Short Title: An Act providing for protection of existing
riparian buffers, for restoration of impaired riparian buffers, for exemptions,
for municipal authority, for powers and duties of Department of Environmental
Protection, for property inspections, for delegation to a municipality, for
municipal action appeals, for penalties, civil action and liability for costs and
for effect on other Commonwealth laws or regulations and municipal ordinances.
Prime Sponsor: Senator
RAFFERTY
Last Action: Referred to ENVIRONMENTAL
RESOURCES AND ENERGY, Feb. 25, 2015 [Senate]
Printer's No.: 537*
MEMORANDUM
Posted: December 15, 2014 11:59 AM
From: Senator John Rafferty
To: All
Senate members
Subject: Riparian Buffer Requirement
In the very near future, I will be
re-introducing legislation, SB 1465, which creates the framework for expanded
water protection efforts in the Commonwealth.
This legislation would authorize municipalities to adopt regulations
applicable to riparian buffers, providing additional powers and duties to the
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to enforce these
regulations and providing penalties for violations.
This legislation seeks to improve
the Commonwealth’s water quality by providing for vegetative buffers around
waterways, wetlands, and surface water bodies.
Riparian buffers have been proven very effective in reducing the amount
of excess nutrients, pesticides, and sediment that enter our watercourses.
My legislation provides for a
minimum 100 foot riparian buffer on each side of a surface water body and a
minimum 300 foot buffer around streams designated as High Quality or
Exceptional Value.
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