Rigby Named ‘Public Official of the Year’ By Environmental Group
HARRISBURG - The Pennsylvania Water Environment Association (PWEA) has chosen state Rep. Jim Rigby (R-Johnstown) as its Public Official of the Year. The award was announced at the group’s annual gathering Monday in State College.
“It is an honor to be recognized by an organization that plays a key role in maintaining water quality throughout Pennsylvania,” said Rigby. “Our job as legislators includes equipping groups like this with the tools they need to do their job, and I’m glad to be able to work on legislation that benefits them and consumers around the state.”
The PWEA offers continuing education opportunities to water quality professionals who find it necessary to maintain a drinking water or wastewater license, as well as engineers looking to maintain their license through professional development hours. Rigby was nominated because of legislation he authored that calls into question a Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) proposal to revise an element of its permitting process.
“The DEP wants to make a change to the way biosolids are managed on a local level that I believe will inevitably lead to higher costs for Pennsylvania taxpayers,” Rigby added. “My
House Bill 149, which requires the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to examine the costs associated with the proposal, passed on a predominately party-line vote and drew the attention of PWEA members who then nominated me for the award.”
According to PWEA, House Resolution 149 “clearly exemplifies the award requirement to take decisive action to solve a financial and operational problem which would face wastewater providers should DEP’s planned changes take effect. Moreover, HR149 will promote the efficient delivery of service by requiring that costs and benefits of DEP’s proposed action be considered before the changes are implemented.”
Questions about this or any legislative issue should be directed to Rigby’s district office at 1-814-536-9818.
Representative Jim Rigby
71st Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Scott B. Little
717.260.6137 (office), 717.497.5967 (cell)
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