SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
FISCAL NOTE
BILL NO. Senate Bill 404 PRINTER NO. 383
AMOUNT FUND
No Fiscal Impact General Fund
DATE INTRODUCED PRIME SPONSOR
March 17, 2025 Senator Yaw
DESCRIPTION
Senate Bill 404 amends the Dam Safety and Encroachments Act to provide for county
conservation district stream reconstruction emergency permit authorizations.
This bill allows a county conservation district with an approved delegation agreement
for the Water Obstruction and Encroachment Program to request an amendment for
the purposes of having methodologies for stream reconstruction activities in response
to or in anticipation of significant flood events reviewed by the Department of
Environmental Protection (department).
Upon approval of methodologies by the department, the county conservation district
may request the authority to issue emergency permits for stream reconstruction.
The department may not unreasonably withhold the authority, and the authority shall
only include emergency stream reconstruction which may prevent a flooding
emergency event in the future.
The department shall develop a stream reconstruction emergency permit form and
provide notice of all approved amendments in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. An
aggrieved person may appeal the amendment approval within 30 days of the notice
being published. The department shall have 60 days to provide notice to each county
conservation district of the availability of the amendment provided for in this
legislation.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Senate Bill 404 will have no fiscal impact on Commonwealth funds. Any
administrative or operating costs can be accommodated within the department’s
current funding levels related to the pilot program addressing stream maintenance
and other stormwater and floodplain management programs.