A number of environmental bills and resolutions were introduced this week. Here's a rundown...

Gas Recovery: House Bill 2494 (Tangretti-D-Westmoreland) regulating the terms and conditions of the removal of natural or other gas and further defining the rights of surface owners.

Whitewater Rafting: House Bill 2606 (Bunt-R-Montgomery) further providing for whitewater rafting by DCNR by removing the bid requirements.

Historic Preservation Incentives: House Bill 2607 (Hershey-R-Chester) providing tax incentives for historic preservation.

Mine Families First: House Bill 2619 (Bastian-R-Somerset) establishing a Mine Families First Program to provide assistance to families involved in mine rescue operations.

Diesel Retrofit Tax Credit: House Bill 2620 (Gabig-R-Cumberland) providing a tax credit for diesel retrofits.

Weatherization Tax Credit: House Bill 2623 (George-D-Clearfield) providing a tax credit for weatherization.

Whole Foods Market Day: House Resolution 671 (Killion-R-Chester) designating April 19 as “Whole Foods Market Day” was adopted by the House.

Rachel Carson Day: House Resolution 701 (Josephs-D-Philadelphia) designating May 27 as “Rachel Carson Day.”

Arbor Day: House Resolution 706 (Marsico-D-Dauphin) designating April 28 as “Arbor Day.”

Drinking Water Week: House Resolution 679 (Rubley-R-Chester) designating May 7 to 13 “Drinking Water Week” was adopted by the House.

Federal Abandoned Mine Reclamation Funding: House Resolution 719 (Markosek-D-Allegheny) urging Congress to reauthorized the federal abandoned mine reclamation fee was adopted by the House, the second resolution this year on this topic.

Electronics Recycling: House Resolution 723 (Mann-D-Lehigh) encouraging DEP to support and expand electronics recycling programs.

4/28/2006