PA Environment Digest

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House Passes $30.1 Billion Republican General Fund Budget Bill 112-77

Harrisburg (June 28) -- The House Saturday passed the Senate/House Republican budget in House Bill 1192 (Adolph-R-Delaware) by a vote of 112 to 77 which now goes to the Senate Sunday. It is a $30.1 billion no tax increase state budget, just over $1 billion more than last year.

The intent of Republicans is to put it on the Governor's desk by the end of June 30.

Gov. Wolf has already put out a statement that said he will veto the GOP’s “gimmick budget.” Saturday evening, Gov. Wolf said the Republican budget was not balanced and would result in a $3 billion deficit.

There is no severance tax, but it does restore some General Fund monies to DCNR- $21.6 million, a little more for DEP- $4.3 million and level funds the Heritage Parks Program at $2.25 million.

Here are some of the highlights of the GOP plan--

-- Dept. of Agriculture: adds $23 million from last year (mostly for lab, county fairs, etc.)

-- Conservation Districts remain the same at $869,000

-- DCNR: adds $21.6 million, most to line items for personnel and operations

-- Heritage and Other Parks- $2.25 million (same as last year)

-- DCED: Commonwealth Financing Authority adds $12.4 million (don't know what for yet)

-- DEP: $4.3 million more, most in personnel and operations

-- Conservation Districts: $2.5 million (same as last year)

-- Sewage Facilities Grants: $900,000 (zero last year)

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission: $473,000 ($100,000 less)

-- Delaware River Basin Commission: $434,000 (same)

-- Environmental Hearing Board: $2.3 million (same)

A House Republican spreadsheet with General Fund line items is available online. House Democrats distributed a budget spreadsheet and a staff summary of the Republican budget. A Senate Democratic staff summary of the budget is available.

House Committee Votes To Kill Regulations Covering Conventional Oil and Gas Wells And Start Over

In the House Appropriations Committee Sunday night, Republicans adopted an amendment to the Fiscal Code in Senate Bill 655 (Browne-R-Lehigh) that invalidates the regulations DEP proposed to ensure conventional oil and gas wells protect the environment and makes DEP start the process over.

The language in the amendment said the process used by DEP to propose the regulations was “invalid” with respect to conventional wells, but the language could be interpreted to also apply to unconventional (Marcellus Shale) wells since they both used the same process stopping that process as well.

The same tactic-- amending the Fiscal Code-- was used last year by conventional well drillers to direct DEP to adopt separate regulations for conventional and unconventional (Marcellus Shale) wells.

The Fiscal Code has been a convenient vehicle used by the Senate and House to adopt laws that do not go through any committees, not subjected to public hearings and not voted on by either chamber.

In fact, the language and concept of killing regulations for conventional well drillers added to Senate Bill 655 didn’t even not appear in any Senate or House bill before it suddenly appeared Sunday night.

Last week, PA Independent Oil and Gas Association filed a lawsuit challenging DEP’s regulations saying “natural gas developers protect public resources through voluntary measures” and other environmental law.

PIOGA ask the PA Supreme Court to eliminate DEP’s enforcement of setbacks from streams, wetlands and other natural features as well as protection of public resources like parks, game land or wildlife area, protect endangered species, historic sites and wellhead protection areas.

The conventional well drillers try, at every opportunity, to perpetuate the myth that conventional drill is “benign” and doesn’t affect the environment.

In fact, in 2014, conventional oil and gas well operations accounted for nearly 78 percent of the total violations DEP recorded for conventional and unconventional drilling operations, but just over 52 percent of the inspections.

DEP also has a running list of 248 cases where DEP has made a determination on whether water supplies were contaminated by oil and natural gas drill from 2008 to 2014. About half of the water supplies were damaged by conventional drilling and half by unconventional, according to DEP.

Of the 19 special caution areas with poisonous hydrogen sulfide dangers DEP has identified and dealt with over the last few years, 14 were from conventional wells.

DEP began the process of proposing oil and gas regulations in response to the passage of Act 13 in 2013, nearly two and a half years ago. DEP held an unprecedented 12 public hearings on the proposals as well as lengthy public comment periods.

A copy of the amendment is available online.

Senate Bill 655 now goes to the full House for action, and if successful, must be concurred in by the Senate.

NewsClips:

House Passes GOP Budget To Dismay Of Democrats

Republican Budget Passes House

House Passes GOP-Crafted Budget

Democratic Leader Slams GOP Budget

Lawmakers, Budget Secretary Respond To GOP Budget

Wolf: I’m Disappointed In Republican Budget

GOP Budget Faces Wolf Veto, Heads To Senate

House Committee OKs GOP Pension Plan Over Shouting Democrats

GOP To Send Wolf Their $30.1 Billion Budget By Tuesday