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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 14, 2021 11:07 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Rosemary M. Brown |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Dam Legislation |
| In the near future, I will be introducing legislation requiring dam owners to provide direct notice to impacted waterfront property owners upon the discontinuation or abandonment of a dam’s operation. Currently, the Department of Environmental Protection and state law requires dam owners to provide notice within 30 days in the construction of new dams, the maintenance or repair of current dams, or the abandonment of dams to the Pennsylvania Bulletin. This short timeframe and the manner of communicating to appropriate landowners affected is inadequate and restricts the local community the opportunity to save the dam and maintain the benefits and enjoyment of their waterfront properties. Many citizens do not consult the Pennsylvania Bulletin and would not be aware of a dam’s removal before the process began. My legislation would require a dam owner to provide direct notice to waterfront property owners, impacted by the discontinuation or abandonment of a dam’s operation, 6 months prior to abandonment procedures beginning. This would allow for the property owners affected by the dams discontinuation or abandonment to identify possible solutions to either fix, transfer ownership, or purchase the dam maintaining the benefit and enjoyment the dam provides in lake beauty, boating, fishing, and many other water recreational activities. Please join me in sponsoring this updated piece of legislation. |
Introduced as HB715