With the official close of the legislative session November 30, it’s important to take a look back at the environmental and energy legislation passed by the General Assembly in 2012.

Major legislation regulating the Marcellus Shale drilling industry and establishing an impact fee to benefit local governments and state environmental and emergency programs was the most significant environmental legislation passed this year.

In all there were almost two dozens bills making changes to recycling, promoting infrastructure improvements, bicycle safety, storage tank cleanup and other environmental and energy programs.

The thousands of bills not signed into law will have to start all over again January 1 when the General Assembly convenes the new legislative session.  Click Here for a rundown on the environmental bills left on the table.

Here’s a list of the those bills signed into law during 2012--

Bicycle Safety: House Bill 170 (Miller-R-York) further providing for bicycle safety and operating motor vehicles.  A summary and House Fiscal Note are available.   Gov. Corbett signed the bill into law as Act 3.

Marcellus Well Emergencies: Senate Bill 995 (Baker-R-Luzerne) requiring the posting of 911 information at Marcellus Shale wells was signed into law as Act 9.

Infrastructure Funding: House Bill 1294 (Godshall-R-Montgomery) authorizing the PUC to establish a distribution system improvement charge (DSIC) as an alternative to regular rate cases to recover costs associated with replacing pipelines and other utility infrastructure.  A summary and House Fiscal Note are available. The bill was signed into law as Act 11.

Marcellus Shale: House Bill 1950 (Ellis-R-Butler) imposing a Marcellus Shale drilling fee and enacting a laundry list of additional environmental protection measures related to drilling was signed into law as Act 13.  A summary is available online.

Professional Licensing: House Bill 1054 (Mustio-R-Allegheny) further providing for continuing professional competency requirements under Engineer, Land Surveyor and Geologist Registration Law was signed into law as Act 24.  A summary and Senate Fiscal Note are available.

Air Pollution Plans: Senate Bill 304 (MJ White-R-Venango) further providing for public review of State Air Quality Improvement Plans was signed into law as Act 27.  A summary and House Fiscal Note are available. 

Flood Recovery: House Bill 1913 (Culver-R- Northumberland) providing for flood damage local property tax relief was signed into law as Act 71. A summary and Senate Fiscal Note are available. 

Storage Tank Cleanup: Senate Bill 1398 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne) extending the Storage Tank Cleanup Program was signed into law as Act 74.  A summary and House Fiscal Note are available. 

Regulatory Review: House Bill 1349 (Pickett-R-Bradford) providing for small business impact as part of regulatory review was signed into law as Act 76.  A summary and House Fiscal Note are available.

Mandated Recycling: House Bill 1934 (F.Keller-R-Snyder) further providing for mandatory recycling was signed into law as Act 83.  A summary and Senate Fiscal Note are available.

Fiscal Code: Senate Bill 1263 (Browne-R-Lehigh) amending the Fiscal Code to implement the budget agreement, including provisions which extends the prohibition on Cities of the Third Class from filing bankruptcy to November 30, 2012; further provide for conventional oil and gas well blanket bonding requirements; Prohibiting DEP from issuing permits in the South Newark Basin until January 1, 2018 unless a study of the impact of drilling is done by DCNR; and directs the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee, in consultation with PennVEST, is directed to conduct a study of how the state can meet nutrient reduction planning targets in any watershed implementation plan by December 30, 2012.  A summary and House Fiscal Note are available.  The bill was signed into law as Act 87.

Private-Public Transportation Projects: House Bill 3 (Geist-R-Blair) providing for private- public transportation projects was signed into law as Act 88.  A summary and Senate Fiscal Note are available.

BioEnergy Crops: House Bill 608 (Brooks-R- Crawford) providing for the use of bioenergy crops in mine reclamation was signed into law as Act 95.  A summary and Senate Fiscal Note are available. 

Biofuels Compliance: House Bill 807 (Sonney-R-Erie) further providing for the definition, content, registration and enforcement of the Biofuel Development and In-State Production Incentive Act was signed into law as Act 96.  A summary and Senate Fiscal Note is available. 

ATV/Snowmobile: House Bill 2151 (Gabler-R-Clearfield) further providing for the registration of ATVs and snowmobiles was signed into law as Act 113.  A summary and Senate Fiscal Note are available.

Pittsburgh Low-RVP Gasoline: Senate Bill 1386 (Vogel-R-Beaver) evaluating alternatives to low-RVP gasoline in Pittsburgh and repealing Stage II vapor controls was signed into law as Act 135.  A summary and House Fiscal Note are available. 

Drilling On Other State Lands: Senate Bill 367 (D.White-R-Indiana) authorizing the leasing of mineral rights on other state lands.  Proceeds from drilling on State System of Higher Education lands would remain with the state universities. 

Proceeds from drilling on other state lands (not including those owned by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Fish and Boat and Game Commissions) would be allocated according to this formula:  60 percent to the Oil and Gas Lease Fund; 25 percent to the PA Infrastructure Investment Authority with language authorizing the funding of non-point source best management practices to implement the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan or TMDL watershed plans; and 15 percent to the drilling agency.

The bill was signed into law as Act 147.

Reclamation Guarantees: House Bill 1813 (Tobash-R-Berks) authorizing a financial guarantee option covering mine reclamation.  A summary and Senate Fiscal Note are available.  The bill was signed into law as Act 157.

Energy Program Eligibility: House Bill 1991 (Cutler-R-Lancaster) further providing for proof of eligibility for energy conservation programs.  A summary and Senate Fiscal Note are available.   The bill was signed into law as Act 164.

Farm Composting: Senate Bill 1298 (Smucker-R-Lancaster) providing for composting facilities on Act 319 farmlands. A summary and House Fiscal Note are available.  The bill was signed into law as Act 190.

Capital Budget: Senate Bill 1480 (Corman-R-Centre) providing for the 2012-13 Capital Budget. A summary and House Fiscal Note are available.  The bill was signed into law as Act 193.

12/3/2012