Environmental Resources and Energy 05/13/08

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Tuesday, May 13, 2008, and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Amended

SB 2  (Earll) The bill authorizes the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) to incur indebtedness of up to $750 million for water or sewer, storm water, flood protection and dam safety projects.

Reported Out as Committed

SR 283 (Brubaker) The resolution recognizes the accomplishments of Franklin & Marshall College Professors Robert C. Walter and Dorothy J. Merritts for their extensive research on legacy sediment and on the publishing of their findings in the journal Science.

Environmental Resources and Energy 04/30/08

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Tuesday, April 29, and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Amended

SB 1062 (Wonderling) The bill authorizes the Secretary of Environmental Protection to enter into redevelopment agreements with developers who remediate brownfield sites.

SB 1330 (D. White) The bill establishes a process to resolve objections between a surface land owner and the mineral rights estate owner regarding the location of coal bed methane wells or access roads.

SR 294 (M.J. White) The resolution re-affirms that the consent of the Commonwealth to the acquisition of lands which created the Allegheny National Forest did not confer any authority to the U.S. government to diminish any existing property rights of the Commonwealth or the rights of private property owners.

Environmental Resources and Energy 02/05/08

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Committed

SR 224 (Vance) The bill directs the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study the costs for wastewater treatments plants to comply with the Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy.

Reported Out as amended

HB 1281 (Freeman) The bill amends the Appalachian Trail Act by requiring municipalities to adopt, implement and enforce zoning ordinances to protect the Appalachian Trail.

Environmental Resources and Energy 01/15/08

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 and took action as follows:

Reported Out as amended

SB 949 (Kasunic) The legislation encompasses a complete re-write of the Commonwealth’s mine safety statutes related to bituminous coal mining. It creates a Coal Mine Safety Board to promulgate regulations and continually review and recommend the use of new mine safety technologies.  Additionally, the legislation provides for greater responsibility of owners and operators to ensure safety within mines, and brings state standards in line with existing federal standards where appropriate.

Environmental Resources and Energy 11/04/07

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Tuesday, December 4, 2007, and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Amended

SB 497 (Robbins) The bill amends Act 586 of 1965, relating to recreational land and water use limited liability for landowners.  The bill adds “ trial” to the definition of land and adds “motorized recreational vehicle riding” to the definition of recreational purpose.

Reported Out as Committed

SB 1050 (Baker) The bill amends Act 190 of 1996, relating to waste tire recycling. The bill transfers $3 million annually from the Recycling Fund to the Used Tire Pile Remediation Restricted Account for FY 2007-2008 through FY 2011-2012.

HB 410 (Deweese) The resolution designates December 19, 2007, as “Coal Miner’s Day” in Pennsylvania.

Environmental Resources and Energy 10/24/07

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Wednesday, October 24, 2007 and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Committed

SB 1100 (Pileggi) The bill provides for the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act by requiring the transfer of $40 million annually of revenue generated by the capitol stock-franchise tax to the HSCA fund.

Environmental Resources and Energy 10/23/07

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Amended

SB 266 (Erickson) The bill requires the DEP to prepare and publish a report on the potential impact of global warming and climate change.

Environmental Resources and Energy 10/16/07

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Tuesday, October 16, 2007 and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Committed

SB 305 (Rafferty) The bill amends the Solid Waste Management Act by requiring any permit applicant to certify that the operator has no outstanding violations of act, and has complied with any enforcement orders. DEP shall not accept an application until it verifies the certification required.

SB 1017 (Brubaker) The bill amends the Phosphate Detergent Act by requiring household dishwashing cleaning agents to contain 0.0% phosphorous.

SB 1068 (M. White) The bill amends the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act by requiring any civil penalties assessed under Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act be deposited in the Hazardous Cleanup Fund.

SB 1069 (M. White) The bill amends the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Act by requiring the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Department of Education, PA Historical and Museum Commission and the State System of Higher Education to each submit an annual report to the General Assembly.

SB 1086 (Regola) The bill amends the Flood Control Law by increasing the minimum amount which must be bid through a public advertising process from $4000 to $25,000 for flood control products performed by the Water and Resources Board.

Environmental Resources and Energy 07/14/07

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Saturday, July 14, 2007 and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Amended

Environmental Resources and Energy 07/10/07

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Tuesday, July 10, 2007 and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Amended

Environmental Resources and Energy 06/26/07

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Tuesday, June 26, 2007and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Committed

SR 129 (Stout) The resolution opposes the designation of national interest electric transmission corridors and memorializes the Congress of the United States to repeal or modify certain provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

HB 483 (Bastian) The bill establishes the Mine Families First Program to ensure two-way communication between those persons in command of mine emergency response operation and the families of miners trapped.

Reported Out as Amended

HB 496 (George) The bill amends the Radiation Protection Act by increasing various fees related to nuclear facilities and transportation.

Environmental Resources and Energy 06/13/07

The Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Wednesday, June 13, 2007and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Amended

SB 715 (Musto) The bill amends the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act (Act 213-2004) by further providing for the definition “force majeure” and for alternative energy portfolio standards.

SB 913 (M.White) The bill creates the Environmental Funds Reporting and Disclosure Act, which would require the DEP to annually report all fines collected.

Environmental Resources and Energy 05/01/07

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Tuesday, May 1, 2007, and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Committed

SB 815 (Musto) - The bill amends the Storage Tank and Spill Prevention Act by repealing the June 30, 2007 sunset date, which allocates $500,000 to assist underground home heating oil storage tank owners. The bill also extends the sunset date of the Underground Storage Tank Environmental Cleanup Program and the Underground Storage Tank Pollution Prevention Program to June 30, 2012.

SB 782 (M. White) - The bill amends the Radiation Protection Act by increasing various fees related to nuclear facilities and transportation.

Environmental Resources and Energy 04/17/07

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Tuesday, April 17, 2007, and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Committed (Unanimously)

SB 76(Tomlinson) The bill creates the Home Energy Assistance Act.

SB 105(Musto) The bill provides for independent advice and council for EQB members.

SB 176(Pippy) The bill authorizes municipalities which have a special sewage system fund to use public funds for private lateral sewer lines when in public interest.

SB 354(White, MJ) The bill prohibits EQB acceptance of certain rulemaking petitions.

SR 79(Rafferty) The resolution designates April 22, 2007 as "Earth Day" in PA.

Environmental Resources and Energy 03/27/07

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Tuesday, March 27, 2007, and unanimously reported out the re-nomination of Kathleen McGinty as Secretary of Environmental Protection.

Environmental Resources and Energy 03/13/07

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Tuesday, March 13, 2007, and unanimously reported out the following bills as committed:

SB 99 The bill repeals prohibition on General Fund dollars going to the Wild Resources Conservation Fund.

SB 355 The bill requires that all air quality State Implementation Plans be posted on the web.

Environmental Resources and Energy 10/03/06

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Tuesday, October 3, 2006 and unanimously reported out the following bill:

HB 2042 (Reichley) The bill increases penalties for violating the Clean Streams Law.

Environmental Resources and Energy 09/27/06

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Wednesday, September 27, 2006 and unanimously reported out the following bill:

Environmental Resources and Energy 06/26/06

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Monday, June 26, 2006, and reported out the following bill as amended:

HB 1195 (Yudichak) - The bill amends the Storage Tank and Spill Prevention Act regarding eligibility for the Underground Storage Tank Pollution Prevention Grant Program referred to as the “Pump and Plug” program.

Environmental Resources and Energy 06/13/06

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Tuesday, June 13, 2006, and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Committed

SB 855 (Pippy) - The bill authorizes municipalities which have a special sewage system fund to use public funds for private lateral sewer lines when in public interest.

SB 1201 (M.White) - The bill creates the Clean Air Mercury Compliance Act.

Reported Out as Amended

HB 1108 (Rubley) - The bill authorizes financial assistance to homeowners for water and sewer connections.

Environmental Resources and Energy 04/25/06

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Tuesday, April 25, 2006, and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Committed

Environmental Resources and Energy 01/24/06

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Tuesday, January 24, 2006, and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Amended (unanimously)

SR 207 (Vance) - The resolution urged DEP to place a nine-month moratorium on implementation of the Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy.

Environmental Resources and Energy 11/01/05

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Tuesday, November 1, 2005, and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Committed (unanimously)

HB 1114 (Yudichak)   The bill amends the Waste Tire Recycling Act.

SR 137 (Madigan)   The resolution re-establishes the Forestry Task Force.

HR 88 (Hutchinson) The resolution establishes the Sewage Management & Treatment Task Force.

Reported Out as Amended (unanimously)

SB 868 (Scarnati)   The bill increases the payments from 40 cents to $1.20 per acre on lands acquired by the state for forest reserves.

SB 995 (M.White)   The bill amends Title 54 (Vehicles) by further providing registration of a snowmobile or ATV.

Environmental Resources and Energy 6/30/05

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Tuesday, June 30, 2005, and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Committed (unanimously)

SR 138 (Waugh)   The resolution supports the efforts of the United States Secretary of the Interior to study the feasibility of designating the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Watertrail as a national historic trail.

SR 147 (Earll)   The resolution urges the Congress, in developing an energy policy, to refrain from taking action that would develop legislation or have the effect of preventing or hindering the exploration, drilling, development and production of natural gas in the Great Lakes.

HB 3 (Quigley)   The bill establishes the enabling legislation to implement Growing Greener.

Environmental Resources and Energy 6/7/05

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Tuesday, June 7, 2005, and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Committed (unanimously)

SB 12 (Tomlinson)   The bill establishes the home Energy Assistance Act.

SB 594 (M. White)   The bill creates the Dormant Oil & Gas Act.

SB 722 (Musto)   The bill amends the Storage Tank & Spill Prevention Act.

SR 123 (Boscola)   The resolution urges the creation of a task force to study flooding problems.

SR 125 (M.White)   The resolution urges Congress & EPA to release additional funds from the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund.

Reported Out as Amended (unanimously)

HB 612 (Rubley)   The bill amends the PA Infrastructure Investment Authority. The amendment makes technical changes.

Environmental Resources and Energy 4/12/05

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Tuesday, April 12, 2005, and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Committed (unanimously)

SB 410 (M. White)   The bill establishes the Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education and the Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education Board.

Reported Out as Amended (unanimously)

SB 197 (Rafferty)   The bill strengthens enforcement efforts at landfills and penalizes operators who repeatedly violate those standards. The amendment makes technical changes and adds definitions.

Environmental Resources and Energy 3/15/05

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Tuesday, March 15 2005, and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Committed (unanimously)

Environmental Resources and Energy 11/16/04

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Tuesday, November 16, 2004, and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Committed (unanimously)

HB 2775 (Zug)   The bill establishes a watershed education program.

HB 2804 (Hutchinson) The bill repeals provisions requiring minimum property line set-back for gas wells drilled through workable coal seams.

Environmental Resources and Energy 11/9/04

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Tuesday, November 9, 2004, and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Committed (unanimously)

SB 1170 (Mowery)   The bill amends the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority Act to provide water and sewer connection financial assistance for homeowners.

SR 298 (Greenleaf)   The resolution is urging the Congress of the United States to adopt a national energy policy with emphasis on natural gas supply and energy conservation.

Reported Out as Amended (unanimously)

SB 983 (Rafferty)   The bill amends the Solid waste Management Act by providing amendments dealing with landfill permits.

SB 1030 (Erickson)   This bill provides the sale of electric energy generated from renewable and environmentally beneficial sources.

HB 148 (Solobay)   This bill would authorize a grant and loan program to cover property damages resulting from underground mine subsidence.

HB 2029 (Cruz)   This bill would create a freestanding act which would allow Philadelphia to impose a maximum fine of $5,000 on short dumping.

HB 2035 (McIlhinney)   This bill would establish energy efficiency standards for certain appliances and equipment sold or installed within the Commonwealth.

HB 2227 (Rubley)   This legislation extends the funding of the Forest Lands Beautification Act.  

HB 2289 (Yudichak)   This legislation will streamline the recovery process used to recover grant moneys that are issued for the clean up of stockpiled waste tires.

Environmental Resources and Energy 6/22/04

The Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Tuesday June 22, 2004 and unanimously (11-0) voted out the following bill:

SB 1160 PN 1696 (Gordner)   This bill designates the Roaring Creek Tract of the Wyoming State Forest in Northumberland County and Columbia County as the Senator Edward W. Helfrick Area of the Wyoming State Forest.

 

Environmental Resources and Energy 6/9/04

The Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Wednesday June 9, 2004 and unanimously (11-0) voted out the following bill:

As Amended:

SB 1102 (PN 1650) (Gordner)   This bill amends Titles 12 (Commerce and Trade) and 64 (Public
Authorities and Quasi-Public Corporations), providing for water supply and wastewater infrastructure capitalization and providing for Water Supply and Wastewater Infrastructure Program.
Note: This bill is expected to be the vehicle for the $250 million bond referendum that was approved by the voters in November of 2004. The money will be used to provide grants and loans for the construction and rehabilitation of water-supply and sewage-treatment systems.

This bill was technically amended in committee.

Environmental Resources and Energy 5-12-04

The Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Wednesday May, 12 2004 and unanimously (11-0) voted out the following bills:

As Amended:

SB 856 (PN 1056) (Madigan)   This bill would make the sale of "consumer firework" legal.

Amendment 1711   This amendment adds more restrictions on the firework facilities and it provides that the PA state police shall provide back ground checks for all owners and employees.

SB 1040 (PN 1536) (MJ White)   This bill reestablishes the Pa center of Environmental Education.

Amendment 1691   This amendment changes the allocation from $500,000 to $350,000.

SB 1041 (PN 1537) (Pippy)   This bill provides for the continuation of the Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps volunteer program administered by the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Aging.

Amendment 1678   This amendment adds clarifying language as to how the appropriation is distributed. $150,000 to the department of environmental protection and $150,000 to the Department of Aging.

SB 1042 (PN 1538) (Erickson)   This bill establishes the Pennsylvania Pollution Reduction and Prevention Program

Amendment 1677   This amendment clarifies funding by eliminating the special fund that was supposed to be created withing the Department of Treasury.

Environmental Resources and Energy 3/16/04

The Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Tuesday March, 16 2004 and unanimously (11-0) voted out the following bills:

As Committed:

HB 1597 (PN 2017) (Crahalla)   This bill repeals Act 28 of 1870 regarding the draining of "swampy and wet lands." the bill is thought to be outdated.

As Amended:

SB 977 (PN 977) (MJ White)   This bill amends the Forest Lands Beautification Act (Act 125 of 1998) to provide for additional funding for the Forest Lands Beautification Program.

Other Business:

HB 60 (2909) (Steil)   An act authorizing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
and the local government units to preserve, acquire or hold land
for open space uses, further providing for property acquired in fee simple and for local taxing option. This bill was referred to the Local Government Committee. That vote was unanimous (11-0)

 

Environmental Resources and Energy 12/16/03

The Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Tuesday December 16, 2003 and unanimously (10-0) voted out the following bill:

As Committed:

HB 172 (Bard)   This bill requires the Department of General Services to establish energy profiles for certain state buildings. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission is required to report to the General Assembly on problems caused by rising natural gas prices.

Environmental Resources and Energy  10/15/03

The Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Wednesday October 15, 2003 and unanimously (9-0, Sen Wozniak did not vote) voted out the following bills:

As Committed:

HB 165 (Bard)   This creates an Act providing for the acquisition of property by the Commonwealth and local government units to mitigate flood hazards.

HR 256 (Lynch)   A concurrent Resolution establishing a task force to study issues concerning the renewal and management of this commonwealths's forests.

HR 394 (Hutchinson)   A Concurrent Resolution directing the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee to undertake a study of the oil and gas leasing activities of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

SR 98 (Musto)   A Concurrent Resolution urging the Congress of the United States to increase the annual Federal capitalization grant to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to better address the tremendous needs across the United States and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Environmental Resources and Energy 5/11/03

On March 11, 2003 The Environmental Resourses Committee met to consider the following nomination:

Michael F. DiBerandinis as Secretary of Conservation and Natural Resources. The vote was unanimous (11-0)

The committee also adopted an internal policy on reviewing regulations. The policy authorizes the chair and the minority chair of the committee, where appropriate, to jointly develop and submit comments on regulations on behalf of the committee.

Environmental Resources and Energy 3/26/03

On March 26, 2003 the Environmental Resources Committee met and considered the following nomination:

Kathleen A. McGinty for Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection. The nomination was reported out by a vote of 10-1 Senator White voted no.

Environmental Resources and Energy  11/19/02

The Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Tuesday, November 19, 2002 and approved the following nomination:

By an unanimous vote (11-0) Michelle A. Coleman Esq. was reappointed to the Environmental Hearing Board.

Environmental Resources and Energy 11/13/02

The Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Wednesday, November 13, 2002 and reported out the following bills:

As Committed (unanimously) all votes 11-0

SB 1525 (Musto)   amends the Waste Tire Recycling Act of further providing for waste tire recycling facilities, applications, and approval procedures.

SB 1015 (Madigan)   This bill provides for the sale distribution, regulation and ignition of fireworks.

As Amended (Unanimously) all 11- 0 votes

HB 1696 (Haluska)   amends the act creating DCNR to provide that not more than 5% of the previous year's receipts of the Forestry Stumpage Sales Receipts Accounts shall be used by the department for the purposes of providing contracts for forestry research

HB 2190 (Rubley)   amends the Municipal Waste planning act providing for the Recycling fund and for the awarding of grants and for the development of recycling programs.

HB 2302 (Bunt)   Amends the act creating the Agricultural Advisory Board providing for the naming of representatives and a chairman to the board.

Environmental Resources and Energy  6/24/01

The Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Monday June 24, 2001 and reported out the following bill:

As Committed (unanimously)

HB 2190 PN 4024 (Rubley)  This bill completely removes the sunset provision from the recycling fee. It also increases the host municipality fee from $1 to $2 and prohibits DEP from denying any recycling grant awarded to a county or municipality that has adopted an ordinance allowing the limited burning of yards waste.

As Amended (unanimously)

SB 1439 (PN 2014) (Tomlinson)   Establishes the Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Fund; which authorizes the use of grants to encourage the use of alternative fuels.

HB 2044 (PN 4082) (Ross)   This bill creates an accreditation program for environmental laboratories within the Department of Environmental Protection.