Writing a Letter to the DRBC, Patrick Murphy led Members of Congress from PA, NY and NJ in Calling for Reasonable Voids in New York Reservoirs to Avoid Flooding Downstream
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, in advance of the upcoming meeting of the Delaware River Basin Commission, Pennsylvania Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-8th District) led a bipartisan and multi-state effort to push for action to stop future floods. In a letter to Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell, the Chair of the Delaware River Basin Commission, Murphy and his fellow lawmakers urged the DRBC to consider “reasonable voids” in New York’s reservoirs to prevent future flooding downstream. The letter was signed by ten members of Congress from Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey. The voids would be used while scientific and permanent solutions are sought. Murphy’s coalition included Representatives from states along the Delaware River. The other signatories include Michael Arcuri (D-NY), Robert Brady (D-PA), Chaka Fattah (D-PA), Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Paul Kanjorski (D-PA), Joe Sestak (D-PA) and Chris Smith (R-NJ). Murphy, a member of the Delaware River Basin Task Force and leader of a congressional advisory board of 8th District experts and municipalities is committed to preventing and mitigating damage from flooding. This is the second coalition of Delaware River representatives that Murphy has organized in writing to the DRBC. The first was in April of this year. In the latest letter, Murphy cites the fact that the Delaware River and the 8th District faced three floods in three years and this meeting presents an opportunity to improve the lives of thousands who live along the river. Murphy called for continued urgency to lower the risk of tragedy and amount of anxiety for riverside communities who face this danger every year.
“Three years of tragedy has taught us that the status quo is not acceptable. We need to act now to prevent future floods and we need the Delaware River Basin Commission to help,” said Congressman Patrick Murphy. “Riverside communities wait anxiously year after year – that’s why this mutli-state, bipartisan cooperative effort is so important. Flooding affects everyone and even short-term relief from the New York reservoirs would make a big difference. The time for action is now.”
Full text of the letter below:
September 24, 2007
Governor Edward G. Rendell
Chair – Delaware River Basin Commission
225 Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120
Dear Governor Rendell:
The upcoming meeting of the Delaware River Basin Commission presents a tremendous opportunity to improve life for residents along the Delaware River. Having fallen victim to three floods in three years, riverside communities are anxiously awaiting the result of the September 26, 2007 meeting, during which the DRBC will consider changes to the Flexible Flow Management Plan.
With the safety of our constituents and their property in mind, we would like to once again urge the four governors and the City of New York to maintain sufficient room in New York’s Delaware River reservoirs to protect against flooding downstream. While the reservoirs were not originally designed for flood mitigation, it is clear changes to reservoirs’ operation could reduce flood damages downstream. We believe, as Robert Tudor, deputy executive director of the DRBC, once said “the reservoirs offer an opportunity to have incremental effect on lessening flood loss in the future.” Because of the opportunity that this meeting presents, it is important that reasonable voids be maintained while we pursue longer term scientific assessments to determine permanent solutions.
This is not a new concern, but it is imperative that the DRBC commissioners act with urgency to form a consensus to address the concerns of riverside communities, rather than leave these residents to wait. Delaying a final resolution only heightens the anxiety and risk of tragedy of those along the Delaware.
It is obvious we must reassess current practices to prevent serious flooding. We would ask that the DRBC show, through this plan, that it is serious about flood mitigation and dramatically reduce the levels maintained in New York’s reservoirs. We appreciate your consideration of this request and you can count on our continued support for all efforts to improve life along the Delaware River.
Sincerely,
Patrick J. Murphy (PA-08)
MEMBER OF CONGRESS
Chris Smith (NJ-04)
MEMBER OF CONGRESS
Kristen E. Gillibrand (NY-20)
MEMBER OF CONGRESS
Scott Garrett (NJ-05)
MEMBER OF CONGRESS
Chaka Fattah (PA-02)
MEMBER OF CONGRESS
Maurice Hinchey (NY-22)
MEMBER OF CONGRESS
Michael A. Arcuri (NY-24)
MEMBER OF CONGRESS
Paul E. Kanjorski (PA-11)
MEMBER OF CONGRESS
Joe Sestak (PA-07)
MEMBER OF CONGRESS
Robert A. Brady (PA-01)
MEMBER OF CONGRESS
cc:
Cathleen Curran Myers
Lisa P. Jackson
John A. Hughes
Carol R. Collier
Alexander B. Grannis
# # #
For Immediate Release, September 25, 2007
Contact: Adam Abrams, (202) 225-4276
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