams and 300 feet on Special Protection streams in your proposed revisions to the Chapter 102 regulations. PennEnvironment looks forward to working with the Department to ensure that such regulations are adopted and approved.  If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at the PennEnvironment office (215-732-5897) or by email (DavidMasur@PennEnvironment.org).

Sincerely,

David Masur, PennEnvironment Director