Senate Appropriations Reports Out ‘Stream Cleaning’ Bills

On October 24, the Senate Appropriations Committee reported out two ‘stream cleaning’ bills--

-- 10-Year ‘Stream Cleaning’ Permit: Senate Bill 689 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) would authorize DEP to issue a 10-year “stream cleaning” permits to local governments or PennDOT without need for further preapprovals for actions in the stream regardless if stream conditions changes within their jurisdictions. 

Read more about DEP’s less complex program to authorize stream maintenance to avoid flooding.

DEP and the Shapiro Administration opposed the bill when it was reported out of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee in May.  Read more here.

The Environmental Committee reported out the bill by a party-line vote, Republicans supporting.

-- County ‘Stream Cleaning’ Permit: Senate Bill 690 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) would authorize county conservation districts to develop a complex and expensive program related to “reconstruction emergency permit authorizations” to conduct “stream cleaning” operations.

Read more about DEP’s less complex program to authorize stream maintenance to avoid flooding.

DEP is neutral on the bill because the prime sponsor worked with DEP on changes when it was reported out of the Senate Environmental Committee in May.  Read more here.

The bills are now on the Senate Calendar for action.

Sen. Scott Martin (R-Lancaster) serves as Majority Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and can be contacted at 717-787-6535 or send email to: smartin@pasen.gov.  Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted at 717-787-7112 or send email to: vincent.hughes@pasenate.com. 

[Posted: October 28, 2023] PA Environment Digest