The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet May 22 on controversial legislation to retroactively change the protection streams receive under Act 54 from underground coal mining-- Senate Bill 624 (Scarnati-R-Jefferson).

The bill was introduced to influence an appeal now pending before the Environmental Hearing Board of an underground coal mining permit allowing Consol to longwall mine under streams in and around Ryerson Station State Park in Greene County.  (EHB Docket No. 2014-072-B)

Groups like the PA Environmental Council have opposed the bill on the grounds recent studies by the Department of Environmental Protection have demonstrated the existing protections in Act 54 are not adequate to prevent permanent, long-term damage to streams.  Click Here for more.

The other bill on the Committee agenda is Senate Bill 649 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne) that would fill a significant funding gap in DEP’s Underground Storage Tank Program. Click Here for more.

The meeting will be held in the Rules Room, but no specific time has been set.  The meeting will be call Off the Floor by the presiding officer of the Senate.

Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) serves as Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Committee and can be contacted by sending email to: gyaw@pasen.gov.   Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by sending email to: yudichak@pasenate.com.

NewsClip:

Consol Agrees Not To Mine Near Kent Run In Ryerson Station State Park

Related Stories:

PEC Expresses Opposition To Bill Retroactively Changing Protection For Streams Affected By Deep Coal Mining

SB 624 Attempts To Retroactively Influence Decisions Protecting Ryerson State Park, Streams From New Mine Subsidence

Observer-Reporter: Consol Agrees Not To Mine Near Kent Run, Ryerson Station State Park

[Posted: May 19, 2017]

5/22/2017