The information you need to follow legislation in the House and Senate- starting with articles and NewsClips from last week--

Environment & Energy NewsClips--

-- House Environmental Committee Fails To Discuss Poor Compliance, Record $55 Million In Penalties Imposed On Natural Gas/Hazardous Liquid Pipelines In Last 5 Years  [PaEN]

-- Center Square: Pipelines In PA Necessary Despite Shared Climate Concerns, Industry Says

-- Republicans On Senate Environmental Committee OK Letter Disapproving Final Carbon Pollution Reduction Reg. Covering Power Plants [RGGI]  [PaEN]

-- PA Cap-Star: Republicans On Senate Environmental Panel Urge Opposition To Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

-- Sen. Muth: Senate Environment Committee Fails To Address Climate Crisis

-- Sen. Yaw: Senate Environmental Committee Votes To Urge IRRC Disapproval Of Carbon Tax Plan [RGGI]

-- House Environmental Committee Meets Sept. 2 On Resolution To Kill RGGI Greenhouse Gas Reduction Regulations  [PaEN]

PA Capitol News: Top 10 Stories From Harrisburg Last Week--

Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else--

-- PA Capitol News: Top 10 Stories From Harrisburg Last Week  [PaEN]

Bill Calendars

Senate (September 20): Senate Bill 284 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) would load up renewable energy projects, energy efficiency products and high-efficiency  locomotives with bonds to prevent their development.  Read more here; Senate Bill 435-- encouraging the development of clean transportation infrastructure to support electric, natural gas and hydrogen vehicles; Senate Bill 545 (Yaw-R- Lycoming) changes the definition of what constitutes reportable water pollution under the state Clean Streams Law. Read more here; Senate Bill 597 (Stefano-R- Fayette) would impose conflicting and expensive requirements on small water and wastewater systems for no benefit to their customers and if they can’t comply they would come under the regulation of the Public Utility Commission Read more here; Senate Bill 717 (Bartolotta-R-Washington) create a new stand for review of DEP permit actions that narrows the grounds for appeals by citizen groups and companies. Read more here; Senate Bill 718 (Bartolotta-R-Washington) shorten the terms of a judge on the Environmental Hearing Board from six to five years. Read more here. <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.

House (September 27): House Bill 591 (Zimmerman-R-Lancaster) providing for exemptions for NPDES water quality permits;  House Bill 763 (B-Miller-R-Lancaster) would require PennDOT to develop a list of native vegetation species that can be used in roadside work that is done throughout the state. <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar. 

Committee Meetings

House   

-- August 25-- House Democratic Policy Committee Tour and Roundtable - Cumberland Mine.  Cumberland Mine, 576 Maple Rund Road, Waynesburg.  8:00 a.m.

-- August 26-- House Consumer Affairs Committee hearing on solar energy in PA.  Penn State Brandywine Campus, Media, Delaware County. 10:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch live [if available].

-- September 2-- House Environmental Resources & Energy Committee meets to consider concurrent resolution to kill the final regulations establishing a Carbon Pollution Reduction Program covering power plants consistent with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Room G-50 of the Irvis Building. 11:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch the meeting online.  Click Here for more on the agenda.

<>  Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

 Senate

-- August 24-- Center for Rural Pennsylvania public hearing on invasive species in rural Pennsylvania.  10:00 a.m.  Click Here to register to attend online.

 <>  Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

Bills Introduced

Increase Support For HHW Collection:  Senate Bill 839 (Santarsiero-D-Bucks) increase the matching limit for local household hazardous waste collection events from $100,000 to $250,000 (sponsor summary).

Bills Pending In Key Committees

Check the PA Environmental Council Bill Tracker for the status and updates on pending state legislation and regulations that affect environmental and conservation efforts in Pennsylvania.

Session Schedule

Here is the latest voting session schedule for the Senate and House-- 

Senate

September 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29

October 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27

November 15, 16, 17

December 13, 14, 15

House 

September 27, 28, 29

October 4, 5, 6, 25, 26, 27

November 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17

December 13, 14, 15

8/23/2021