The Senate and House are set to consider a variety of environmental bills and issues. 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.

On the Senate Calendar is House Bill 2054 that makes changes to the Eminent Domain Code in response to the Kelo decision; and Senate Bill 1025 would establish a Pennsylvania Clean Car Program by adopting federal Tier II standards.

Committees

The House Environmental Resources & Energy Committee holds an informational meeting on Energy Policy this week to hear remarks from the Energy Association of PA, Energy Coordinating Agency of Philadelphia and the Consumer Advocate to the Public Utility Commission.

In the Senate, the Community and Economic Development Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 1063 providing additional funding to expand the PA Small Business Development Centers (Centers provide the EMAP environmental assistance services); and the Appropriations Committee will meet to consider House Bill 213 establishing penalties for eco-terrorism and House Bill 893 (Semmel-R-Berks) changing procedures for shutting off water for nonpayment of sewage bill.

The Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee will hold its first Environmental Issues Forum of 2006 featuring a presentation from Innovative Rail Concepts.

Senate/House Bills Moving

Legislation expanding the tire recycling program was given final approval and sent to the Governor, the House passed an extension of the Recycling Fee and legislation requiring counties to defend conservation easements this week. Here’s a rundown.

Senate

Tire Recycling: House Bill 1114 expanding the waste tire recycling program was passed by the Senate and was sent to the Governor. The last day for his action is February 18.

Capital Budget: House Bill 2317 (Feese-R-Lycoming) 2005-2006 Capital Budget for flood control, Keystone Recreation, Environmental Stewardship projects was referred back to Senate Appropriations.

House

Recycle Fee Extension: 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 passed by the House and now goes to the Senate.

Defending Conservation Easements: House Bill 671 (Reichley-R-Berks) requiring county farmland preservation boards to monitor and enforce agricultural conservation easements, including payment of legal costs associated with defending easements was passed by the House and now moves to the Senate.

Bills Introduced

Mine Safety Equipment: Senate Bill 1092 (Kasunic-D-Somerset) requiring additional breathing apparatus, lifeline cords and wireless tracking devices in underground mines.

Sunday Hunting: House Bill 2435 (Tigue-D-Luzerne) authorizes hunting antlered deer on two Sundays during hunting season.

2/10/2006