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Environmental Legislative Accomplishments For 2008, More Than You Think
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The General Assembly and Gov. Rendell cooperated this year on several major pieces of environmental legislation dealing with water infrastructure funding, deep mine safety, alternative and renewable energy, energy conservation, protecting the Great Lakes, developing a climate plan for Pennsylvania and establishing the PA Center for Environmental Education in law. Here's a rundown on major bills enacted during 2008. Water Infrastructure: Senate Bill 1341 (Musto-D-Luzerne) authorizing a $400 million bond issue voter referendum for water, wastewater and stormwater projects was signed nto law as Act 64 and Senate Bill 2 (Earll-R-Erie) providing $800 million in funding for drinking water, wastewater, flood protection and high hazard dam repair projects was signed into law as Act 63. Both are part of the PA Fair Share for Clean Water Plan. (See article) Great Lakes Compact: House Bill 1705 (Harkins-D-Erie) adopting the Great Lakes Compact regulating water withdrawals was signed into law and is now Act 43. (See article)
Climate Change Plan: Senate Bill 266 (Erickson-R-Delaware) requiring the development of a state climate change action plan was signed into law as Act 70. (See article)
Renewable Energy: Special Session House Bill 1 (DePasquale-D-York) that would provide the Commonwealth Financing Authority with $500 million in bond funding and $150 million in General Fund revenues for a variety of renewable energy programs was signed into law as Special Session Act 1; House Bill 1202 (Gerber-D-Montgomery) establishing a state mandate for biodiesel and cellulosic ethanol use based on in-state biofuel production capacity is now Act 78; Special Session Senate Bill 22 (Tomlinson-R-Bucks) providing for biodiesel production incentives of 75 cents per gallon for three years ($5.3 million annually) and creating a nitrogen tire inflation system grant program was signed into law as Special Session Act 2. (See article)
Utility Electric Conservation: House Bill 2200 (George-D-Clearfield) setting goals for reducing electric use and requiring electric efficiency programs was signed into law as Act 129. (See article) Deep Mine Safety: Senate Bill 949 (Kasunic-D-Somerset) a comprehensive update to the Bituminous Coal Mine Safety Act, prompted initially by the 2002 Quecreek Mine Rescue, was signed into law as Act 55. (See article) PA Environmental Ed Center: Senate Bill 356 (M.White-R-Venango) establishing the PA Center for Environmental Education in law was signed into law as Act 71. (See article)
Phosphate Ban Extension: Senate Bill 1017 (Brubaker-R-Lancaster) extending the Phosphate Detergent Ban to dishwashing detergent was signed into law by Gov. Rendell as Act 15. (See article)
Conservation District Law Update: Senate Bill 1020 (Wonderling-R-Montgomery) updating the 1945 Conservation District Law was signed into law as Act 75.
Mercury Thermostats: House Bill 44 (Rubley-R-Chester) prohibiting the sale of thermostats with mercury was signed into law by the Governor as Act 44. Diesel Idling: Senate Bill 295 (Browne-R-Lehigh) placing limits on diesel idling was signed into law by the Governor as Act 124. Appalachian Trail: House Bill 1281 (Freeman-D-Lehigh) requiring municipalities to protect the Appalachian Trail was signed into law as Act 24. (See article) Main Street: House Bill 420 (Hickernell-R-Lancaster) expanding the Main Street Program was signed into law by the Governor as Act 99.
Elm Street: House Bill 2233 (Freeman-D-Lehigh) repealing the expiration date for the Elm Street Programwas signed into law by the Governor as Act 116. Theft Of Scrap: House Bill 1742 (Pashinski-D-Luzerne) Setting penalties for the theft of scrap material was signed into law by the Governor as Act 113. |
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10/17/2008 |
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