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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | April 26, 2019 03:45 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Michele Brooks |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Dam Safety and Encroachments Act Exemption for Farmers |
| In the near future, I plan to re-introduce Senate Bill 371 from last session, which amends the Dam Safety and Encroachments Act (Act 325 of 1978) to exempt farmers who clear streams of debris on their property from the cumbersome permitting process required by the Act and its corresponding regulations. Heavy rains can clog streams with logs, gravel and other debris, which then can have an even greater impact during subsequent rainfalls. Further, related stream bank erosion can cause serious safety hazards as well as a loss of tillable crop acreage. Unfortunately, our regulations too often become obstacles to addressing these problems rather than tools needed to help our residents. Our farmers should not be burdened with bureaucratic red tape and over-reaching regulations when they are protecting their farmlands and waterways, nor should they face fines and penalties for maintaining their own property. I hope you will join me in supporting this legislation. Senate Bill 371 was previously cosponsored by Senators Scarnati, Vulakovich, Folmer, Hutchinson, K. Ward, Wagner, Langerholc, DiSanto, White, Martin, Browne, Mensch, and Stefano. Please do not hesitate to contact my office with any questions. |
Introduced as SB654