Black Moshannon State Park Bog Trail. Photo by Karen Hohman

Most vacations are done, the kids are headed back to school and the mornings are a bit nippy, naturally our thoughts turn to what the General Assembly will be doing on environmental legislation this Fall (well some of us anyway).

With the environmental bond issue and implementing legislation, farming and local ordinances, storage tank fees, watershed association funding and infrastructure security projects taking up the first part of the year, a variety of other issues will now be taking center stage.

Already the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee has announced a meeting and hearing on the timber industry and uniform covenants legislation.

Legislation to implement provisions in the environmental bond issue legislation to provide grants for historic preservation and a sales tax holiday for energy efficient appliances are pending.

Legislation to require the collection of mercury switches from junked automobiles, formally creating the Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education, setting energy efficiency standards for appliances and extending the Recycling Fee are also in Committee.

The Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy and the development of a Pennsylvania-only rule for limiting mercury emissions from power plants have legislative interest.

To help sort your way through the different bills, the Digest has updated its list of some of the key environmental bills pending in the House and Senate. (See the attachment below.)

What will actually be considered when the Senate and House return in September, well that’s the fun of the legislative process, you never really know for sure.

Attachment: Pending Environmental Bills - PDF

Session Schedule

The Senate returns to session on September 19, the House on September 26.

Contents – On the Hill

· Timber Industry Subject of House Environmental Committee Meeting

· House Committee Sets Hearing on Uniform Brownfield Covenants Bill

· Environmental Issues Forum to Feature State Recreation Plan Presentation

· Joint Committee’s August Environmental Synopsis Available Online

Other News

· State to Explore Use of More Hybrid Vehicles in Fleet, Grants Available

· York Waste Authority Awards Combustion Ash Research Grants

· Final Collection for “Hard to Recycle” Items Features Free Best Buy Gift Cards

· York Educator Wins Conservation District Award

· $872,000 in Grants Awarded by NRCS in PA Chesapeake Bay Watershed

· New Angler & Boater Magazine Website Goes Online

· Pitt to Teach Green Building, Sustainable Water Use Technology in Brazil

· Conservation Consultants Building Achieves Gold LEED Standard

· Green Building Alliance Cornerstone Newsletter Now Online

· Workshops Help Reduce Energy Use in Industrial Settings by Best Practices

· Webcast of Naphthalene Reduction Workshop Available

· Keystone HELP! Program Funds Energy Efficient, Clean Energy Projects at Home

· Watershed Alliance of York to Host Sustainability Conference

· Community Forestry Conference Set for September 27-28

· Have We Been Invaded? Native Plant Seminar September 3

· Worldview, Sustainability and Environmental Education Course Offered

· Pennsylvania Preserves 4,300+ Acres of Farmland

· More Options for Applying for Mine Subsidence Insurance

· Budding Geologist in Your Household? Get a PA Rock Hound Kit!

· Heritage Conservancy Honors Richard Sprenkle

Feature I - Mercury

· A Variety of Opinions on Mercury Emissions from Power Plants

Feature II – Mine Water Treatment

· Mine Water Treatment Technology Conference Attracts Over 260 by Bruce Golden, Western PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation

Feature III – Land Protection

· The New Legacy Land Funds, By Nelson Markley, Wildlands Conservancy

Feature IV – Summer Interns II

· Learning Can Be Tough for These DCNR Interns

Go To: PA Environment Digest Calendar Page

8/26/2005