Latest news with #Act167
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Lackawanna County eyes grant for countywide stormwater management study
Lackawanna County hopes to enlist all 40 of its municipalities to back an application for a state grant to study the possibility of creating a countywide stormwater management plan. So far, nine municipalities — Vandling, Carbondale, Mayfield, Jermyn, Elmhurst Twp., Olyphant, Dickson City, South Abington Twp. and Ransom Twp.— each recently approved a 'memorandum of agreement' to participate in the development of such a regional approach to stormwater management; and two more — Scranton and Old Forge — might be next, said county Regional Planning Manager Jessica Edwards. The county aims to apply later this month for a state Department of Environmental Protection grant to fund a 'Phase 1 Scope of Study' to start the development of managing stormwater on a countywide basis, she said. 'It is signing on that they will take part if we get the grant,' Edwards said. 'We're trying to get one (a memo of agreement) from every municipality' by June 13. The effort comes under state Act 167, which 'requires counties to prepare stormwater management plans and municipalities to adopt ordinances to regulate land development in a manner with the county's plan,' according to legislation on the matter pending before Scranton City Council The developments are the latest in the ongoing issue of how best to handle stormwater management. The matter came to the forefront nearly a decade ago, when the Scranton Sewer Authority in 2016 sold the sewer authority serving the city and Dunmore to Pennsylvania American Water. Before the sewer sale, the SSA owned all of the sewer-system infrastructure, including lines that convey only sewage wastewater, portions that combine sewage and stormwater, and parts that carry only stormwater. The city was, and remained, responsible for the portion of stormwater-only lines, called the municipal separate stormwater system, or MS4. Previously, both the city and sewer authority had a hand in maintaining this stormwater segment. The city fully inherited the stormwater segment, as PAW bought only the first two portions of sanitary sewer and combined sewer overflows. In 2019, a consultant for the city determined a regional authority would be preferable, but if that's not possible, the city would have to create its own stormwater management authority. By the fall of 2023, the city was still advancing a regional concept, possibly with an eight-member regional startup model. It did not occur. Flash flooding that has periodically erupted throughout the county in recent years also has highlighted stormwater management issues. Last Tuesday, Scranton City Council introduced a resolution from the administration of Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti to approve an 'intergovernmental agreement of cooperation' and memorandum of understanding between the city and county for a countywide stormwater management plan. Speaking during that meeting, Scranton resident Joan Hodowanitz wondered if the resolution means the county would assume the responsibility for a regional stormwater management authority, according to an Electric City Television simulcast and video posted on YouTube. 'Long, long ago in a galaxy far away, we were talking about who's going to form a stormwater management authority and I never saw the shoe drop,' Hodowanitz said. 'The stormwater management plan is long overdue and hopefully it'll take off like a bat out of hell. We need it.' This resolution is on Scranton council's agenda for a vote on adoption during the regular weekly meeting for Tuesday,at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. Meanwhile, Old Forge issued a public notice in The Times-Tribune on May 31 for a special meeting of the borough council on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Borough Building to enter into a memorandum of agreement with the county for a countywide stormwater management plan. 'We try to stay on board with Lackawanna County. We don't want to be left alone by ourselves,' Old Forge Borough Manager MaryLynn Bartoletti said. 'I think everybody's trying their hardest to come up with some kind of plan.'
The Sun
05-05-2025
- The Sun
PGA seizes smuggled plants worth RM910,000 in Rantau Panjang
KOTA BHARU: The Southeast Brigade of the General Operations Force (PGA) seized 4,000 fruit plants and 1,600 flowering plants worth an estimated RM910,000 during an operation in Rantau Panjang yesterday. Its commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid said the discovery was made when a lorry was stopped at the Serongga Checkpoint at around 7.30 pm under Op Taring Wawasan. 'Inspection of the lorry revealed thousands of fruit and flowering plants. The 34-year-old driver failed to present any valid documentation for the items,' he said in a statement today. He added that the plants are believed to have been smuggled from Thailand and are suspected of carrying harmful pests and diseases. The suspect and seized items were handed over to the Kelantan Agriculture Department for further action. Later the same night, PGA personnel stopped another lorry along the Rantau Panjang-Kampung Kedap road at around 9 pm and seized 1,000 fruit plants and 2,650 ornamental flowers worth RM565,000. 'The second driver, aged 44, also failed to produce relevant documents. These plants are likewise believed to have been smuggled from Thailand and pose similar biosecurity risks,' he said. Both cases are being investigated under Section 5 of the Plant Quarantine Act 1976 (Act 167).
Malay Mail
02-05-2025
- Malay Mail
Smuggled bonsai trees ‘could threaten crops': Kelantan border op nets RM1.3m plants from Thailand
KOTA BARU, May 2 — The General Operations Force (GOF) Southeast Brigade successfully foiled an attempt to smuggle ornamental plants from a neighbouring country by intercepting a lorry carrying over 2,000 bonsai trees during an operation dubbed 'Op Taring Wawasan Kelantan' in the KTJ Pos JP1 Pak Teh Kana area here on Tuesday. Its commander, Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid said that members of the GOF 18th Battalion conducted the seizure at 7.20 pm as a result of a routine patrol in the nearby border area. 'The inspection of the lorry found 2,780 bonsai trees suspected to be brought in from Thailand without any valid documents. 'These trees are believed to contain pests and diseases that can threaten local crops,' he said in a statement today. He also said that the 29-year-old lorry driver, a local man, was detained for further investigation, while the total value of the seizure, including the vehicle, was estimated at RM1.31 million. 'The case is being investigated under Section 5 of the Plant Quarantine Act 1976 (Act 167), and all seized items have been handed over to the Kelantan Plant Biosecurity Division for further action,' he also said. Nik Ros Azhan added said that the GOF will continue to enhance monitoring and operations at the country's borders to curb smuggling activities that could jeopardise the country's biosecurity, particularly in the agriculture and plantation sectors. He urged the public to report any information related to smuggling activities to the authorities to help maintain the country's safety and well-being. — Bernama
The Sun
02-05-2025
- The Sun
GOF foils smuggling activities of bonsai trees worth over RM1 mln
KOTA BHARU: The General Operations Force (GOF) Southeast Brigade successfully foiled an attempt to smuggle ornamental plants from a neighbouring country by intercepting a lorry carrying over 2,000 bonsai trees during an operation dubbed 'Op Taring Wawasan Kelantan' in the KTJ Pos JP1 Pak Teh Kana area here on Tuesday. Its commander, Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid said that members of the GOF 18th Battalion conducted the seizure at 7.20 pm as a result of a routine patrol in the nearby border area. 'The inspection of the lorry found 2,780 bonsai trees suspected to be brought in from Thailand without any valid documents. 'These trees are believed to contain pests and diseases that can threaten local crops,' he said in a statement today. He also said that the 29-year-old lorry driver, a local man, was detained for further investigation, while the total value of the seizure, including the vehicle, was estimated at RM1.31 million. 'The case is being investigated under Section 5 of the Plant Quarantine Act 1976 (Act 167), and all seized items have been handed over to the Kelantan Plant Biosecurity Division for further action,' he also said. Nik Ros Azhan added said that the GOF will continue to enhance monitoring and operations at the country's borders to curb smuggling activities that could jeopardise the country's biosecurity, particularly in the agriculture and plantation sectors. He urged the public to report any information related to smuggling activities to the authorities to help maintain the country's safety and well-being.
The Sun
02-05-2025
- The Sun
GOF foils smuggling activities of bonsai trees
KOTA BHARU: The General Operations Force (GOF) Southeast Brigade successfully foiled an attempt to smuggle ornamental plants from a neighbouring country by intercepting a lorry carrying over 2,000 bonsai trees during an operation dubbed 'Op Taring Wawasan Kelantan' in the KTJ Pos JP1 Pak Teh Kana area here on Tuesday. Its commander, Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid said that members of the GOF 18th Battalion conducted the seizure at 7.20 pm as a result of a routine patrol in the nearby border area. 'The inspection of the lorry found 2,780 bonsai trees suspected to be brought in from Thailand without any valid documents. 'These trees are believed to contain pests and diseases that can threaten local crops,' he said in a statement today. He also said that the 29-year-old lorry driver, a local man, was detained for further investigation, while the total value of the seizure, including the vehicle, was estimated at RM1.31 million. 'The case is being investigated under Section 5 of the Plant Quarantine Act 1976 (Act 167), and all seized items have been handed over to the Kelantan Plant Biosecurity Division for further action,' he also said. Nik Ros Azhan added said that the GOF will continue to enhance monitoring and operations at the country's borders to curb smuggling activities that could jeopardise the country's biosecurity, particularly in the agriculture and plantation sectors. He urged the public to report any information related to smuggling activities to the authorities to help maintain the country's safety and well-being.
