In the near future, I will introduce legislation to reduce overly burdensome regulations within our agricultural sector.  This legislation will be a companion piece to similar legislation being offered by Senator Phillips-Hill.
 

We've recently heard from an agricultural business owner who has been stuck in a bureaucratic nightmare with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), delaying them from expanding their business and better serving our farmers.  He is just one of countless members of the ag community who has been having issues with DEP.
 

There are specific regulations that impact farmers and farming businesses that are currently under the purview of DEP, rather than within the Department of Agriculture. In particular, storage tanks for agricultural use are regulated by DEP.  Despite the tanks being designed to national standards, Pennsylvania remains an outlier compared to our neighboring states as to which state agency regulates these specific tanks at the state level.
 

By moving these regulations under the Department of Agriculture, we allow our farmers the flexibility to do what they do best and to continue the growth and expansion of Pennsylvania’s biggest industry.
 

Please join me in cosponsoring this important piece of legislation.