WILLIAMSPORT – The Senate Majority Policy Committee, chaired by Sen. Dave Argall (R-29), will visit Williamsport next week at the invitation of Sen. Gene Yaw (R-23) to review flood mitigation strategies and state programs to repair streams.
The public hearing will take place on Wednesday, Mar. 12 from 1-3 p.m. at the Penn College Professional Development Center, located at 1067 Hagan Way in Williamsport, PA.
“Last year, nearly every county in my district was impacted by severe flooding from Tropical Storm Debby,” Yaw said. “We have an opportunity to help local officials respond more quickly and efficiently to flood-related problems by allowing them to repair and remediate our streams. Proper stream maintenance protects our communities from flood damage, and I appreciate Sen. Argall and my fellow Policy Committee members for taking on this issue.”
“We’ve seen how effective stream management can make a world of difference in communities like Pine Grove and Tremont, who experienced devastating floods from the Swatara Creek for years until a team of conservation experts, municipal officials, local employers, and state legislators and agencies created and executed a comprehensive plan to repair the local watershed,” said Argall. “I look forward to hearing from our testifiers about how we can create other similarly successful efforts across Pennsylvania.”
Wednesday’s public hearing will feature the following testifiers:
- Jill Whitcomb, Deputy Secretary for Water Programs, PA Dept. of Environmental Protection
- Tyler Neimond, Habitat Manager, PA Fish & Boat Commission
- Marc Rice, County Commissioner, Tioga County
- Jeff Hutchins, Director, Lycoming County Dept. of Public Safety
- Chuck O’Brien, Emergency Management Agency Coordinator, Lewis Township
- Dr. Ben Hayes, Watershed Sciences & Engineering Program Director, Bucknell University
- Erica Tomlinson, District Manager, Tioga County Conservation District
- Cathy Yeakel, District Manager, Bradford County Conservation District
- Joe Quatrini, Watershed Specialist, Bradford County Conservation District
- Carrie Richmond, District Manager, Sullivan County Conservation District
Additional panelists are expected. The hearing will be livestreamed on the Senate Majority Policy Committee’s website.
CONTACT: Jim Brugger (Argall)
Elizabeth Weitzel (Yaw)