Photo: Bruce Golden
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Passage of the $625 million environmental bond issue by over 60 percent of voters and the accompanying implementing legislation by the General Assembly reallocating existing environmental funding were clearly the major legislative highlight of 2005.
But the General Assembly also passed legislation that authorized more local funding for watershed associations, provided funding for DEP’s Storage Tank regulatory program and established an alternative to local regulation of farming activities.
The year also saw a number of major program and policy initiatives starting from scratch or being implemented from legislation passed last year, including regulations implementing the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards, a proposed Pennsylvania-only rule limiting mercury emissions, the release of Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy and an interim final Nutrient and Sediment Trading Policy, proposed adoption of the California vehicle emission standards, a major state land use policy initiative, the swearing in of a new Attorney General with a strong environmental enforcement policy, utilities making major investments in pollution controls and much more.
Here’s a quick rundown on the environmental legislation passed and some major actions taken on the policy and program side in 2005.
Environmental Legislation Passed
Growing Greener II Ballot Question: House Bill 2 (Quigley-R-Montgomery) authorizes a $625 million environmental bond issue question to be put to voters on May 17 was Act 1 of 2005.
Environmental Bond Implementation: House Bill 3 (Quigley-R-Montgomery) implementing legislation for the $625 million environmental bond issue and reallocating funding from the Environmental Stewardship Fund is Act 45.
Watershed Assn. Funding: House Bill 136, House Bill 266 and House Bill 267 (Fleagle-R-Franklin) authorizing local government funding of watershed associations were signed by the Governor and are now Acts 11, 13 and 14
Scenic Byway: Senate Bill 721 (Lemmond-R-Luzerne) designating a portion of Route 6 in Wyoming County and Route 92 in Susquehanna County a scenic byway is Act 35.
Freezing Storage Tank Fees: Senate Bill 722 (Musto-D-Luzerne) extending the sunset date for the small heating oil storage tank cleanup program, making tank registration fees permanent for a period of four years and authorizing transfer of administrative funds to DEP upon USTIF Board Approval was signed by the Governor and is Act 36
ACRE Proposal: House Bill 1646 (Hershey-R-Chester) providing a process for appealing local ordinances in conflict with the Right to Farm Act was signed into law and is now Act 38
Infrastructure Security Projects: House Bill 612 (Rubley-R-Chester) authorizing funding for water and sewage system security projects signed into law as Act 61.
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
Low-Income Energy Help: House Bill 1539 (Nickol-R-York) to provide emergency heating assistance to low-income households was signed into law as Act 81.
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 December 14.
January
EPA, States, DC Announce Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Agreement
Rendell Unveils Pennsylvania's Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy
Attorney General Corbett Promises Aggressive Environmental Enforcement
Colleges, EPA, DEP Sign Environmental Self-Audit Agreement
PA Partnership Forming to Promote No-Till Conservation Practices
‘Green Highway’ Certification Promoted By Transportation, EPA Region III
DCNR Adds Rivers to Conservation Registry
EPA’s List of Most Energy Efficient Buildings Nears 2000
February
PA Members Report on Cost-Effective Bay Cleanup Methods
Report on ATV/Snowmobile Grants Program Released
Three New River Conservation Plans Approved by DCNR
Fish Commission Mourns the Loss of Leon H. Reed
PA Joins EPA, Other States In Clean Energy-Environment Partnership
Hay Creek Added to PA Rivers Conservation Registry
PPL Invests $630 Million in Voluntary Pollution Controls
March
DEP Budget Cuts “Run Deep,” Push Is On For Growing Greener II
DCNR Looks at Inns, Lodges, Expanding PA Wilds, Wind Energy Opportunities
New Watershed Resource Guide Available, DEP Sets Workshops
DEP Will Not Accept Land Recycling Requests for Cleanups on Agricultural Land
Forest Lands Beautification Program Cleans Up 33 Dumps, 287 Tons of Trash
Bruce Mansfield Power Plant to Upgrade Pollution Controls, Reuse Facilities
2004 Winners of the Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award
West Branch of the Susquehanna Named DCNR’s River of the Year
Citizens’ Toolkit to Prevent Illegal Dumping in Parks, Forests Now Available
3 New Historical Markers Remember People, Places in PA Environmental History
In Memoriam: Fred Taylor
April
BP Solar Panels Provide Backup Power In Governor’s Residence
Pennsylvania League of Angling Youth Turns 25 Years Old
U.S. Senate Acts to Extend Federal Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund
Pennsylvania Colleges & Universities Increase Wind Energy Commitment
PECO, Aqua America, GlaxoSmithKline Make Wind Power Commitments
Penn State Creates New Environment and Natural Resources Institute
PA Recycles Record 4.4 Million Tons in 2003
300,000 acres+ Preserved at Farmland Preservation Board Meeting
Special Section: Growing Greener Bond Question on May 17 Ballot
Environmental Secretaries for 4 Governors Endorse Growing Greener Question
Healthy Lawn Care, Landscaping Education Campaign Launched
10 Year Anniversaries for Land Recycling, DEP Website
Funding Directed to Small Business Energy Efficiency, P2 Equipment Grants
May
Landmark Clean Air Interstate Rule Took Effect This Week
Over 60% of Voters Approve Growing Greener Ballot Initiative
Over 300 High School Students Participate in PA Envirothon Competition
Financing Will Revitalize Four Business Sites Around the State
Cong. Peterson Introduces AML Fund Reauthorization Legislation
DRBC Establishes New Rule to Reduce PCB Levels in the Delaware River
June
Waugh & Wenger Unveil Major Agricultural Initiative, Manure Use Technologies
Pennsylvania’s 10 Years of Success in Addressing ‘Brownfield’ Sites
Joint Budget-Finance Committee Releases Evaluation of Conservation Districts
Documenting Stream Channel Erosion – Bigger Problem Than Originally Thought
American Shad Continue to Increase in Susquehanna River
New Report on Building Financially Sustainable Recycling Programs
In Memoriam: PRC Mourns Loss of Jim Kane (1929-2005)
July
Environmental Bond Bill Passes, Existing Environmental Funding Reallocated
PA Environmental Professionals Support Environmental Heritage Project
Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Ross Announces Retirement
2004 Mine Reclamation Report to General Assembly Now Available
DEP Introduces Online Training Center for Water Plant Operators
Fish & Boat Commission’s Austen Leads National Fish Habitat Effort
DCNR Announces Improvements to State Park Reservation System
DEP Publishes New Public Participation Policy for Permit Reviews
Amount of Out-of State Waste Disposed in PA Decreases, In-State Up
Natural Stream Channel Design Guidelines Available from Keystone Stream Team
Partners Providing 'Better Models' Book to Inspire Ideas for Livable Communities
Somerset County Recognizes Flight 93 Memorial Design Project
Quecreek Mine Rescue Anniversary Focuses on Preserving History
Act 46 Increases Reimbursement for Districts Building Green Schools
Pennsylvania Student Team Wins 2005 Canon Envirothon
Ohio River Watershed Celebration Attracts 800 Participants, Awards Presented
Pennsylvania Welcomes World to Pittsburgh for Bassmaster Classic
PA Habitat: Fairmount Park Named 82nd Pennsylvania Important Bird Area
August
Northeastern Pollution Prevention Roundtable Partners with Env. Professionals
DEP Takes More Steps to Implement Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy
Discarded Equipment Containing Mercury Now Managed as Universal Waste
Water Credit Trading Moves Forward with Reverse Auction on Conestoga
New Nutrient Limits Placed on Lancaster City Treatment Plant
Chesapeake Bay Program Aims to Enhance Urban Tree Canopy
New Report Shows Credit Trading Program Reducing Air Pollution in Eastern U.S.
Regulations: EQB OKs Development of PA-Only Mercury Limits
Ross J. Huhn - Longest Serving Fish & Boat Commissioner Passes
A Variety of Opinions on Mercury Emissions from Power Plants
September
Pennsylvania Sends Relief Help, Steps Taken to Ease Potential Fuel Shortage
New Handbook on Community-Based Watershed Protection
Drinking Water Plant Performance Shows Improvement, Areas Needing Work
Draft Policy to Designate Critical Water Planning Areas Available for Review
President to Name PA’s Jarrett to DOE Assistant Secretary Post
Soy Energy, Inc. Becomes Part of Agriculture’s PA Preferred Program
Juniata Watershed Survey Shows Streams in Good Health, But Problems Remain
Cleaner Energy Winner in PECO Energy Merger Settlement
SRBC Presents the Northern Lancaster County Groundwater Study
Juvenile Bass Population Up 25% Despite Mortalities from Infection
Farms In Chesapeake Bay Watershed In Precarious Position
President Names PA’s Stickler Head of Federal Mine Safety Program
Reisinger Named Director of DEP's Bureau of Waste Management
Groups Call On Congress to Clean Up Streams Polluted By Abandoned Mines
DEP Asks for Comments on Interim Nutrient, Sediment Trading Policy
Consortium Formed to Buy Diesel Fuel Made from Waste Coal at Schuylkill Plant
Bills Announced to Strengthen Mine Safety, Resulting from Quecreek Accident
October
State Forest Again Certified as “Well Managed” Using Sustainable Techniques
Motorists Expected to Save $57 Million Over 5 Years on Emissions Inspections
Bills to Increase Environmental Penalties Proposed by Reichley, Attorney General
Appalachian Land & Conservation Donates Viewshed Easements to DCNR
Stay Warm PA Initiative to Address Rising Heating Costs, Website Offers Tips
Pittsburgh Mayor Appoints Clean Pittsburgh Commission Members
New Book Outlines Documented Benefits of Coal Ash for Mine Reclamation
Growth, Resource Conservation Principles Released by Rendell Administration
PA CleanWays Open Your Eyes to Litter – In a Watershed Book Available
Attempts Made to End Emissions Inspection, Prohibit California Car Standards
November
DEP Reorganizes Website, Offers New Web Address
First Environmental Bond Grants for Brownfield, Watershed, Energy Projects
New Environmental Bond Grant Funds Watershed Project Repairs Statewide
New Website Helps Residents Learn if They Need Mine Subsidence Insurance
DEP Landfill Permitting Regulations Upheld By Pennsylvania Supreme Court
PUC Proposes Rules for Connecting Small Renewable Energy Generators to Grid
$14.4 Million in Watershed Restoration Grants Announced
Chesapeake Bay Shows No Improvement Over Last Year
EPA Releases Performance and Accountability Report for Fiscal Year 2005
Seven of 10 Open Space Funding Ballot Questions Pass in Pennsylvania
Andrew McElwaine Leaving PA Environmental Council
Nicholas Selected as Wild Resource Conservation Director
Abitibi-Consolidated Expands Service to Encourage Paper Recycling
Ches-Mont Disposal, RecycleBank Team Up to Offer Recycling Services
PA Plants 4 Times More Stream Buffers Than Maryland, Virginia Combined
PA Restores 3 Times More Brownfields Than Virginia, Maryland Combined
Gilius Named Director of DEP’s Bureau of Oil and Gas Management
December
BP Forms BP Alternative Energy Low Carbon Power Business
Five States, District Agree on 2007 Farm Bill Conservation Agenda
Chesapeake Bay Council Outlines Surplus Nutrient, Manure Management Strategy
Pennsylvania Updates Fish Consumption Advisories
EPA Celebrates Birthday and 35 Years of Environmental Progress
Carl Roe Named to Head Game Commission
Kim Nelson to Leave Environmental Protection Agency CIO Position
Wyonna Coleman, West Brownsville Environmental Activist, Passes
The Nature Conservancy - Celebrating 50 Years in Pennsylvania
Senate Holds Hearing on DEP’s California Car Vehicle Emission Limits Proposal
Watershed Groups Are “Active Environmentalists,” Not “Environmental Activists”
EPCAMR Testifies Before U.S. House on Watershed-Based Mine Reclamation Needs
PA Signs Agreement to Improve Health, Economic Vitality of Great Lakes
PA Watersheds Data System Is Now Live
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