The Senate passed Senate Bill 325 by a 49-1 vote.  The bill would create the Gas and Hazardous Liquids Pipelines Act.  This law would give the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) the general administrative authority to supervise and regulate pipeline operators consistent with federal pipeline safety laws.

While the federal Office of Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has jurisdiction over all pipeline facilities, it relies on agreements with each individual state to inspect and enforce federal pipeline safety regulations. Currently, the PUC is only authorized to enforce regulations for pipeline operators with public utility status.

This bill would give the PUC authority to conduct safety inspections and investigations, respond to complaints, assess fines or penalties, and address service quality issues for gas and hazardous liquid pipeline operators consistent with federal pipeline safety laws and regulations.  Operators would be charged registration and renewal fees so taxpayers are not forced to cover the cost of providing increased inspections and enforcement. 

The bill now goes to the House.

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The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 302.  This bill would amend the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund Act to require the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Department of Education, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and the State System of Higher Education to submit an annual report to the governor and the General Assembly beginning July 1, 2012.

The annual report would be required to contain information on grants awarded from the fund, a description of projects that received grant funding, and anticipated project completion dates.  The report would also be required to be published on each department’s internet website.

 The bill is now in the House.

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The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 303, which would require that any civil penalties resulting from violations of the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act are deposited in the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund.

The bill now goes to the House.

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The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 304, which would require public review of all proposed and final state implementation plans (SIPs) required under the federal Clean Air Act.

The plans would be required to be publicly accessible on an Internet website and on the website of the state Department of Environmental Protection.

The SIPs would also have to be submitted to the chairs of the Senate and House Environmental Resources and Energy Committees at the same time that they are published for public comment. 

The bill is now in the House.