The Senate Tuesday voted 32 to 17, largely along party-lines, to pass Senate Bill 624 (Scarnati-R- Jefferson) which retroactively changes the protection streams receive under Act 54 from underground coal mining.

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 bill now goes to the House for action.

(Photo: What's left of the dam at Ryerson Station State Park after it was damaged by longwall mining.)

[Posted: June 6, 2017]

6/12/2017