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Regional committees - 27 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3113

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     § 3113.  Regional committees.
        (a)  Creation.--There is created within the department a
     regional committee for each of the following regions in this
     Commonwealth:
            (1)  The watershed drainage area of the Delaware River
        and its tributaries.
            (2)  The watershed drainage area of the West Branch
        Susquehanna River subbasin and the upper Susquehanna, middle
        Susquehanna and Chemung subbasins and their tributaries.
            (3)  The watershed drainage area of the Juniata River and
        lower Susquehanna River and its tributaries below Sunbury,
        and Gunpowder, Northeast and Elk Creek Watersheds draining to
        the Chesapeake Bay.
            (4)  The watershed drainage area of the Ohio River and
        its tributaries.
            (5)  The watershed drainage area of Lake Erie and the
        Genesee River.
            (6)  The watershed drainage area of the Potomac River and
        its tributaries.
     Each regional committee shall be subject to the provisions
     applicable generally to boards and commissions identified in
     section 203 of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known
     as The Administrative Code of 1929.
        (b)  Membership.--
            (1)  Each regional committee shall be composed of:
                (i)  Four members with a knowledge, background or
            understanding of water resources planning and management
            who are county conservation district or planning
            commission directors or, where a county conservation
            district does not cover a portion of a region, who are
            representatives of the governing body of the county or
            city of the first class, as appropriate, and shall
            represent a geographic cross section of the region. At
            least two county conservation district directors shall be
            appointed to each regional committee. Such members shall
            be appointed by the Governor from recommendations made
            separately by the governing bodies of each county or city
            of the first class which is in whole or in part within
            the region.
                (ii)  Seventeen members appointed by the Governor
            from recommendations made separately by Statewide and
            regional organizations representing such interests whose
            residence or place of business is within the region and
            who meet the following criteria:
                    (A)  Two members shall be representative of
                agriculture, one from production agriculture and one
                from horticulture.
                    (B)  One member shall be an officer or employee
                of a public water supply agency providing residential
                service within the region.
                    (C)  One member shall be an officer or employee
                of a public wastewater agency providing service
                within the region.
                    (D)  Three members shall represent significant
                industrial and commercial enterprises, energy
                development and production interests.
                    (E)  Three members shall represent environmental
                and conservation interests.
                    (F)  Four members with education and experience
                in professions relating to water resources
                management, including engineering, hydrology,
                geology, planning, law and economics, one of whom
                shall be a registered professional geologist.
                    (G)  Three members representing local governments
                other than counties.
            The members appointed under this subparagraph shall
            represent a cross section of the region, considering the
            distribution of population within each region.
                (iii)  One member, appointed by the secretary, who is
            a department employee. This member shall advise the
            regional committee without voting on any matter before
            the regional committee.
                (iv)  Where a Compact Basin Commission exists with
            jurisdiction over all or a portion of the region, a
            representative of such Compact Basin Commission shall be
            invited to serve as an ex officio voting member of the
            regional committee.
            (2)  Members shall be appointed no later than 180 days
        after the effective date of this chapter.
            (3)  A member shall be appointed for a term of three
        years. Of the members first appointed by the Governor under
        paragraph (1)(i) and (ii), five members shall serve for terms
        of one year, five members shall serve for terms of two years
        and five members shall serve for terms of three years.
            (4)  Vacancies shall be filled for the remainder of an
        unexpired term in the same manner as original appointments. A
        member, upon expiration of the term, shall continue to hold
        office until a successor is appointed.
            (5)  A majority of the membership of a regional committee
        shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of regional
        committee business. Action may be taken on a matter before
        the regional committee by a majority vote of the full
        membership of the regional committee.
            (6)  Members of a regional committee shall serve without
        compensation but may be reimbursed from funds appropriated
        for such purposes for necessary and reasonable travel and
        other expenses incurred during the performance of their
        duties.
            (7)  A chairperson shall be elected annually by a
        majority vote of the full membership of the regional
        committee.
        (c)  Powers and duties.--A regional committee has the
     following powers and duties:
            (1)  Guide the development of and recommend to the
        Statewide committee the regional plan component for review
        and incorporation into the State water plan.
            (2)  Consult with, advise and make recommendations to the
        department and the Statewide committee prior to and
        throughout the process of preparing the regional plan
        component of the State water plan and amendments to the
        regional plan component of the State water plan.
            (3)  Advise the Statewide committee and the department
        regarding the engagement and selection of consultants or
        experts to assist in the preparation of the regional
        component of the State water plan.
            (4)  Recommend to the Statewide committee and the
        department the identification of critical water planning
        areas.
            (5)  Utilize an open process, including public notice and
        at least one combined public meeting and hearing, to solicit
        comments from interested persons on water resources planning
        issues related to the preparation of the regional component
        of the State water plan.
            (6)  Meet as necessary to accomplish the purposes of this
        chapter.
            (7)  Adopt bylaws and procedures for conducting business.

        Cross References.  Section 3113 is referred to in section
     3102 of this title.

Last modified: November 27, 2007