Regarding the article on Page A3 of the Sun-Gazette on Tuesday, May 12th.

Rep. Clint Owlett is introducing a bill to eliminate the NPDES (National Pollution Discharge Elimination System)regulations for any construction that impacts more than one acre of land. He noted that the process can take several months, and most of the time it takes $35,000 to obtain. He says that this will help cut housing construction costs.

A few clarifications are in order. The NPDES program is a federal regulation. I’m not sure that any State legislation can remove that requirement. Under the federal law, this regulation pertains to earth disturbance over 1 acre for all construction, private, commercial, industrial, and public.

The NPDES regulations require the implementation of Erosion and Sedimentation Control measures to prevent disturbed soil from washing into waterways and wetlands. The regulations also require measures to control increased runoff due to impermeable paving and building roofs to prevent downstream flooding.

I believe that the construction of the vast majority of single family homes does not meet the 1-acre threshold. It is supremely misleading to tell people that they have to spend an extra $35,000 to get a permit to build a house on a single lot, that may not even be an acre in size. Even in larger lots, a house can be built without disturbing an acre. If extensive landscaping or grading is included, the permit will cost much less, probably less than the cost of the earthwork itself.

The 1-acre threshold is usually met with the construction of large developments, both for housing, and for other uses. If a developer has to pay $35,000 to get a permit for a 20-unit housing development, it works out to $1,750 per house. This is a small amount for the purchaser to pay for a $400,000 McMansion that is typically built in new developments.

Rep. Owlett’s proposed legislation will do more to benefit developers and contractors who have to pay up front, and recover it over time as the houses are sold.

I think that this legislation is misguided, unnecessary, and possibly dishonest. Does Owlett get contributions from construction companies and developers?

EDWARD BROWN

Hughesville

Submitted by Virtual Newsroom