Pennsylvania DEP, Army Corps of Engineers to Help Sunbury Fund Required Levee Certification

Pennsylvania DEP, Army Corps of Engineers to Help Sunbury Fund Required Levee
Certification

Agreement Eases Financial Burden on City, Will Help Control Insurance Costs
for Residents

HARRISBURG, Pa., May 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Environmental Protection
Secretary John Hanger and Col. Peter Mueller of the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers announced financial support today that will help the Sunbury
Municipal Authority meet its local funding obligations to certify the city's
flood protection levee. The certification is part of the work to modernize
federal flood maps.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency requires municipalities that operate
and maintain state or federal flood protection levees and floodwalls designed
for 100-year flood protection to certify that the structures provide that
level of protection.

Sunbury is facing an October deadline from FEMA to complete its levee
certification. Estimated cost for certification is $660,000, of which the city
is essentially responsible for 25 percent, or $165,000.

"Project sponsors, such as the City of Sunbury, are responsible for funding
this work, which places a burden on already financially strapped communities,"
Hanger said. "Fortunately, the funding for this levee certification has been
secured through a cooperative effort between state, federal, county and local
government agencies."

The primary funding source is from the corps, which will pay 75 percent of the
total cost. DEP has agreed to pay half the local share, which greatly reduces
the city's financial obligation, guaranteeing that the project can proceed.

The state and local payments will be processed through the Luzerne County
Flood Protection Authority, which oversees the larger Wyoming Valley levee
raising project. The remaining 12.5 percent of the cost will be paid by the
local community.

The Army Corps of Engineers will perform the levee certification.

If the Sunbury flood protection system is not certified by the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers, the new FEMA flood insurance maps will designate the areas
behind the levee and floodwall as being flood-prone, which will significantly
increase the cost of flood insurance for residents, particularly for residents
purchasing homes with government-backed loans.

Over the past several weeks, state and federal funding questions have been
resolved, which allows certification of Sunbury's flood protection system to
proceed without placing an undue financial burden on the city.

"The corps is proud to bring its technical expertise to bear in working with
our partners in Pennsylvania to ascertain the structural stability of the
Sunbury flood protection levee, and help guide future developments toward
maintaining the welfare and well-being of its citizens," said Col. Mueller,
commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District. "This is a
perfect example of teamwork at the local, state and federal level to channel
multiple resources and capabilities for the common benefit of all."

Federal funding comes from a combination of funds from the American Recovery
and Investment Act of 2009, the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009, and
additional funding from the current state budget. Only projects within the
study area of an active corps project are eligible for federal funds for
certification.

The levee certification process includes a comprehensive engineering study of
the flood protection system, including a hydrologic/hydraulic study that
incorporates new development in the area; an analysis evaluating the
structural stability of the levee/floodwall during the design flow; an
evaluation of potential seepage; and potential settlement of the
levee/floodwall.

Work is expected to begin in May with the goal of meeting FEMA's Oct. 23
deadline.

For more information, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us, keyword: Flood Protection.
CONTACT: Tom Rathbun
(717) 787-1323

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

Tom Rathbun of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection,
+1-717-787-1323