Several environmental bills moved this week. Here’s the rundown….

House

Storage Tanks: House Bill 1195 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne) that makes changes to the program to help underground tank owners upgrade tanks was passed by the House and sent to the Senate.

Land Trust Reimbursements: Senate Bill 940 (Waugh-R-York) which would set aside up to $200,000 per year from the Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Fund to reimburse Land Trusts for expenses incurred in acquiring agricultural conservation easements was reported from House Appropriations Committee and is on the House Calendar for action.

Flood Insurance: House Bill 243 (Semmel-R-Berks) to provide premium assistance for property owners eligible for federal flood insurance was referred to House Appropriations.

Inheritance Tax: House Bill 906 (S.Miller-R-Berks) would eliminate the inheritance tax was amended and reported from House Finance Committee and re-referred to House Rules Committee.

Senate

Healthy Farms, Healthy Schools: Senate Bill 1209 (Waugh-R-York) establishing the Healthy Farms & Healthy Schools Program was reported from Senate Agriculture Committee and is on the Senate Calendar for action.

Bills Introduced

Oil and Gas: House Bill 2702 (Causer-R-Cameron) removes the ability of EQB to adjust the bond amount every two years.

Keystone Fund: House Bill 2710 (Surra-D-Elk) would amend the Keystone Parks, Recreation and Conservation Fund to allow the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to spend Keystone Funds on deferred maintenance and make an allocation to the Department of Community and Economic Development for land trusts and other grants.

Electric Deregulation: House Resolution 783 (George-D-Clearfield) would direct the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study on the effect of electric utility deregulation on the Commonwealth.

6/9/2006