Welcome to the home page of the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee, known more familiarly as the Joint Conservation Committee!

It is the committee's mission to conduct continuing studies of air and water pollution laws and their enforcement and to recommend needed changes to the General Assembly. The bipartisan, House-Senate Joint Conservation Committee, consisting of 18 members of the state House and Senate, serves the Pennsylvania General Assembly, as well as the people of Pennsylvania. The committee conducts studies, holds hearings and makes recommendations to the General assembly on a variety of environmental issues. It also makes recommendations in regard to the custodianship and care of our land, water and air to determine where there are problems, what solutions we've found and what we can do to bring about positive change. Recent issues that the committee has focused upon include forestry, electronic waste recycling, state parks, land sewer and water infrastructure, prescribed fire and Pennsylvania's heritage areas.

We hope that your journey through our website helps you to learn more about our committee, our mission and Pennsylvania's diverse natural resources. With the touch of a button, please read on to find out more about the Joint Conservation Committee and how we can help you. You'll find information on the committee's members, staff, important news, history, issues forums, and its studies, newsletters and reports.

Thank you for visiting our webpage. If the committee can be of assistance to you, please contact the committee office at 717-787-7570.

State Representative Scott E. Hutchinson (R-64), Chairman
Joint Conservation Committee

In 1967, legislation (Act 448, P.L. 1022) was enacted creating the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee. The Committee consists of 18 members of the General Assembly. Nine members are appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, five from the Majority Party and four from the Minority Party. The Speaker of the House of Representatives also appoints nine members, five from the Majority Party and four from the Minority Party.

The Committee's powers and duties according to Act 448 include:

• Conducting continuing studies of air and water pollution laws and recommending needed changes to the General Assembly.
• Conducting continuing studies of the enforcement of air and water pollution laws, and in conjunction with such studies to make necessary trips to various sections of the Commonwealth to hold public hearings.
• Conducting continuing studies of mining practices, mining laws, and reclamation of mined lands.
• Holding public hearings and receiving comments regarding any or all of the above subjects of study.

The Committee has the power to employ and fix compensation for a staff to help carry out the Committee's responsibilities. The staff currently consists of three people.

The staff is available at all times to assist members with environmental and conservation issues. The Committee's files and library are extensive. Also, the staff has access to information from the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, other state and federal agencies, private industry, and trade associations.

Among reports the Committee has issued are:

• Electronic Waste Recycling.
• Combined Sewage Overflows.
• Arsenic in Pressure-Treated Wood
• The Regulation of the Land Application of Sewage Sludge and Septage.
• The Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority Program.
• The Regulation of Water Well Drilling.
• The Use and Management of Pennsylvania's State Parks.
• The Regulation of Oil and Gas Drilling in Pennsylvania.
• The Use and Regulation of Roadside Springs.
• Hazardous Waste Facility Siting.
• Funding for the Wild Resource Conservation Fund.
• Water Resources Management in Pennsylvania.
• Forest Resources Management in Pennsylvania.
• The Management and Recycling of Waste Tires.

Many of the recommendations found in the Committee's reports on these subjects have been included in legislation.

In addition to the above activities, the staff assists many legislators in responding to constituent problems related to the environment. The staff also prepares a monthly newsletter that is provided to all members of the General Assembly. The newsletter reviews timely issues concerning environmental protection and natural resources. Topics such as recycling, mining, groundwater protection, hazardous waste treatment and disposal, wetlands protection, and sewage disposal are covered in the newsletter.

For more information about the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee or any of its activities please call the Committee office at 717-787-7570.