PRINTER'S NO. 1379
No. 120 Session of 1999
INTRODUCED BY FAIRCHILD, HERSHEY, ARGALL, BAKER, BELARDI, BLAUM,
BUXTON, CHADWICK, CLARK, COY, DEMPSEY, EGOLF, GEORGE,
GORDNER, HALUSKA, HERMAN, HESS, MAITLAND, MAJOR, MARSICO,
MASLAND, McNAUGHTON, R. MILLER, S. MILLER, MUNDY, NAILOR,
NICKOL, PHILLIPS, PLATTS, SATHER, SAYLOR, STABACK, STEELMAN,
STERN, STRITTMATTER, STURLA, TIGUE, TRUE, TULLI, VANCE,
YUDICHAK, ZIMMERMAN AND ZUG, APRIL 13, 1999
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS,
APRIL 13, 1999
A RESOLUTION
1 Encouraging cooperation and communication between and among the
2 legislative branches of the states of Pennsylvania, New York
3 and Maryland on matters relating to the conservation and
4 management of the water resources of the Susquehanna River
5 Basin.
6 WHEREAS, The Susquehanna River represents one of the most
7 important interstate and national water resources, draining an
8 area of 27,510 square miles and flowing through the states of
9 Pennsylvania, New York and Maryland; and
10 WHEREAS, The Susquehanna River provides 50% of the fresh
11 water flowing to the Chesapeake Bay, a factor which emphasizes
12 its significance as an important regional and national resource;
13 and
14 WHEREAS, The enactment of concurrent legislation by the
15 signatory states of Pennsylvania, New York and Maryland and the
16 Congress of the United States created the Susquehanna River
1 Basin Compact and demonstrated a collective recognition of the
2 need to coordinate the efforts of the three states and Federal
3 agencies in the establishment of a management system to guide
4 the conservation, development and administration of the water
5 resources of the river basin; and
6 WHEREAS, The compact establishes the Susquehanna River Basin
7 Commission as the agency to coordinate the water resource
8 management efforts of the river basin and provides for executive
9 branch representation from each of its signatory jurisdictions
10 on the commission; and
11 WHEREAS, The individual water resource management efforts of
12 the signatories and those undertaken by the commission have been
13 effective in providing flood damage reduction, conservation and
14 development of surface and groundwater supply for municipal,
15 industrial and agricultural use, development of recreational
16 facilities, propagation of fish and wildlife, promotion of
17 forest land management, soil conservation and watershed
18 projects, protection and aid to fisheries, improved navigation,
19 control of the movement of salt water, abatement and control of
20 water pollution and regulation of streamflow toward the
21 attainment of these goals; and
22 WHEREAS, The General Assemblies of the states of
23 Pennsylvania, New York and Maryland have enacted certain laws
24 which have advanced these important water resource management
25 functions and the natural, scenic, cultural and historic values
26 of the Susquehanna River Basin; and
27 WHEREAS, The General Assemblies of the states of
28 Pennsylvania, New York and Maryland are continuing to have
29 legislative proposals under consideration by their respective
30 bodies which may impact or enhance these important water
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1 resource management functions and values; and
2 WHEREAS, Though not afforded a forum similar to that provided
3 their respective executive branches through adoption of the
4 compact, the General Assemblies of the signatory states have a
5 clearly recognized need for cooperation and communication to
6 facilitate complementary action and support on matters of
7 basinwide significance, particularly in the face of greater
8 water resource management challenges in the new millennium;
9 therefore be it
10 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
11 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania recognize the interstate
12 significance of the water resources of the Susquehanna River
13 Basin and the wise use and management of those resources through
14 cooperation and coordination by jurisdictions throughout the
15 basin; and be it further
16 RESOLVED, That the members of the General Assembly of the
17 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, particularly those whose
18 legislative districts are contained wholly or partially within
19 the Susquehanna River Basin, be encouraged to communicate and
20 cooperate with members of the General Assemblies of the states
21 of New York and Maryland on water resource issues of mutual
22 concern and to seek their reciprocal support; and be it further
23 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the
24 General Assemblies of the states of New York and Maryland.
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