PA Environment Digest

Updated: Fiscal Code: Senate Bill 1042 (Browne-R-Lehigh) the Fiscal Code bill was amended Friday by the House Appropriations Committee with the agreed to language by the Senate, House and Gov. Rendell and includes provisions increasing the Education Improvement Tax Credit; provides for transfers from Tobacco Settlement, State System of Higher Education deferred maintenance monies and other special funds; establishes the DCNR Heritage Areas Program in law; provides for environmental, planning and other permit extensions for development upon application for a period of one year if the permits were issued between December 31, 2008 and before July 2, 2013 (formerly Senate Bill 569 (Pileggi-R-Delaware) and House Bill 1056 (M.O'Brien-D-Philadelphia) and any requirements that have changed since the original permit was issued will not have an impact on whether an extension is granted; and language outlining the intend of the General Assembly to adopt a Marcellus Shale natural gas production tax and an Independent Fiscal Office by October 1, effective January 1. It was passed by the House, concurred in by the Senate and sent to the Governor for his action.

Stormwater Funding: House Bill 2591 (George-D-Clearfield) further providing for funding stormwater management projects under PennVEST was reported out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, was referred into and out of the House Rules Committee, was then referred into and out of the House Appropriations Committee and was passed by the House. It now goes to the Senate for action.

Land Banks: House Bill 712 (J.Taylor-D-Philadelphia) providing for creating of land banks to put properties back into productive use (no funding provided) was reported from the House Appropriations Committee, amended on the House Floor and passed by the House. It now goes to the Senate for consideration.

Green Technology Testing: House Bill 2601 (Siptroth-D-Monroe) establishing the Green Technology Implementation Act to provide for the testing of new environmental and energy technologies (with no start up funding) was reported out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, was referred into and out of the House Rules Committee, was then referred into and out of the House Appropriations Committee and was passed by the House by a vote of 125 to 71. It now goes to the Senate for consideration.

Borough Electric: Senate Bill 168 (Brubaker-R-Lancaster) authorizing boroughs to enter into energy contracts was reported from the House Local Government Committee and was referred to the House Consumer Affairs Committee.

Low Sulfur, Bio Heating Oil: House Bill 2578 (George-D-Clearfield) requiring the use of ultra low sulfur and bio-heating oil. The bill will allow heating oil customers to use clean-burning heating oil that will save customers 14 cents a gallon or $86 million across the state annually was reported out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and then referred to the House Rules Committee.

Mineral Rights: House Bill 1436 (White-D-Allegheny) authorizing re-recording of subsurface mineral rights by surface owner after 10 years of non-use was reported out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and then referred to the House Rules Committee.

Environmental Advisory Councils/Geohazards: House Bill 1450 (Deasy-D-Allegheny) transfers language relating to local environmental advisory councils and creates a geologic hazards program (without funding) was amended and reported out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and then referred to the House Rules Committee.

Commonwealth Energy Agency: House Bill 1909 (George-D-Clearfield) creating a Commonwealth Energy Procurement and Development Agency and Fund without funding was reported out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and then referred to the House Rules Committee.

GeoSpatial Coordinating Council: House Bill 2300 (Fairchild-R-Mifflin) creating the State Geospatial Coordinating Council was amended and reported from the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee and re-referred to the House Rules Committee.

Alternative Energy: Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware) attempted to bring House Bill 2405 (DePasquale-D-York) which would increase the solar mandate provisions of the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards and provide for carbon sequestration facilities up for a vote as a special order of business, but after much discussion, the motion was withdrawn.

Senate

Budget Related Bills

General Fund Budget: House Bill 2279 (D.Evans-D-Philadelphia) FY 2010-11 General Fund budget bill was reported from the Senate Appropriations Committee as amended, passed by the Senate, concurred in by the House and sent to the Governor for his action.

Updated: RCAP Capital Budget Debt: House Bill 2290 (D.Evans-D-Philadelphia) increasing the Capital Budget debt ceiling was amended and reported from the Senate Finance Committee and was re-referred into and out of the Senate Appropriations Committee, passed by the Senate. A companion bill-- House Bill 2289 (D.Evans)-- was amended and reported out of the Senate Appropriations Committee, passed by the Senate, concurred in by the House and now goes to the Governor for his action.

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Blight: Senate Bill 900 (Argall-R-Schuylkill) providing for neighborhood blight reclamation and revitalization (no funding provided) was amended on the Senate Floor and was passed by the Senate and goes to the House for its consideration.

Green Buildings: Senate Bill 728 (Rafferty-R-Montgomery) setting standards for high performance green buildings (without funding) was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Farmland/Energy Production: House Bill 1394 (Houghton-D-Erie) providing for the splitting off of farmland for the production of alternative energy was amended and reported from the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and is now on the Senate Calendar for action.

Updated: State Energy Office: House Bill 786 (George-D-Clearfield) establishing a State Energy Office within the Department of Environmental Protection without funding was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

State Reptile: House Bill 621 (Curry-D-Montgomery) designating the eastern box turtle as PA's official state reptile was Tabled.

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