Signed by Governor Tom Corbett

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendment and pass a bill that amends buffer zone requirements around certain streams.

Highlights:

• Authorizes individuals proposing earth disturbance activities, that requires a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit for storm water discharge, to use or install either 1 of the following (Sec. 1):
• A riparian buffer or riparian forest buffer; or
• Another option among available best management practices, design standards and alternatives that collectively are “substantially equivalent” in effectiveness to a riparian buffer or riparian forest buffer to maintain water quality of surface waters.

• Requires any project that proposes any earth disturbance within 100 feet of a surface water to offset any reduction in the total square footage of the buffer zone that would have been utilized, with a replacement buffer elsewhere “as close as feasible” to the area of disturbance (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends buffer zone requirements around certain streams.

Highlights:

• Authorizes individuals proposing earth disturbance activities, that requires a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit for storm water discharge, to use or install either 1 of the following (Sec. 1):
• A riparian buffer or riparian forest buffer; or
• Another option among available best management practices, design standards and alternatives that collectively are “substantially equivalent” in effectiveness to a riparian buffer or riparian forest buffer to maintain water quality of surface waters.

• Requires any project that proposes any earth disturbance within 100 feet of a surface water to offset any reduction in the total square footage of the buffer zone that would have been utilized, with a replacement buffer elsewhere “as close as feasible” to the area of disturbance (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text