In spite of the Senate and House focus on the property tax issue this week, a number of environmental bills did move. Here’s a quick rundown.

Senate

Heating Assistance: House Bill 1539 (Nickol-R-York) was amended to just provide additional funding for Low-Income Heating Assistance (it was an early vehicle for the pay raise repeal) and was passed by the Senate. It now moves to the House for a concurrence vote.

Snowmobile Registration: Senate Bill 995 (MJ White-R-Venango) amending the ATV/Snowmobile registration requirements was passed by the Senate.

Sewage Task Force: House Resolution 88 (Hutchinson-R-Venango,) establishing a sewage management and treatment task force and directing the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee to support the group, was adopted by the Senate. The resolution is now in effect because the House adopted identical language.

House

Heating Assistance: House Bill 2216 (Allen-R-Schuylkill) providing additional funding for Low-Income Heating Assistance was reported out of House Appropriations.

Environmental Synopsis Features Keep PA Beautiful, NOx Trading

The November issue of the Environmental Synopsis published by the Joint Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee is now available online.

This issue provides an overview of the Keep PA Beautiful Summit, rising gas prices, the environmental costs of commuting and trading nitrogen oxide credits.

The Committee’s next Environmental Issues Forum will be on December 6 and features a presentation on the Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Development Center

Bills Introduced

These environmental bills were introduced this week

State Energy Office: House Bill 2253 (George-D-Clearfield) would create a State Energy Office within the Department of Environmental Protection.

State Clean Car Program: Senate Bill 1025 (MJ White-R-Venango) would establish a Pennsylvania Clean Car Program by adopting federal Tier II standards.

11/25/2005