WILKES-BARRE - "Of course it is a disappointment to have this permit rejected, especially since I was able to obtain authorization for $20 million to clean up the Susquehanna River just last fall.  I have always felt that when people had the opportunity to use the river through boating, they would develop a greater appreciation for the need to clean it up.  I saw the creation of a seasonal lake as a stimulus for creating broader public support to transform the river into the jewel of the Wyoming Valley, as the original settlers of the region once saw it. 

"It is puzzling to me that the Corps staff considers the Riverfront Development Plan to be a viable ‘alternative' to the inflatable dam.  In 1996 President Clinton approved the inclusion of the inflatable dam in the Wyoming Valley flood control project because of the tremendous economic development potential provided by a seasonal lake.  According to Gannett Fleming's report, as much as $70 million of economic activity would be generated annually from an inflatable dam.  The inflatable dam is an integral component of an overall plan to allow people to use the Susquehanna River for recreational purposes.  Anyone who has tried to use a boat during the low flow period from late July through August understands the need to create a steady and predictable water level.  Without that stable water level, a marina is unlikely to be used during most of the summer boating season.    

"Bureaucrats within the Army Corps of Engineers narrowly defined the regulations which implement the Clean Water Act.  I intend to consult with the leadership of the Luzerne County Flood Protection Authority about exploring a possible appeal of this disappointing decision.

"Furthermore, I plan to examine the underlying laws which enable federal bureaucrats to value ‘riffle pool' complexes above the needs of human beings."

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