Here’s a quick rundown on a variety of environmental bills moving in the Senate and House.

Passed by the Senate

Landfill Permitting: Senate Bill 197 (Rafferty-R-Montgomery) allowing the review of repeat violations in the decision to permit landfills was passed by the Senate.

Ag. Security Areas: Senate Bill 723 (Wenger-R-Lancaster) making changes to definition of eligible entity in the Agricultural Security Law was amended and passed by the Senate. (See separate story in this Digest.)

Chesapeake Watertrail: Senate Resolution 138 (Waugh-R-York) Resolution expressing support of the efforts of the United States Secretary of the Interior to study the feasibility of designating the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Watertrail as a national historic trail passed the Senate.

Oil & Gas Drilling: Senate Resolution 147 (Earll-R-Erie) urging Congress to preserve a state’s rights to regulate oil and gas drilling in Lake Erie was passed by the Senate.

Moving in the Senate

Land Preservation: House Bill 87 (Steil-R-Bucks) further authorizing local governments to preserve open space through the waiver of certain service fees was referred to Senate Appropriations.

Passed by the House

Funding Laterals: House Bill 1108 (Rubley-R-Chester) providing loans and grants for water and wastewater laterals was amended to cap the program at $15 million and passed by the House.

Tire Recycling: House Bill 1114 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne) further providing for the cleanup and recycling of waste tires was passed by the House. (See separate article in this Digest.)

Historic Preservation Credit: House Bill 1819 (Tangretti-D-Westmoreland) providing an historic preservation tax credit was passed by the House.

Federal Tank Funding: House Resolution 326 (Adolph-R, George-D) urging Congress to release more funds to states for storage tank administration was passed by the House.

Coal Mine Safety Week: House Resolution 384 (Belfanti-D-Northumberland) designating June 26 to July 2 Coal Mine Safety Week passed the House.

Lansford Mine: House Resolution 385 (McCall-D-Monroe) commemorating the 150^th anniversary of the driving of the No. 9 Mine in Lansford, PA passed the House.

Sewage Task Force: House Resolution 88 (Hutchinson-R-Venango) a concurrent House/Senate resolution establishing a sewage management issues task force passed the House and now goes to the Senate for consideration.

Quecreek Mine Rescue: House Resolution 390 (Bastian-R-Somerset) resolution commemorating the third anniversary of the miracle at Quecreek Mine, Somerset County, from July 24 through 27, 2002 was passed by the House.

Moving In the House

Hazardous Sites Cleanup: Senate Bill 149 (MJ White-R-Venango) providing funding for the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund was reported from House Appropriations.

Used Computer Credit: House Bill 472 (Reichley-R-Berks) providing a tax credit for the donation of used computer equipment was reported out of the House Appropriations Committee

Bills Introduced

Abandoned Mine Fund: House Resolution 382 (Goodman-D-Schuylkill). Concurrent Resolution memorializing Congress to reauthorize the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund.

7/8/2005