The Senate and House Environmental Resources and Energy Committees both have meetings set for the week of January 23 and there are several environmental bills on the Senate and House calendars. Here’s the rundown…

Calendars

The House starts the week with these bills on their Calendar-- House Bill 2067 setting limits on state spending through a constitutional amendment; House Bill 1902 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; Senate Bill 640 claims for taxes, water, lighting fee exclusions for donations of property; and Senate Bill 881 and Senate Bill 897 making changes to the Eminent Domain Code in response to the Supreme Court’s Kelo decision.

On the Senate Calendar is House Bill 2054 that makes changes to the Eminent Domain Code in response to the Kelo decision, House Bill 893 changing procedures for shutting off water for nonpayment of sewage bills and House Bill 87 (Steil-R-Bucks) further authorizing local governments to preserve open space through the waiver of certain service fees.

Committees

Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee meets January 24 to consider the re-appointment of Michael L. Krancer to the Environmental Hearing Board and Senate Resolution 207 urging DEP to place a nine month moratorium on implementation of the Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy and House Resolution 382 urging Congress to reauthorize the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund and the Appropriations Committee meets to consider House Bill 1114 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne) expanding waste tire recycling program.

House Environmental Resources & Energy Committee holds an informational meeting January 25 on energy policy. The agenda includes Dr. Alan Scaroni, Director of the Energy Institute at Penn State University regarding energy research and development, Rosemary McAvoy of the Renewable Energies Council discussing alternative fuels and Christopher Lynch, Director, Environmental Management Services of the Small Business Development Center at the Wharton School regarding energy efficiency in small businesses.

1/20/2006