WILKES-BARRE, PA — Despite a recently signed federal executive order targeting Chesapeake Bay cleanup directives, local property owners across Luzerne County will continue paying quarterly stormwater fees under current state regulations, according to officials at the Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order reversing an Obama-era federal mandate tied to Chesapeake Bay pollution reduction targets, commonly referred to by critics as the "Rain Tax". The federal directive previously placed stringent runoff compliance targets on local municipalities, prompting 32 Luzerne County communities to join the WVSA's regional management program to pool resources and avoid steep federal non-compliance penalties.
However, WVSA Chief Executive Officer Andrew Reilly clarified that the federal order does not immediately alter local billing or municipal obligations.
Because state environmental law independently requires local governments to manage stormwater runoff and reduce waterway pollution, the authority remains legally obligated to administer the regional management program until state authorities or the General Assembly formally modify Pennsylvania's statutory requirements.
As a result, quarterly fees assessed on residential and commercial property owners based on total impervious surface area will remain in effect across participating Luzerne County municipalities.
