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Statewide Water Resources Committee - 27 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3114

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     § 3114.  Statewide Water Resources Committee.
        (a)  Establishment.--There is established within the
     department the Statewide Water Resources Committee. The purpose
     of the committee is to coordinate the development of the State
     water plan, recommend policies and guidelines for and oversee
     the development of the State water plan and, in continuing
     consultation and collaboration with the regional committees and
     the department and with the full opportunity for public review
     and comment, approve and recommend to the secretary approval and
     adoption of the State water plan. The Statewide 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)  The Statewide committee shall be composed of members
        selected as set forth in this subsection.
            (2)  Eighteen members shall be appointed as follows:
                (i)  Six members shall be representatives of the
            regional committees, appointed as provided in this
            paragraph. The Majority Leader of the Senate and Majority
            Leader of the House of Representatives shall each appoint
            two members from among the members of the regional
            committees. The Minority Leader of the Senate and the
            Minority Leader of the House of Representatives shall
            each appoint one member from among the members of the
            regional committees. Each regional committee shall
            nominate from among their members individuals to be
            considered for appointment under this paragraph, and no
            more than one member from each regional committee shall
            be appointed under this paragraph.
                (ii)  The Governor shall appoint six members
            representing a cross section of water user interests,
            including agriculture, conservation districts, industrial
            and commercial enterprises, mining, energy development
            and production and public water supply. The Governor
            shall seek suggestions and recommendations for Statewide
            committee membership from representative organizations.
                (iii)  The Governor shall appoint six members
            representing local government, environmental and
            conservation interests and professions relating to water
            resources management. The Governor shall seek suggestions
            and recommendations for Statewide committee membership
            from representative organizations.
            (3)  The Secretary of Environmental Protection, Secretary
        of Agriculture, Secretary of Conservation and Natural
        Resources, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Fish and
        Boat Commission, Chairman of the Pennsylvania Public Utility
        Commission and Executive Director of the Pennsylvania
        Emergency Management Agency or their designees shall be ex
        officio voting members of the Statewide committee. The
        Secretary of Community and Economic Development and the
        Executive Director of the Governor's Center for Local
        Government Services or their designees and a representative
        of each Compact Basin Commission shall be invited to serve as
        ex officio nonvoting members of the Statewide committee.
            (4)  Members shall be appointed no later than 180 days
        after the effective date of this chapter.
            (5)  A member shall be appointed for a term of four
        years. Of the initial members appointed by the Governor:
                (i)  Six members shall serve initial terms of two
            years.
                (ii)  Six members shall serve initial terms of four
            years.
                (iii)  After such initial terms, individuals
            appointed by the Governor shall serve for a term of four
            years.
            (6)  Members must, as a result of educational background,
        training or experience, have an understanding of water
        resources planning and management issues.
            (7)  The chairperson of the Statewide committee shall be
        elected by a majority vote of the full membership of the
        committee.
            (8)  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.
            (9)  A majority of the membership of the Statewide
        committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
        business. Action may be taken on a matter before the
        committee by a majority vote of the full membership of the
        committee.
            (10)  Members of the Statewide 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.
        (c)  Powers and duties.--The Statewide committee shall:
            (1)  Recommend to the secretary the approval and adoption
        of the State water plan, including regional plan components,
        following consultation with the regional committees, the
        department, Compact Basin Commission and other appropriate
        agencies and after the public comment and hearing process
        specified in section 3115(b) (relating to development,
        adoption, amendment and periodic review of State water plan).
            (2)  Assist the department, in cooperation with regional
        committees, with the development of a public participation
        process to encourage the input from persons interested in
        water resources issues throughout the process of developing
        and formulating regional plan components and the State water
        plan.
            (3)  Recommend approval by the secretary of policies and
        guidelines for the preparation and development of regional
        plans and the State water plan in order to assure consistency
        in the methods used to carry out the assessments and
        inventories required under section 3112 (relating to plan
        contents).
            (4)  Review and comment upon regulations and policies
        proposed by the department under this chapter. In furtherance
        of this responsibility, the Statewide committee shall be
        given a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on
        regulations promulgated under this chapter affecting water
        resources prior to the submission to the Environmental
        Quality Board for both initial and final consideration. The
        written report of the Statewide committee shall be presented
        to the Environmental Quality Board with any regulatory
        proposal under this chapter. The chairperson of the Statewide
        committee shall be invited to participate in the presentation
        of all regulations promulgated under this chapter affecting
        water resources before the Environmental Quality Board.
            (5)  Carry out the duties and responsibilities assigned
        to the Statewide committee under this chapter or other
        applicable statutes.

Last modified: November 27, 2007