Jul. 01, 2020
HARRISBURG – Rep. Keith Gillespie (R-Hellam) today announced that the governor has signed his bill,
House Bill 1003, which strengthens the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s (PFBC) ability to enforce the marking of low head or run-of-the-river dams. The bill was signed into law as
Act 39 of 2020.
The PFBC is charged with ensuring low head dams are properly marked both upstream and downstream with signage and buoys. Previously, the only way to enforce these provisions was through a civil process, which is prolonged, costly and often ineffective. This legislation allows the PFBC to directly issue citations to owners who fail to mark their dams. It would also update the definition of run-of-the-river dams to ensure every one of these structures is adequately marked for public safety.
“Forty-nine individuals have lost their lives in dam-related boating accidents since 1989. Most of these accidents take place near low head dams – small, private or municipally owned structures that span the entire width of a waterway. There are over 300 of these dams across the Commonwealth, many originally constructed to support a local mill or factory and are now obsolete,” said Gillespie. “Boaters are often caught in the dangerous hydraulic boil behind the structure, which is often referred to as a ‘drowning machine.’ It’s far past time to strengthen our warnings for these dangerous structures and protect those who take advantage of the recreational opportunities that Pennsylvania’s rivers offer.”
Representative Keith Gillespie
47th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Kevin DiGuiseppe
717.260.6419 (office), 610.937.4679 (cell)
kdiguiseppe@pahousegop.com
RepGillespie.com