PRINTER'S NO. 4204
No. 845 Session of 2008
INTRODUCED BY PETRONE, MUSTIO, RAMALEY AND VULAKOVICH,
JULY 9, 2008
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, JULY 9, 2008
A RESOLUTION
1 Directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct an
2 in-depth study of the subject of developments of regional
3 significance and impact; and requiring a report.
4 WHEREAS, On September 19, 2006, a massive landslide occurred
5 in Kilbuck Township, Allegheny County; and
6 WHEREAS, On October 24, 2006, the House of Representatives
7 adopted House Resolution 897, which directed the Joint State
8 Government Commission to conduct an in-depth investigation into
9 the September 19, 2006, landslide and compile a report on its
10 findings and recommendations; and
11 WHEREAS, House Resolution 897 authorized the appointment of a
12 four-member legislative task force and an advisory committee to
13 assist the task force in this undertaking; and
14 WHEREAS, The advisory committee established under House
15 Resolution 897 represented a broad range of expertise and
16 interests and included attorneys, geologists, engineers, land
17 use planners, representatives of local and county governments,
18 representatives of community development organizations,
1 environmental advocates, representatives of Communities First!,
2 the executive director of the Joint Legislative Air and Water
3 Pollution Control and Conservation Committee, a representative
4 from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, a
5 representative from the Department of Environmental Protection
6 and a representative from the Department of Transportation; and
7 WHEREAS, The task force and advisory committee noted that
8 possible issues contributing to the Kilbuck landslide included
9 geologically hazardous conditions at the site, inadequate
10 coordination among regulatory decisionmakers and lack of
11 capacity by some municipalities, particularly with respect to
12 approvals of large, complex developments; and
13 WHEREAS, The task force and advisory committee agreed to
14 address the following seven subject areas that could help
15 prevent the occurrence of such landslides:
16 (1) revisions to the Pennsylvania Municipalities
17 Planning Code;
18 (2) regional planning and review;
19 (3) resources to local governments;
20 (4) the permitting and inspection process;
21 (5) coordination of agencies' actions;
22 (6) standing and jurisdiction; and
23 (7) disclosure of geologic concerns;
24 and
25 WHEREAS, The task force and advisory committee reached
26 consensus on findings and recommendations as contemplated by
27 House Resolution 897; and
28 WHEREAS, On June 9, 2008, the task force authorized the
29 release of the report of the task force and advisory committee
30 and the introduction of the legislation contained in the report;
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1 and
2 WHEREAS, As part of the findings and recommendations
3 contained in the report, the task force and advisory committee
4 acknowledged that further consideration, discussion and analysis
5 should be given to the subject of developments of regional
6 significance and impact, which was addressed only briefly in the
7 report; and
8 WHEREAS, The members of the task force and advisory committee
9 desired to continue their work regarding the subject of
10 development of regional significance and impact; and
11 WHEREAS, The task force recommended that further
12 consideration, discussion and analysis regarding the subject of
13 developments of regional significance and impact should be
14 authorized by a new resolution; therefore be it
15 RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission be
16 authorized to reconstitute the task force and advisory committee
17 established under House Resolution 897 to conduct an in-depth
18 study of the subject of developments of regional significance
19 and impact; and be it further
20 RESOLVED, That the composition of the reconstituted advisory
21 committee be modified as necessary and that additional persons
22 may be appointed as members of the advisory committee; and be it
23 further
24 RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission compile
25 a report based on the findings and recommendations of the
26 reconstituted task force and advisory committee and submit the
27 report to the House of Representatives as soon as possible but
28 no later than two years following the adoption of this
29 resolution.
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