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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser last week requested an urgent meeting with regulators, seeking clarification on other states&#8217; compliance on proposed Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) stormwater management regulations.</p><p>Meuser, R-Dallas, wrote EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler seeking answers for his constituents. Meuser said that Luzerne County residents have been charged fees to pay for projects necessary for compliance. Some Luzerne County farms and small businesses face fees that run into the thousands of dollars, Meuser said.</p><p>&#8220;As the newly elected representative of Pennsylvania&#8217;s 9th Congressional District, I write to voice concerns regarding the potential administrative and cost impacts of proposed Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) stormwater management regulations,&#8221; Meuser wrote. &#8220;Your agency, in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), has issued nearly 1,000 MS4 permits in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and constituents in my district have brought to my attention the newly implemented fees associated with MS4 permit compliance to address sediment in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.&#8221;</p><p>Meuser said farmers and small businesses with much larger impervious areas on their properties are seeing higher fees that threaten their viability.</p><p>&#8220;For example, a constituent from Dallas (PA) informed my office that her farm, which has a greenhouse on the property, is facing a $1,400 annual fee,&#8221; Meuser said. &#8220;Residents should not be shouldering the burden of this unfunded government mandate and I am seeking answers on how to alleviate these financial stressors.&#8221;</p><p>Meuser went on to say that it has been brought to his attention that other states in the Chesapeake Bay watershed are not yet imposing similar fees on residents in impacted areas.</p><p>&#8220;I would welcome the opportunity to discuss this discrepancy and gain insight into your agency&#8217;s involvement in ensuring that all areas contributing to the increase of sediment in the Chesapeake Bay watershed will bear appropriate responsibility,&#8221; Meuser wrote.</p><p><strong>Barletta not running</strong></p><p><strong>for Marino&#8217;s seat</strong></p><p>Former U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Hazleton, said he will not run fro the recently vacated seat in the 12th Congressional District.</p><p>&#8220;Congratulations to my good friend and colleague Tom Marino for his honorable and meaningful service in Congress,&#8221; Barletta said on Twitter. &#8220;For the past several days, I have received many calls and emails from supporters, former colleagues, and GOP leaders urging me to consider running for Tom&#8217;s seat.</p><p>&#8220;I am humbled by the number of you who have reached out to me. However, at this time, I am enjoying spending time with my family and preparing for the next chapter of my career. I look forward to helping elect the GOP candidate chosen by the conferees.&#8221;</p><p>Barletta lost his bid to unseat Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey in the November General Election.</p><p><strong>Toomey </strong><strong>on health care panel</strong></p><p>U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Lehigh Valley, was re-named the chairman of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care. The subcommittee has jurisdiction over our nation&#8217;s largest government health care programs &#8212; Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children&#8217;s Health Insurance Program.</p><p>&#8220;As chairman of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care, I look forward to working on a wide range of issues that enjoy bipartisan support,&#8221; Toomey said. &#8220;This includes building off of past work to improve our nation&#8217;s response to the prescription drug and heroin abuse epidemic, meeting the growing challenge of Alzheimer&#8217;s disease, and ending counterproductive policies like the medical device tax.&#8221;</p><p>Toomey said there must also be a debate on how to put major federal health care programs &#8212; which cover more than 100 million Americans and account for over $1 trillion in annual federal spending &#8212; on a sustainable fiscal path.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Meuser </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_Dan-Meuser-2CMYK.jpg</photo0><caption0>Meuser </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Meuser seeks answers on EPA stormwater management regulations