Are you a lobbyist?

The Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1998 defines a lobbyist as "any individual, firm, association, corporation, partnership, business trust or business entity that engages in lobbying on behalf of a principal for economic consideration." Under the act, a lobbyist or a principal must register with the Ethics Commission within 10 days of acting in any capacity as a lobbyist or principal.

What does that mean to you? Anyone who advises DEP on regulations, guidelines, policies such as advisory committee members, someone submitting comments on regulations, policies or guidelines; or people who petition the Environmental Quality Board to consider a stream redesignation, may have to meet the new reporting guidelines established by the act.

To help educate people about these changes, the Citzens Advisory Council to the Department of Environmental Protection, in cooperation with the State Ethics Commission and DEP, will hold a live Internet chat on March 9 on the GreenWorksChannel website. Two representatives from the State Ethics Commission will answer your questions live during two chat sessions -- 2-3 p.m. and again from 7-8 p.m. You'll also find links to necessary forms and regulatory information.

For more information on the live chat, contact Sue Wilson, CAC executive director, at 717 787-4527 or e-mail wilson.susan@dep.state.pa.us .