The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met Wednesday and reported out legislation on oil and gas well royalties and rights, authorizing PennVEST to fund stormwater and non-point source projects and a bill to provide independent counsel to the Environmental Quality Board.  The bills include--

-- Senate Bill 164 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne) appointing independent counsel for the Environmental Quality Board;

-- Senate Bill 196 (D.White-R-Indiana) further authorizing PennVEST funding for stormwater management and non-point sources projects;

-- Senate Bill 259 (Yaw-R-Bradford) further providing for the reporting of royalties from oil and gas wells; and

-- Senate Bill 258 (Yaw-R-Bradford) providing for the disposition of abandoned mineral rights was not considered by the Committee.

Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Bradford) serves as Majority Chair of the Committee and Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne) serves as Minority Chair.

1/28/2013