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03/28/2024 05:38 PM
Pennsylvania State Senate
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20190&cosponId=31903
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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2019 - 2020 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: June 4, 2020 02:11 PM
From: Senator Doug Mastriano and Sen. John DiSanto
To: All Senate members
Subject: MS4 Mandate Suspension
 
Considering the current economic conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we intend to introduce a resolution calling upon the U.S. Congress to amend the federally-mandated MS4 law, to allow for a two-year extension of compliance deadlines.  

Municipalities throughout Pennsylvania have begun to institute, or have recently increased, stormwater fees – also known as rain taxes – to comply with the unfunded MS4 mandate, required by the federal government.  

These fees have been and will continue to be burdensome to the citizens, businesses and property owners of our state.
 
Our resolution will call upon President Trump and the Environmental Protection Agency to extend compliance deadlines for municipalities that fall under the MS4 program for a period of two years, to facilitate economic recovery.

Residents, property owners, churches and taxpayers should not be worried about paying these fees in the current economic situation, when so many are without paychecks and struggling.

During an Intergovernmental Operations Committee hearing held in December 2019, it became obvious that there is no accountability or consistency with the program.

In addition to alleviating the financial burden on Pennsylvanians, the suspension of the program will provide government agencies the necessary time to address issues that have plagued the program’s flawed implementation.

We are partnering with State Representative David Zimmerman in introducing this resolution. A companion version was recently introduced as HR874.
 
Please join us in cosponsoring this important measure to grant relief to our citizenry.



Introduced as SR339