Senate Committee Reports H20 Program, Coal Refuse, State Park Events Bills

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee this week reported out legislation on coal refuse disposal area siting, making changes to the H20 water infrastructure program and requiring DCNR to honor State Park event leases. The bills include:

--House Bill 1798 (Eachus-D-Luzerne) adding not-for-profit organizations as an eligible applicant of the H20 water infrastructure program was amended;

--Senate Bill 1034 (Stout-D-Washington) adding areas adjacent to or an expansion of an existing coal refuse disposal site to preferred coal refuse disposal sites priorities; and

--Senate Bill 974 (D.White-R-Indiana) directing DCNR to honor leases during periods when State Parks or Forests are closed due to an action of the agency was amended.

Sen. Mary Jo White (R-Venango) serves as Majority Chair of the Committee and Sen. Ray Musto (D-Luzerne) serves as Minority Chair.