VERNON ACHENBACH JR.
Lancaster Farming Staff
MIDDLETOWN (Dauphin
Co.) A number of groups and
individuals involved in the long
negotiations which resulted in the
state’s recently enacted Nutrient
Management Act were recognized
Tuesday during a mock signing
ceremony held at a dairy farm in
Middletown.
Although Gov. Robert Casey
actually signed the bill into law
previously, he held the signing
ceremony to honor those people
and oiganizalions which worked to
create the nutrient management
laws.
The event was held on the
160-acre dairy farm of Ron and Jay
Kopp, whose father was one of the
fust to sign upas a cooperator with
the conservation district when it
first formed in the 19505.
Though the Kopp farm is not a
high-density agricultural opera
tion, as defined under the nutrient
management law, it was selected
as the site for the mock signing
ceremony because of the history of
the farm and the Kopp’s continued
conservation and soil protection
practices.
It was also selected as a site
because of its proximity to Harris
burg, making access easy for Gov.
Casey, several legislators involved
with the final version of the act,
and representatives of the stale’s
major farm organizations and
environmental organizations.
Prior to posing for photographs
with representatives of each of the
groups involved, Casey said, “His-
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Mock Signing Event Recognizes
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tory is going to show that progress
has meen made that is significant
to all of this.”
The passing of the law is not
only seen as a significant step in
helping Pennsylvania reach its
goal of a 40 percent reduction in
nutrient flow into the Chesapeake
Bay via the Susquehanna
watershed by 2000, but also to bet
ter ensure Pennsylvania citizens
their constitutional right to clean
water and a safe, healthy
environment
“This law the fust of its kind
in the nation brings Pennsylva
nia a step closer toward meeting
the goals of the historic 1987 Che
sapeake Bay agreement” Casey
said during die Tuesday ceremony.
“It’s also a law that has the
widespread support of the agricul
tural and environmental communi
ties because they had a voice in its
development” he said.
“We knew that we had to devise
a plan that balances the needs of
agriculture Pennsylvania’s
largest industry and those of
the environment and the Chesa
peake Bay.
“Pennsylvanians have a shared
interest and responsibility with
Maryland, Virginia and the Dis
trict of Columbia to ensure that this
remarkable national treasure is not
lost,” Casey said.
Also speaking during the cere
mony was bill sponsor Rep. Jef
frey Coy, D-Franklin, who also
chaired Casey’s appointed Select
Committee on Nutrient
Management
Coy talked about the coopera-
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tive effort to get the bill created. Legislature.
Though in a news release and dur- During that time, Coy and
ing his talk, he repeated criticizm others in the House had attempted
of Republicans for not acting fast to get an earlier version of the law
enough to pass nutrient manage- quickly approved. However that
ment laws. bill, which contained mostly the
The criticizm results from the same wording as the now
fact that the Republican Patty had approved act, never made it to the
control of the Senate until late last Democratic Senate floor for a vote
year, when the power balance before the Legislature adjourned,
slipped to the Democrats during Winning reelection, Coy rein
the last week of the previous traduced the legislation almost
Seated with pen in hand, Gov. Robert Casey poses In a reenactment of signing of
the Nutrient Management Act with the Middletown Kopp dairy farm family, which has
been Involved In soil conservation practices since the Dauphin County Conservation
District came into being. The Kopps milk 110 registered Holstelns on a 160-acre frees
tall operation and crop a total of6oo acres. From the left are Ron, his children Brandon
and Rachelle, Mary and Howard Kopp (retired), and Ann, children Adam and Jayanna,
and husband Jay Kopp. Ron and Jay are In partnership.
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Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, Ji\ne 5, 1993-A27
immediately in the new
Legislature.
“I am extremely please that this
legislation has finally seen its way
to the governor for his signature.”
Coy said. 'The Nutrient Manage
ment Act takes a responsible
approach toward tackling die prob
lem of nonpoint source nutrient
pollution. And it does so in a way
that makes sense for both agricul-
2000/
3000
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