On December 1 members of the Senate and House began circulating co-sponsor memos to their colleague announcing bills they plan to introduce or re-introduce in the new session. 

Here’s a list of just a few of the co-sponsor memos distributed this week related to environmental and energy issues--

-- Creating New Office Of The Repealer: Rep. Kristin Hill (R-York) prior House Bill 2408; Would create yet another level of bureaucracy all state agency regulations and statutes would have to go through-- the new Office of the Repealer-- to see if they “defy common sense.”  Click Here for more background.

-- Extending Natural Gas Service To Underserved Areas: Rep. Robert Godshall (R-Montgomery) prior House Bill 1946: authorizing natural gas distribution companies to imposed a distribution system extension charge to recover costs of extending pipelines to underserved areas.

-- Extending Natural Gas Service To Underserved Areas: Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) prior Senate Bill 214: requiring natural gas distribution companies to develop a plan and rules for the orderly expansion of their distribution system to underserved areas.

-- Moving Energy-From-Waste Facilities To AEPS Tier I: Sen. Scott Wagner (R-York) prior Senate Bill 1035: would move energy-from-waste facilities to Tier I in the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act.  Click Here for more background.

-- Natural Gas Leaseholder Protection: Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) prior Senate Bill 147: authorizes natural gas leaseholders to inspect the records of a drilling company to verify proper payment; prior Senate Bill 148: prohibit a drilling company from retaliating against a royalty leaseholder by terminating the lease agreement or ceasing development because the leaseholder questions the accuracy of the royalty payment.

-- Company To Company Pooling Of Natural Gas Lease Holdings: Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) prior Senate Bill 313: provides for the proportional payment of leaseholders within a land unit where natural gas rights have been sold by landowners, even if up to 35 percent of the unit is owned by another company.  It does not force landowners to lease their natural gas rights or participate like other so-called pooling arrangement do.

-- Allow Alternative Onlot Septic Systems In Sewage Planning: Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) prior Senate Bill 1114: authorize the use of so-called alternative onlot septic systems in sewage planning.  Click Here for more background.

-- Authorizing Stream Buffer Waivers: Rep. James Santora (R-Delaware) prior House Bill 2403: authorizing DEP to waive riparian buffer requirements related to NPDES stormwater permits.

-- Allow The Fish & Boat Commission To Set Its Own Fees: Sen. Eichelberger-R-Blair) prior Senate Bill 1168: authorize the Fish and Boat Commission to set it own fees.

-- Allow The Game Commission To Set Its Own Fees: Sen. Stefano (R-Fayette) prior Senate Bill 1166: authorizing the Game Commission to set its own fees.

(Photo: From How A Bill Becomes Law In Pennsylvania.)

Related Story:

Part I: Senate, House Environmental, Energy Bills To Be Reintroduced In The New Session

[Posted Dec. 23, 2016]

12/26/2016