Rep. Douglas G. Reichley, a Republican, is sponsoring amendments that would substantially increase the penalties for violating the Clean Streams Law and the Solid Waste Management Act to a maximum of seven years imprisonment and a $50,000 fine. Currently, most violations carry a maximum possible sentence of one year in prison and a $25,000 fine.

In addition, the legislation allows for tougher penalties in cases where prosecutors can prove the pollution was intentional and allows penalties to increase based on the amount of waste that is dumped.

"Current penalties don´t do enough to prevent pollution across the commonwealth," Reichley said. "Stronger penalties are needed to discourage reckless or intentional pollution."

Attorney General Tom Corbett announced his support for the legislation. "We need to make sure that the punishment fits the crime," Corbett said. "It´s common sense that large-scale polluters should face stiffer fines and longer prison terms, but that´s not the case under current state law. Right now, all these crimes are treated the same."

Existing penalties make Pennsylvania an attractive dumping ground for polluters who face much tougher penalties in the neighboring states of New Jersey, New York and Maryland, Corbett said.