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House Environmental Committee OKs Bioenergy, NPDES Legislation
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The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee reported out legislation to encourage the use of bioenergy crops to reclaim abandoned mine lands and to urge the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to cease overview of NPDES permits in the state. The bills include:
-- House Bill 608 (Brooks-R-Crawford) providing for using bioenergy crops for reclamation of abandoned mines; and
-- House Resolution 87 (Pyle-R-Armstrong) calling on the Region III office of the U.S. Environmental Protection to cease the unlawful review of NPDES water quality permits.
"Both measures received overwhelming bipartisan support," Rep. Hutchinson said. "This proves that promoting economic growth while protecting our environment are not mutually exclusive goals.
"The first measure, House Bill 608, would promote environmentally friendly crops while rejuvenating old mine sites," Rep. Hutchinson said. "By planting bio-energy crops on old mine sites, we free up more farm land for traditional crops. This is a win for farmers, a win for responsible property owners who are trying to heal these lands, and a win for Pennsylvanians."
"We are trying to protect Pennsylvania jobs from being regulated out of existence by the federal government," Rep. Hutchinson said. Rep. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) serves as Majority Chair and Rep. Bud George (D-Clearfield) serves as Minority Chair of the Committee.
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3/14/2011 |
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