Environmental Resources & Energy 2011-2012

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Tuesday, June 19, 2012  and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Committed:

SB 1544 (Wozniak) The bill authorizes the lease of state lands for wind, solar, or other renewable energy projects.


The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Amended:

SB 1364 (Kasunic) The bill amends Title 27 (Environmental Resources) by further providing for the regulation of mine drainage water.

HB 1934 (Keller) The bill Amends the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act by modifying how the Commonwealth determines which municipalities are required to establish recycling program based on population.

The Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Monday, April 2, 2012 and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Amended:

SB 1136 (Rafferty) The bill requires certain state-owned facilities or facilities owned or leased by rapidly growing school districts to meet high-performance, energy efficient building standards.

HB 807 (Sonney) The bill amends the Biofuel Development and In-State Production Incentive Act by adding several definitions, providing for biodiesel content in diesel fuel sold for on-road use and for cellulosic ethanol content in gasoline requiring compliance with ASTM specifications.

HB 2151 (Gabler) The bill amends Title 75 (Vehicles) to create a reduced-cost permit for the limited use of vintage snowmobiles.

SR 265 (Brubaker) The resolution urges the Congress of the United States to support continued and increased importation of Canadian oil.


The Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Tuesday, June 14, 2011, and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Amended:

SB 1100 (Scarnati) The bill amends Title 58 (Oil and Gas) by imposing a natural gas impact fee.
h3>The Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Tuesday, May 3, 2011, and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Committed

SB 292 (Eichelberger) The bill amends the Flood Control Law by increasing the minimum amount which must be bid through a public advertising process from $4,000 to $25,000 for flood control projects performed by the Water and Power Resources Board.

SB 308 (Pippy) The bill authorizes municipalities and municipal authorities to use public funds for the improvement, extension, repair or rehabilitation of private lateral sewer lines connected to public sewer lines.

SB 618 (Yudichak) The bill requires DEP to appoint a counsel to the EQB, who shall serve as independent counsel to the members.

SB 791 (Earll) The bill amends the Bluff Recession and Setback act by further defining “bluff recession hazard area”, “bluff toe” and “shoreline”.

SB 898 (Tomlinson) The bill amends the Noncoal Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act to provide that all municipal subdivision and land development ordinances are preempted by the Noncoal Act.

Reported Out as Amended:

SB 367 (White, D) The bill authorizes DGS to make and execute contracts and leases on behalf of the Commonwealth for the mining or removal of valuable mineral resources which may be found in state-owned land or under waters of the Commonwealth.

SB 460 (Yaw) When payment is made for oil or gas production to an interest owner, itemized deduction information will be included on the check stub or an attachment to the form payment.

SB 469 (Argall) The bill allows walking, jogging, bicycling, exercising and horseback riding on nature trails as a recreational purpose by limiting liability.


The Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met on Monday, February 14, 2011, and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Committed

SB 151 (Pileggi) The bill amends the Air Pollution Control Act by requiring a percentage of a fine or civil penalty collected to be returned by DEP to the municipality in which the violation occurred.

SB 265 (M. White) The bill amends the Coal & Gas Resource Coordination Act to modify spacing of natural gas wells.

SB 302 (M. White) The bill amends the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund Act by requiring DCNR, 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 303 (M. White) The bill amends the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act by specifically authorizing the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund to receive civil penalties.

SB 304 (M. White) The bill amends the Air Pollution Control Act by requiring all proposed and final State implementation plans under the act to be published and maintained on the publicly accessible Internet website of DEP or any other state agency.


The Senate Appropriations Committee met on 1-14-11 and reported out the following bills:

SB 1100: This bill strengthens the environmental protections in place for operators of Marcellus Shale wells.   The bill also creates a model ordinance for local governments to regulate drilling activities to insure uniform practices across the state.  Sen. Scarnati offered A6313 that is an omnibus amendment that imposes fees, distribution of fee revenue and zoning language.  The amendment was adopted 17-9 along party lines.  Sen. Ferlo offered A6292 that increases per-well fee structure, amends setback requirements and eliminates all local ordinance/zoning requirements.  The amendment failed 7-19 mainly along party lines.  The was reported 17-9.

SB 1183: The bill re-writes Pennsylvania’s Megan’s Law in order to address certain court cases and to bring Pennsylvania into compliance with the federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), Title 1 of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006.  Sen. Scarnati offered A6018 that prohibits group-based homes from providing concurrent residency to multiple individuals who are required to register as sexually violent predators.  Sen. Greenleaf offered A6300 that closes the transient loophole.  The bill and amendments were reported unanimously.

SB 1264: The bill establishes and makes an appropriation for the Supplemental Individual Assistance Program for individuals suffering losses due to Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee.  Sen. Baker offered A6027 that reduces the transfer of general funds to a restricted account from $20 million to $5 million.  The bill and amendment were reported unanimously.

SB 1266: This bill authorizes a bond of no more than $250 million to pay for the damage caused by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee.  Sen. Gordner offered A6280 that is a technical re-write of the bond provisions and reduces bond authorization to $150 million.  The bill and amendment were reported unanimously.

SB 1267: This bill allows local jurisdictions to provide property tax relief for properties damaged by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee in the late summer and early fall of this year.  The bill was reported unanimously.

SB 1268: This bill 1268 is the Capital Budget Act of 2011 for Highways Damaged by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee.  Sen. Gordner offered A6232 that adds additional projects.  The bill and amendment were reported unanimously.

SB 1269: This bill is  the Disaster Relief Act of 2011.  This bill itemizes capital projects in the categories of bridges to be constructed by the Department of Transportation, and Railroad Disaster Assistance.  Sen. Gordner offered A6231 that adds additional projects.  The bill and amendment were reported unanimously.

SB 1271: This bill is the Flood Control and Disaster Mitigation Itemization Act of 2011.  The bill itemizes disaster capital budget projects and disaster mitigation and assistance projects to be constructed by the Department of General Services. Sen. Gordner offered A6230 that adds additional projects.  The bill and amendment were reported unanimously.

SB 1276: This bill would allow following the census, a county of the 3rd Class having a population over 500,000 inhabitants to elect to not become a Second Class A County. They would have the option to remain a county of the Third Class that would go into effect by ordinance or resolution of the Board of Commissioners. Sen. Smucker offered A6210 that establishes a date by which the counties must exercise the option. The bill and amendment were reported unanimously.

SB 1297: This legislation creates the Small Business Relief Act of 2011 to provide for a Small Business Flood Relief Program for those businesses impacted by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee flooding.  Sen. Baker offered A6179 that allows DCED’s program guidelines to include requirements deemed appropriate by the department and revises the Small Business Flood Relief Program from $15 Million to $10 million.  The bill and amendment were reported unanimously.

SB 1310: This bill amends the Unemployment Compensation Law.  The taxable wage base would increase from $8,000 to $10,000 over seven years.  The cap on the State Adjustment Factor would decrease over seven years.  Sen. Gordner offered A6211 that re-writes the bond provisions.  The amendment was adopted unanimously.  Sen. Tartaglione offered A5892 that provides a COLA to be added to the $10,000 taxable wage base beginning in 2019.  The amendment failed 9-17.  Sen. Tartaglione offered A6028 that removes language which lowers the State Adjustment Factor to 75% in 2018.  The amendment failed 9-17.  Sen. Hughes offered A6217 that removes all language except the bonding language.  The amendment failed 9-17.  Sen. Hughes offered A6219 that removes the amnesty program.  The amendment failed 8-18.  The bill was reported 18-8.

SB 1323: Amends Title 3 (Agriculture) and Title 64 (Public Authorities and Quasi-Public Corporations) creating the Agriculture Disaster Recovery Program.  Sen. Brubaker offered A6224 that provides interested rates assistance for affected farmers.  The bill and amendment were reported unanimously.

HB 1644: This bill amends the County Code to allow the sale of township personal property through electronic auctions.  Sen. Smucker offered A6174 that allows 2nd class A or 3rd through 8th class counties the option of abolishing the office of jury commissioner.  The bill and amendment were reported 23-3.