Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Bill Aims to Regulate Food Processing Residue to Protect Rural Communities – MyChesCo

Published

2 years ago

June 8, 2024

Pennsylvania Bill Aims to Regulate Food Processing Residue to Protect Rural Communities – MyChesCo

HARRISBURG, PA — State Representative Paul Friel introduced a bill this week that seeks to regulate how Pennsylvania manages food processing residue (FPR). House Bill 2393 aims to address the hazards posed by this waste in rural and agricultural areas. The bill proposes updates to the Solid Waste Management Act, adding necessary guardrails for handling FPR.

Food processing residue includes vegetable peelings, raw meat scraps, and wastewater containing blood, fat, and other byproducts. While FPR can benefit soil as fertilizer, it can cause significant problems, such as groundwater contamination and noxious odors. Surrounding states have restricted or banned FPR use, making Pennsylvania a target for cheap waste disposal.

“This bill – a bipartisan legislative solution to the problem – is the result of working with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, the departments of Agriculture and Environmental Protection, affected community members, farmers, conservation experts, and industry stakeholders,” said Friel. “The goal is to make sure that FPR is used responsibly, contributing to the sustainability of our food supply, enhancing the health of our soil, preserving the quality of our groundwater, and preventing odor and other quality-of-life problems for our communities.”

Currently, Pennsylvania’s regulations on FPR are minimal. If someone claims compliance with the state’s Food Processing Residual Management Manual, there is no further oversight. No tracking, testing, or complaint system exists.

To improve control over FPR, Friel’s bill proposes several key amendments to the Solid Waste Management Act:

Classification System: Differentiate between sources of FPR and establish a classification system to guide safe storage, handling, and application requirements.
Animal Product Processing: Require FPR sourced from animal products to be processed before storage or use on farms.
Documentation Requirements: Mandate detailed documentation of the FPR’s makeup and nutrient content before application on farmland.
Application Plans: Include nutrient levels in application plans, which must be reviewed by local conservation districts.
Licensing: Require brokers and haulers of FPR to be licensed by the state.

The proposed legislation aims to strike a balance between utilizing FPR as a resource and mitigating its potential risks. By establishing clear guidelines and oversight, the bill seeks to prevent Pennsylvania from becoming a dumping ground for hazardous food processing waste.

Regulating Food Processing Residue in PA: A Path to Healthier Communities

These changes could have widespread implications. Effective regulation of FPR can protect water quality, reduce unpleasant odors, and ensure the safe use of agricultural land. It also addresses public concerns about environmental and health impacts. Properly managed FPR can enhance soil health, contributing to sustainable agriculture practices.

Moreover, the bill emphasizes the collaborative approach taken to develop this legislation. Involving various stakeholders ensures the policies are practical and beneficial. This cooperation can serve as a model for addressing other environmental and public health issues.

In summary, House Bill 2393 represents a proactive effort to regulate food processing residue in Pennsylvania. By updating the Solid Waste Management Act, the bill aims to protect rural communities, enhance agricultural practices, and prevent environmental degradation. As the bill progresses, its potential to improve the quality of life for many Pennsylvanians will be closely watched.

For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and Microsoft Start.

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Pennsylvania

Bill would create alert when children with autism go missing in Pennsylvania

Published

11 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Press Room

Bill would create alert when children with autism go missing in Pennsylvania

(WHTM) — Legislation is in the works for a statewide warning system to locate missing children with autism.

State Rep. Robert Leadbeter (R-Columbia County) announced the formal introduction of a bill to create a “Purple Alert” system. It would quickly notify police and community members when a child with autism, or other cognitive issues, is missing.

His bill is called “Aiden’s Law,” named for a young boy in Columbia County, who disappeared earlier this year and drowned in the Susquehanna River. Leadbeter said a “Purple Alert” system would fill a gap in Pennsylvania.

“So, individuals with cognitive disabilities are able to then, if they go missing, have an alert go out to law enforcement organizations that work directly with them and that’ll save time expand resources, and ideally result in a safe return home for the missing individual,” Leadbeter said.

In this bill, the system would mirror others like Amber Alerts for missing children in danger and Silver Alerts for missing seniors.

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Pennsylvania

Bethlehem man sentenced under Pennsylvania’s new AI child porn law

Published

23 hours ago

December 16, 2025

Press Room

Bethlehem man sentenced under Pennsylvania’s new AI child porn law

A Bethlehem man is among the first to be sentenced under a Pennsylvania law passed last year, making it a crime to possess AI-generated child sex abuse material.

On Monday, Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas Judge Kristie M. Marks sentenced 35-year-old Adam Erdman to two years, four months to 10 years.

Erdman in September pleaded guilty to felony possessing child sex abuse material. He faced a possible sentence of 5 to 10 years in prison.

Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan announced the sentencing in a news conference Monday afternoon. The DA credited U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, who introduced the new legislation and state Sen. Tracy Pennycuick, who championed the final version of the law last year.

“Before this law was passed, the use of AI to generate child sexual abuse materials went unpunished,” Holihan said. “Prosecutors like me need legislation like this to arrest and convict the criminals who use evolving technology to victimize others.”

Macungie-based attorney Michael Ira Stump, representing Erdman, couldn’t immediately be reached for comment Tuesday morning.

Bethlehem police on March 31 were called by Erdman’s estranged wife, who reported finding three AI-generated nude images of juvenile girls on his personal computer.

Prosecutors said Erdman downloaded photos of the children on vacation from their parent’s social media account, and then used artificial intelligence photo-editing software to make the children appear naked.

Erdman was charged on April 17.

The case was investigated by Bethlehem Police Det. Stephen Ewald and was prosecuted by Lehigh County Senior Deputy District Attorney Sarah K. Heimbach.

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Pennsylvania

Central Pennsylvania awarded over $1M for Chesapeake Bay Watershed conservation

Published

1 day ago

December 16, 2025

Press Room

Central Pennsylvania awarded over M for Chesapeake Bay Watershed conservation

PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) — Over $17 million has been awarded to county teams across the Commonwealth for projects in reducing nutrient and sediment pollution in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

Grants were awarded to counties with projects taking place over the next 12 to 24 months. Many different human activities cause nutrient pollution and eroded sediment to enter streams, rivers, and lakes. This pollution can come from fertilizer, plowing and tilling farm fields and can cause stripping away of trees and vegetation, and increasing paved surfaces.

Here are the grants awarded in our area:

Blair County Conservation District: $308,095
Cambria County Conservation District: $200,000
Centre County Government: $566,399
Clearfield County Conservation District: $368,209
Huntingdon County Conservation District: $409,134

“Pennsylvania’s clean water successes are rooted in collaboration—state, local, federal, legislative, and non-governmental partners, and of course landowners,” Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Jessica Shirley said. “The work will continue to evolve, and our focus will remain on setting our collaborative partnerships up for success well beyond 2025. The momentum is real, and you can see it in our improved water quality.”

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In total, 222 projects were approved, and it’s estimated to reduce nitrogen by 113,493 pounds/year, phosphorus by 28,816 pounds/year, and sediment delivered to the Chesapeake Bay by 1.8 million pounds/year.

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