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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Tim Seip |
  
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Seip flood damage-reduction bill passes House
HARRISBURG, June 23 – A bill introduced by state Rep. Tim Seip to reduce flood-related damage in Pennsylvania passed the House of Representatives today on a bipartisan 182-13 vote.
Seip said his bill (H.B. 2539) would give the Department of Environmental Protection more tools to help reduce the damage that floods cause in many communities.
"For smaller streams in particular, DEP needs the authority to use 'non-structural' options such as voluntary buyouts of property owners, flood proofing, floodplain management, forecasting and educating property owners and residents," said Seip, a member of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.
"This bill could benefit communities like Schuylkill Haven and Pine Grove, which have been affected by more than $2 million in flood damage in recent years," Seip noted.
"Under my legislation, DEP could share in non-structural costs on federal projects and could use these approaches on state projects when they are determined to be the most cost-effective and environmentally sound alternatives. I hope the Senate will soon join the House in passing this bill so it can go to the governor and become law."
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Attention Radio News Directors: an actuality from Rep. Seip will be available later today by calling 1-800-452-3001. Enter PA125 (7-2-125) and the pound sign (#) at the menu prompt to get today’s sound. You can also download the sound in .mp3 format by visiting www.pahouse.com/mediacenter.