Here’s a quick rundown on several environmental bills that moved in the Senate and House this week.

Low-Income Energy Help: House Bill 1539 (Nickol-R-York) to provide emergency heating assistance to low-income households was given final approval by the Senate and House and was signed into law by the Governor.

Recycling Fee: House Bill 1902 (Rubley-R-Chester) eliminating the sunset date on the $2/ton Recycling Fee and requiring Recycling Performance Grants to be used for local recycling and waste reduction efforts was reported from House Appropriations Committee.

Donation of Computers: House Bill 472 Reichley (R-Berks), amending the Tax Reform Code providing for a tax credit for the donation of used computers to a charitable organization, volunteer firemen's organization, nonprofit education institution or religious organization, passed the House and now moves to the Senate.

Eminent Domain: Senate Bill 881 (Piccola-R-Dauphin) and Senate Bill 897 (Brightbill-R-Lebanon) making changes to the Eminent Domain Code in response to Kelo were reported from House Judiciary Committee and referred to Appropriations. House Bill 2054 (Grell-R-Cumberland) making similar changes to eminent domain law, was amended and reported out of Senate State Government Committee.

California Car Standards: House Bill 2141 (Geist-R-Blair), which would prohibit the Environmental Quality Board from adopting California vehicle emission standards was referred to the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee. (See separate article on Senate California car standard hearing.)

Farmland Preservation: The House Agriculture Committee reported out House Bill 671 (Reichley-R-Berks) allowing county farmland preservation boards to spend any interest generated on land preservation.

Donations of Land: Senate Bill 640 (Pileggi-R-Montgomery), allowing claims for taxes, water, lighting fees to be excused in donations of property, was referred to and reported from House Appropriations Committee.

Eco-Terrorism: House Bill 213 (Godshall-R-Montgomery) providing penalties for ecoterrorism was referred to House Appropriations Committee.

Capital Budget List: House Bill 2317 (Feese-R-Lycoming) itemizing Capital Budget projects for the Environmental Stewardship Fund and projects for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources was amended and reported from House Appropriations.

Radon Awareness Month: House Resolution 495 (Rubley-R-Chester) designating January as Radon Awareness Month was passed by the House.

Tributary Strategy: House Resolution 539 (Nailor-R-Cumberland) urges the Department of Environmental Protection to delay implementation of the Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy for nine months to allow time for the agency to meet with stakeholders and determine the cost and economic impact of compliance strategies was passed unanimously by the House. A similar Senate Resolution will be introduced by Sen. Vance (R-Cumberland) soon.

NewsClips: Nutrient Limits for Dischargers in Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Deadline on Water Quality Changes

12/16/2005