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The House this week officially started the state budgeting process by passing House Bill 2499, a version of the budget proposed by House Republicans, after considering some 207 amendments in a marathon session.

Because House Bill 2499 starts with the current year’s budget, many of the environmental funding cuts in the 2006-07 proposed budget were restored to items like support for county conservation districts, nutrient management, agricultural research, river basin commissions, the PA Senior Environment Corps and the PA Center for Environmental Education.

Among the amendments added by House members was one by Rep. Hershey (R-Chester) which successfully added a $6.1 million appropriation to the state budget to fund the Barnes and Tucker mine water treatment project to provide agriculture make-up water during times of drought.

Another amendment by Rep. Carole Rubley (R-Chester) to restore $30 million monies for watershed restoration and mine reclamation in the Environmental Stewardship Fund was offered, but not considered.

Budget amendments at this stage in the House have to cut money from one area of the budget to restore it in others. The source of the funds for the Rubley amendment were exhausted by the time the amendment came up for consideration.

This is just the beginning of the budget process with a long way to go.

Session Schedule

The Senate returns to session on April 18, the House returns April 24.

On the Hill

· On the Senate, House Agenda

· Senate/House Bills Moving/Introduced

· Committee Hears Comments on MTBE, Service Station Dealers Support MTBE Ban

· Too Many Deer Cause Over $314 Million in Damage Annually Committee Told

· PA CleanWays Outlines Accomplishments, Future Plans to Joint Committee

Other News

· Surface Water Supplies in Many Counties at Drought Emergency Levels

· Coldwater Heritage Partnership Announces 2006 Grant Awards

· Conowingo Reservoir Operations Plan Released for Public Comment

· DEP Schedules Two Public Sessions on Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy

· Eastern Abandoned Mine Coalition Workshop on Culm Banks, Abandoned Mines

· Counties Can Share Litter Fines with PennDOT Under Little-Used Program

· Heat & Steam System Workshops to Help Businesses Reduce Energy Costs

· Apply Now for Wind Turbines for Local Governments, Schools, Authorities

· PUC OKs Program to Help Pike County Cope With 129% Electric Cost Increase

· Dirt and Gravel Road Center Receives Grant To Prove Tire Recycling Concept

· PA Celebrates Earth Day and National Environmental Education Week

· April Issue of PCEE Connections Newsletter Now Available

See & Hear

· A Falcon First -- Five Eggs! In the Harrisburg Nest

Opinion

· Green Buildings Need Green Light, By Patrick Starr and Jill Kowalski

Feature

· Got Hummingbirds?, by Joe Kosack, Pennsylvania Game Commission

Go To the Watershed Awareness Month Events Section

Go To: PA Environment Digest Calendar Page

4/7/2006