Green Commission Chairs Rep. Adolph and Sen. White
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With the General Assembly set to return to session on January 4 (although regular voting session isn’t scheduled until January 24), we thought we do a refresher on the environmental issues left on the table from last year.
Growing Greener II: Gov. Rendell and Senate and House Majority Leaders agreed last July to let a Green Ribbon Commission work to put together an environmental spending proposal, part of which would be a bond issue for the Spring ballot (PaED 7/9/04)
At its last meeting in November, Rep. Bill Adolph (R-Delaware) co-chair of the Commission, along with Sen. Mary Jo White (R-Venango), said they hope to finish a major piece of their work in February (PaED 11/21/04)
Commission members identified their priorities as: 1) restoring the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund; 2) preservation of open space; 3) preservation of farmland; 4) treating acid mine drainage; 5) recycling; 6) a tie between Watershed Protection, Crop Reserve Enhancement Program and funding Community Parks; 7) a tie between Energy Harvest, Fish & Boat Commission funding and water-wastewater improvements; and lastly 8) Green Energy Purchases and restoring the Act 339 wastewater operating subsidies.
There is no argument from any members or the Administration over the most pressing need to plug the hole draining the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund that finances toxic site cleanups, emergency response and other activities in the Department of Environmental Protection.
Of course the big question is how will this be paid for?
Gov. Rendell originally proposed an $800 million bond issue and funding for recycling, Hazardous Sites cleanup and other programs financed, in part by $150+ million in fees on waste and emissions from households and businesses. Many members from both sides of the aisle, however, are concerned about the impact of raising fees with the state’s economy still sluggish.
NewsClip: Fight for Growing Greener II Just Begins
2005-06 Budget: We included this general item on the budget because any environmental spending initiative will be in competition for state dollars with every other program in the budget.
Right now the regular state budget looks like it will have a $1 to 1.5 billion hole that must be filled by further budget cuts or additional sources of revenue, over and above any dollars spent on Growing Greener II or plugging the leak in the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund (PaED 11/17/04)
Part of the deficit was eased this week with an agreement to obtain an estimated $300 million in federal payments for nursing homes, but a sizable hole remains.
Gov. Rendell said last week he would not propose a general tax or gas tax increase.
Other significant legislative items left on the table this year include:
Energy & Pollution Reduction Office: Senate Bill 1042 (Erickson-R-Delaware) creating an Office of Energy and Pollution Reduction in DEP to help small businesses and citizens reduce pollution and energy use and establishing the Rachel Carson Environmental Excellence Award.
Deep Mine Safety Legislation: Two and a half years after the accident at the Quecreek Mine in Somerset County, legislation is still being worked on to improve mine safety. An initiative was announced this past July, but drafts have not yet reached the General Assembly (PaED 7/23/04)
Center for Environmental Education: Senate Bill 1040 (MJ White-R-Venango) establishing the Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education in law, although the funding for the Center was restored in the budget this year.
Energy Standards for Appliances: House Bill 2035 (McIlhinney-R-Bucks) setting energy efficiency standards for household appliances.
Tire Recycling: House Bill 2289 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne) amending the waste tire recycling law to clarify the lien provisions and requiring permits for certain tire recycling operations.
Mine Subsidence Assistance: House Bill 148 (Solobay-D-Washington) would add water supply replacement coverage to the mine subsidence assistance for building owners.
Farmland Preservation: Senate Bill 779 (Waugh-R-York) amends the Agricultural Security Area Law to further provide for purchasing agricultural conservation easements allowing the preservation of farms of less than 50 acres.
Year in Review: Instant Replay of 2004 Legislative Accomplishments
Significant Environmental Headlines of 2004
“Forces of Nature” in 2004 – Examples to Follow
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