Pennsylvania HB 659: An Act updating and expanding the storm water planning requirements to be undertaken by counties; authorizing counties to regulate storm water within a watershed-based planning area; authorizing the formation of water resources management authorities; enabling counties, municipalities and water resources management authorities to develop integrated water resources management plans; imposing duties and conferring powers on the Department of Environmental Protection, the Environmental Quality Board, counties, municipalities and water resources management authorities; providing for financing and for waiver of use for certain grant or loan funds; establishing the Integrated Water Resources Management Account; and making repeals.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 668
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 659
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY WEBSTER, MALAGARI, GIRAL, HILL-EVANS, PROBST,
FREEMAN, SANCHEZ, HOWARD, BOYD AND RIVERA, FEBRUARY 20, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE
PROTECTION, FEBRUARY 20, 2025
AN ACT
Updating and expanding the storm water planning requirements to
be undertaken by counties; authorizing counties to regulate
storm water within a watershed-based planning area;
authorizing the formation of water resources management
authorities; enabling counties, municipalities and water
resources management authorities to develop integrated water
resources management plans; imposing duties and conferring
powers on the Department of Environmental Protection, the
Environmental Quality Board, counties, municipalities and
water resources management authorities; providing for
financing and for waiver of use for certain grant or loan
funds; establishing the Integrated Water Resources Management
Account; and making repeals.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1. General Provisions
Section 101. Short title.
Section 102. Legislative findings.
Section 103. Purposes.
Section 104. Definitions.
Chapter 2. Powers and Duties
Section 201. Powers and duties of counties.
Section 202. Powers and duties of department and Environmental
Quality Board.
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Section 203. Powers and duties of municipalities.
Section 204. Powers and duties of water resources management
authorities.
Chapter 3. Comprehensive Storm Water Management Planning
Section 301. Comprehensive storm water management planning and
management requirements.
Section 302. Review and approval or disapproval by department.
Section 303. Implementation of comprehensive storm water
management plans.
Section 304. Failure to submit and implement comprehensive
storm water management plan.
Section 305. Failure of municipalities to adopt ordinances and
implement plans.
Chapter 4. Integrated Water Resources Management Planning and
Procedure
Section 401. Water resources management coordination and
integration.
Section 402. Integrated water resources management planning
process.
Section 403. Integrated water resources management plan
requirements.
Section 404. Implementation of integrated water resources
management plans.
Section 405. Water resources management corridors.
Section 406. Failure of municipalities to adopt implementing
ordinances.
Chapter 5. Water Resources Management Authorities
Section 501. Water resources management authorities.
Section 502. Additional powers and duties of water resources
management authorities.
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Chapter 6. Rights, Remedies, Funding and Enforcement
Section 601. Duty of persons engaged in development of land.
Section 602. Funding and imposing fees on tax-exempt property.
Section 603. Entry upon land for surveys and examinations.
Section 604. Preservation of existing rights and remedies.
Section 605. Civil remedies.
Section 606. Administrative procedure and judicial review.
Section 607. Integrated Water Resources Management Account.
Section 608. Grants and reimbursements.
Section 609. Waiver of use of grant and loan funds.
Chapter 7. Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 701. Repeals.
Section 702. Effective date.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
CHAPTER 1
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 101. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Integrated
Water Resources Restoration, Protection and Management Act.
Section 102. Legislative findings.
The General Assembly finds that:
(1) Inadequate management of storm water runoff and the
insufficient planning, coordination and integration of
regulatory programs associated with water resources
management activities cause increased flood flows and
velocities, contribute to accelerated erosion and
sedimentation, overtax the carrying capacity of streams and
storm sewers, greatly increase the cost of public facilities
to carry and control storm water and wastewater, undermine
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flood plain management and flood control efforts in
downstream communities, reduce groundwater recharge, diminish
the quality and quantity of water supplies and threaten the
environment, public health, safety and property.
(2) The Storm Water Management Act is not sufficiently
comprehensive to address the needs of this Commonwealth.
While the act provides a basis for storm water management
planning by counties on a watershed basis, additional
provisions are needed in addition to the Storm Water
Management Act requirements to provide integrated and
thorough planning and management of water resources in
watershed-based planning areas and to address current and
past water resources management problems, as well as
prospective and ongoing