HARRISBURG, June 7, 2000 -- State Senator Ray Musto today introduced legislation to improve the quality of Pennsylvania’s waterways, including the Susquehanna River in Luzerne County.    Audio   requires real audio player

Senate Bill 1471 would provide $1 billion in funding to alleviate pollution caused by overflows from old sewer systems, which carry both sewage and stormwater in the same pipe.

"The combination of rainwater and sewage in the same line results in the pollution of our waterways under certain conditions," Musto said. "We can stop this by separating the lines. We must not allow this intolerable situation to continue."

Musto, the Democratic chairman of the Senate’s Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, said a study of the feasibility of an inflatable dam on the Susquehanna River concluded that combined sewer systems were a major polluter of the river.

"The same conditions exist in other communities in Pennsylvania," Musto said. "This is a serious problem statewide."

According to Musto, the bill would provide financial assistance to municipalities for the abatement of combined sewage overflows. The legislation would establish a Combined Sewer Overflow Grant Program to be administered by the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST).

A $1 billion bond issue, which is subject to voter approval, would fund the grant program, Musto said.