The following bills of interest saw action this week in the House and Senate--

Senate
 

Well Production: Senate Bill 297 (Yaw-R-Bradford) providing for semi-annual reporting of oil and gas well production was reported from the Senate Rules Committee and concurred in by the Senate.  The bill now goes to the Governor for his action.

EQB Counsel:  Senate Bill 85 (Musto-D-Luzerne) providing for an independent counsel for the Environmental Quality Board was reported from the Senate Appropriations Committee and is now on the Senate Calendar for action.

Casing Requirements:  Senate Bill 1092 (Kasunic-D-Somerset) further providing for well casing requirements was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Leasing Other State Lands:  Senate Bill 1159 (D.White-R-Indiana) authorizing the Department of General Services to lease minerals on state land owned by agencies other than DCNR, Fish and Boat and Game Commissions and depositing any payments or royalties in the Environmental Stewardship (Growing Greener) Fund was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Mining Fees: Senate Bill 1176 (D.White-R-Indiana) requiring changes to mining permit fees to be done by regulation, Senate Bill 1196 (D-White-R-Indiana) requiring changes to mining permit fees to be done by regulation and Senate Bill 1197 (D.White-R-Indiana) requiring changes to coal refuse disposal permit fees to be done by regulation were all referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Recycling Fee Extension:  House Bill 1768 (Wansacz-D-Lackawanna) providing for an extension of the $2 Recycling Fee to 2020 and expanding the definition of host municipality was removed from the Tabled Calendar and then Tabled.

Air Quality Fines: Senate Bill 1250 (Pileggi-R-Delaware) requiring 25 percent of penalties assessed under the state Air Pollution Control Act to be distributed to the impacted municipality was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

House

New Capital Budget:  House Bill 2291 (D.Evans-D-Philadelphia) enacting the 2010-11 Capital Budget was reported from the House Appropriations Committee and is now on the House Calendar for action.

Old Capital Budget: House Bill 2289 (D.Evans-D-Philadelphia) providing for a 2010-11 Capital Budget was referred back to the House Appropriations Committee.

3/22/2010