Northern Tier News

In response to significant flood damage from Tropical Storm Debby, Representative Clint Owlett (R-Tioga/Bradford) has proposed two legislative measures to enhance stream maintenance and reduce flood risks.

"In the weeks since extraordinary flooding hit many communities in Tioga County and other nearby counties, the question I get over and over again is what are we going to do to stop this from happening again," Owlett stated. "I share people’s frustration with the red tape and limited resources that inhibit our ability to maintain creeks and streams. This absolutely must change so we can protect lives and livelihoods against future flood events here in our communities and across the Commonwealth."

Owlett's first bill mandates the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) expand work areas for emergency permits related to stream clearing activities granted to entities like PennDOT or municipalities. Currently, these permits only cover a 50-foot area around bridges. The proposed change would extend this area to 250 feet during declared emergencies at the county level.

The second measure addresses funding constraints by requiring lease and royalty payments made for oil and gas production under streambeds outside state forests be placed in restricted accounts for creek and stream maintenance.

"While the Commonwealth puts up plenty of red tape when it comes to maintaining our creeks and streams, they do very little of the work themselves. It instead falls to local communities and landowners who have very limited resources to address the issue," said Owlett. "This is especially egregious when you consider how the state is claiming ownership of waterways if they are considered ‘navigable,’ and then leasing oil and gas rights under the streambeds to make money."

"My bill basically says the state can’t have it both ways. If they are going to make money from oil and gas rights but not maintain the waterways on the surface, they can give us the money instead to do what we need to do to protect our citizens and our communities," he added.

Under this proposal, funds collected by DCNR from leases outside state forests would be allocated directly back into county accounts for exclusive use in stream maintenance projects. Additionally, DCNR would retroactively pay amounts collected since 2014 into these accounts.

"My region has experienced extreme flooding twice in the last three years. It takes a financial toll and an emotional toll on residents, business owners, farmers, and volunteers who went so far above and beyond to help their neighbors not just on the day of the flood but for weeks after it," Owlett said. "We cannot allow this to happen again."

Owlett also reintroduced legislation allowing local governments a minimum ten-year permit period for ongoing stream maintenance without requiring pre-approval for each project.

For more information:

Representative Clint Owlett

68th District

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Media Contact: Patricia Hippler

717-772-9846

phippler@pahousegop.com