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Unfinished Business As General Assembly Returns-- Budget, Other Issues

A Scarlet Tanager visits the Laural Run 2 Project by the Blacklick Creek Watershed Assn. Photo by Robert Eppley

The General Assembly is returning to session on June 5 with a plate full of issues waiting for them. Not the least of which is to finish the state budget before June 30. Here’s a quick rundown on pending environmental issues.

State Budget: With a new revenue reports now showing a $700 million surplus as a result of May tax collections this week, Gov. Rendell wasted no time in suggesting how the General Assembly might spend it-- some for additional business tax relief, make up the differences in cuts to federal programs, an increase in Alternative Energy Incentive Grants and declaring a sales tax holiday on energy efficient appliances—a total of $260 million in all.

Unfortunately, none of the Rendell Administration’s plans for the surplus involve restoring the more than $100 million in budget cuts and shifts the Administration proposed in basic state environmental funding.

Groups as diverse as the PA League of Conservation Voters, Farm Bureau, PennFuture, the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Pennsylvania Resources Council have registered their concerns about state environmental funding since the budget proposal was announced in February, as well as cuts in federal environmental funding.

In budget hearings in the Senate and House this past March, DEP Secretary McGinty outlined what she called the budget “challenges” faced by her agency in the coming year.

The Game Commission in particular faces a funding shortfall that could make it difficult for the agency to pay all of its bills after July 1 if no new revenue is found for the coming year. A House hearing on this topic is set for June 8. (See Calendar)

Mercury Issue: Competing proposals to reduce mercury emissions from power plants are now in process. Senate Bill 1201 and House Bill 2610, bipartisan legislation that would reduce mercury emissions by 86 percent from Pennsylvania power plants, has been the subject of three hearings in the Senate and House, with another Senate Committee hearing set for June 6. The legislation is supported by a coalition of labor, business and the coal industry. (House hearing, Senate hearing 1, hearing 2)

The Environmental Quality Board approved a proposed mercury rule for public comment in May, but not with expressions of concern about the potential consequences to Pennsylvania’s electric generation capacity and its potential costs by the Chairman of the Public Utility Commission and a recommendation by the Chair of the DEP Citizens Advisory Council that DEP must put together a “decision document” before a final action is taken on the rule so everyone can understand its costs and real environmental benefits.

California Car Standards: House Bill 2141 (Geist-R-Blair), which would prohibit the Department of Environmental Protection from adopting the current California vehicle emission standards, is in the Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee and a companion bill— Senate Bill 1025 (Madigan-R-Tioga) is in the House Transportation Committee.

Environmental Education: Senate Bill 410 (MJ White-R-Venango) to establish the Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education in law and was tabled in the House.

Deep Mine Safety: Senate Bill 949 (Kasunic-D-Somerset), making improvements to the Bituminous Coal Mine Act deep mine safety law to help deal with concerns raised by the Quecreek Mine Accident in 2002 and other issues, was the subject of two hearings in January and February in the Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee. The companion bill-- House Bill 2229 (Bastian-R-Somerset)—and House Bill 2619 (Bastian) establishing a Mine Families First Program to provide assistance to families involved in mine rescue operations are pending in the House Environmental Resources & Energy Committee.

Discussions between the United Mine Workers of American, the PA Coal Association and the Senate have been ongoing to try to resolve differences in the basic bills since the hearings.

Sewer/Water Connection Funding: House Bill 1108 (Rubley-R-Chester) that would establish the Water and Wasterwater Connection Funding Program within PennVEST is in the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

Farmers First Agenda: The Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing in October on proposals to deal with excess manure produced by livestock operations as part of a “Farmers First Agenda” promoted by Senators Waugh (R-York) and Wenger (R-Lancaster) where the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and other groups testified. Part of that package, Senate Bill 1209 (Waugh-R-York) that would create a Healthy Farms & Healthy Schools Program, will be considered by the Senate Agriculture Committee on June 7.

Uniform Environmental Covenants: House Bill 1249 (Rubley-R-Chester) would establish uniform language in covenants relating to the cleanup of brownfield sites to protect the integrity of cleanup methods and ensure ongoing monitoring responsibilities. The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee held a hearing on the legislation in September and it is still in Committee.

Energy Policy: The House Environmental Resources & Energy Committee held a series of informational meetings on energy issues and is expected to consider several pieces of legislation on energy issues as a result of the comments received.

Recycling Fee: House Bill 1902 (Rubley-R-Chester) eliminating the sunset date on the $2/ton Recycling Fee and requiring Recycling Performance Grants to be used for local recycling and waste reduction efforts is the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

Adopt-A-River Program: House Bill 1051 (Sturla-D-Lancaster) establishing the Adopt-a-River Program in the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources was tabled in the House.

Session Schedule

The Senate and House return to session on June 5

On the Hill

· On the Senate, House Agenda

· Bills Introduced

Other News

· Water Resources Education Network Awards 27 Grants for Education Projects

· Save This Date – August 24-26 Mine Reclamation/Mine Drainage Conference

· Streambank Fencing Program Available for Grazing Operations in 17 Counties

· Nutrient Trading Program Available to Dauphin County Farmers

· Get Free Three Rivers 2006 River of the Year Poster

· Learn More About the Susquehanna Expedition Starting June 18