To The Department of Environmental Protection
May 16, 1996

The Honorable Secretary James M. Seif

The Department of Environmental Protection

P.O. Box 2063

Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063

Dear Secretary Seif:

At the April 24 Agricultural Advisory Board meeting Pam Witmer,
DEP Office of Policy and Communications, updated the Board on
legislative issues. Ms. Witmer mentioned that S.B. 240 and 241,
returnable beverage bills, were being considered, and that the
Department has taken a position of opposing these bills, since they
would undermine the municipal recycling efforts under Act 101. The
Board members expressed great concern and displeasure over the
Departments opposition to these bills. Board members stated that often
bottles and cans are discarded into agricultural fields, which can
cause considerable damage to expensive farm equipment and tires. Glass
bottles and aluminum cans cannot be detected by metal detectors or
magnets, so livestock may ingest this material which causes health
problems or death. The Board unanimously passed a motion to recommend
that the Department reconsider its opposition to S.B. 240 and 241. The
Board believes that if the Department can not support these bills that
they should take a neutral position regarding them. The Board also
urges the Department to look at ways of developing a returnable
beverage policy that would complement the Act 101 Program.

The Board members would welcome the opportunity to discuss the
Department's policy, regarding these bills, with you at our June 26,
1996 Board meeting. On behalf of the Board, I would like to personally
invite you to attend our meeting so that we may address the Board's
concerns in further detail. I look forward to hearing from you.

If I may be of further assistance please contact me at
717-561-7200.

Sincerely,

Robert Junk

Chairperson

Agricultural Advisory Board