Senate Committee Approves Local Stormwater Pollution Prevention Fee Authorization Bills

The Senate Local Government Committee Tuesday reported out a package of four bills to authorize boroughs, townships of the first class, cities of the third class and incorporated towns to adopt local stormwater management fees.  The bills include--

-- House Bill 913 providing for the adoption of stormwater fees by incorporated towns;

-- House Bill 914 providing for the adoption of stormwater fees by boroughs;

-- House Bill 915 providing for the adoption of stormwater fees by first class townships; and

-- House Bill 916 providing for the adoption of stormwater fees by Cities of the Third Class.

Rep. Garth Everett (R-Lycoming) is the prime sponsor of the bills and is one of Pennsylvania’s members and the current chair of the interstate Chesapeake Bay Commission.

These bills are the latest in a series of actions to give local governments the tools they need to better deal with stormwater flooding and resulting pollution, in particular in Pennsylvania’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

In July of 2016, the General Assembly passed and Gov. Wolf signed into law House Bill 1325 (Mustio-D-Allegheny) authorizing townships of the second class to levy stormwater fees (now Act 62).

In July of 2014, the General Assembly passed and Gov. Corbett signed into law Senate Bill 1255 (Erickson-R-Delaware) authorizing municipalities to establish municipal authorities for the purpose of implementing stormwater pollution prevention programs (Act 123).

The bills now go to the full Senate for action.

Sen. Scott Wagner (R-York) serves as Majority Chair of the Committee and can be contacted by sending email to: swagner@pasen.gov.  Sen. John Blake (D-Lackawanna) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by sending email to: jblake@pasenate.com.