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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State Rep. Robert E.
Belfanti, Jr. |
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House panel OKs bill requiring state to keep local officials informed of projects
HARRISBURG, April 30 – The House State Government Committee has approved legislation introduced by state Rep. Robert E. Belfanti Jr. that would require state agencies to notify local officials when they issue a permit for a local construction project.
Belfanti introduced the bill (H.B. 146) in response to the concerns of commissioners in Coal Township, where flooding occurred due to a state-authorized construction project of which commissioners had not been informed. The bill now goes to the full House for consideration.
"The purpose of this legislation is to ensure proper communication between state and local officials on projects that can impact the safety and health of local residents," Belfanti said. "Projects that can affect river or stream banks, sewage and water lines, and local roads and bridges can mean potential trouble for municipalities if those municipalities don’t know what could go wrong and how to respond in an emergency. Local officials have a right to know when and where these state-authorized projects are taking place and what potential impact they could have on the lives, property and safety of local residents."
Belfanti said his legislation would specifically require the state to notify a local government of any project taking place in its jurisdiction that requires a Department of Environmental Protection or other state agency permit.
Belfanti has also introduced companion legislation (H.B. 155) that would require the state and local governments to communicate with each other and with the public during emergencies or natural disasters. That legislation is currently being considered by the House Judiciary Committee.
"The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans should have provided a lesson to everyone everywhere of just how important communication is, not just at the federal level, but also among state and local governments and the residents they are supposed to protect," Belfanti said. "An emergency or natural disaster can be deadly and destructive enough without additional and unnecessary damage and loss of life brought on by inadequate or nonexistent communication between levels of government, or government and the public."
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