House Passes Provision to Help Clean Up Susquehanna River

Kanjorski, Carney work to include Luzerne County in Water Resources Development Act

WASHINGTON - Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski (PA-11) and Congressman Christopher Carney (PA-10) announced that they successfully included Luzerne County in Section 219 of the Water Resources Development Act that authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to spend up to $20 million on sewer projects that could substantially help clean up the Susquehanna River. The U.S. House of Representative passed H.R. 1495, or WRDA, on Thursday evening.

To meet stricter water quality standards, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is forcing sewer operators, such as the Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority, to upgrade their sewer systems. When this bill becomes law and funding becomes available, the federal government would be able to pay for 75 percent of the cost of eliminating combined sewer overflows from the Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority's system.

Combined sewer overflows, or CSOs, occur when sewers that are designed to collect rainwater and sewage in the same pipeline overflow during times of heavy rain or snow. The Wyoming Valley has at least 30 CSOs. Normally, wastewater goes to the Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority for treatment, but when the volume exceeds what the pipes can hold, they overflow. This happens about 37 times each year in Luzerne County.  

"This provision would not have been accepted without the support of my colleague, Congressman Chris Carney. He understands the importance of cleaning up the Susquehanna River for the benefit of his constituents on the west side and mine on the east side of the River. He is a great partner in dealing with issues of importance to Northeastern Pennsylvania," Congressman Kanjorski said.

"Cleaning up the Susquehanna River has been a top priority," said Congressman Carney. "As a Member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I fought to include Luzerne County in the Water Resources Development Act. Congressman Kanjorski has been an effective partner, both in protecting the Susquehanna River and moving this bill through Congress."

WRDA authorizes funding for the Army Corps of Engineers to work on projects such as flood control, dam safety, water supply, recreation, and environmental restoration and protection.

In the 109^th Congress, the House and Senate passed different versions of the WRDA bill and were unable to reach a compromise adjourning in December. Congress typically passes WRDA bills every two years, but the last WRDA was passed in 2000.

Before the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 becomes law, the Senate will need to pass it, and then differences in the House and Senate bill will need to be resolved by a conference committee; each chamber then would need to pass the conference legislation, which the President would have to sign.

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