This post is one in a month-long series speaking to 15 of
PennFuture's significant victories. It was 15 years ago this September
that we began our work to protect the environment and champion a clean
energy economy.
Stormwater runoff is a widespread problem that can have a devastating impact on life, property and communities across the Commonwealth. Stormwater is also one of the most significant sources of pollution to Pennsylvania's rivers and streams.
Today, thanks to a bill that PennFuture proposed and helped recently pass, local governments in Pennsylvania now have an important new tool to address stormwater pollution and flooding problems. This victory occurred on July 9 when Governor Corbett signed Senate Bill 351 into law as Act 68 of 2013.
Pennsylvania law allows local governments to create municipal authorities, individually or jointly with other local governments, to acquire, operate, construct or fund a wide range of projects and activities. Authorities provide local governments with greater coordination, expertise and resources to manage challenging problems, and a means to reduce costs through economies of scale in the case of multi-municipal authorities.
For example, municipalities across Pennsylvania have formed water and wastewater authorities. However, prior to the passage of SB 351, municipalities were hesitant to form authorities to tackle the problem of stormwater management because they believed they lacked the legal authority to do so. SB 351 now provides this authority.
Stormwater authorities will allow communities to work together to address stormwater issues on a watershed basis. They will provide a potential source of stable and reliable funding for stormwater projects and planning as municipalities work to fulfill their obligations under both the Pennsylvania Stormwater Management Act and the federal Clean Water Act.
This important victory would not have been possible without strong and decisive bi-partisan legislative leadership. Senator Ted Erickson, R-Delaware, was the prime sponsor of the SB 351. Erickson built near-unanimous support for the bill in the Senate, and worked closely with the Senate Republican leadership to get the bill to Governor Corbett.
Rep. Kate Harper, R-Montgomery, did an extraordinary job of navigating SB 351 through the House Local Government Committee that she chairs and then around some challenging shoals in the House Republican Caucus. Rep. Bob Freeman, D-Northampton, the minority chair of the Local Government Committee, provided invaluable leadership and built strong support across the House Democratic caucus.
In the coming months, we expect local governments across Pennsylvania to take advantage of this new law, with municipalities in Lancaster, Allegheny and Montgomery counties likely to be among the first.
PennFuture will celebrate 15 years of environmental victories on September 25. Please consider joining us!
