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

Environment & Energy NewsClips-- 

-- Gov. Wolf Announces Evaluation Of How DEP Regulates Conventional Oil & Gas Drilling & The Industry’s Compliance With Environmental Safeguards [PaEN]

-- 16 Oil & Gas Facility Spill, Soil, Water Contamination Cleanups Under Act 2 Land Recycling Program During July [PaEN]

-- Penn State Study: Potential Pollution Caused By Road Dumping Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater Makes It Unsuitable For A Dust Suppressant, Washes Right Off The Road Into The Ditch  [PaEN]

-- Environmental Health Project: PA’s Natural Gas Boom - What Went Wrong? Why Does It Matter?  What Can We Do Better To Protect Public Health?  [PaEN]

-- Environmental Health Project Profile: Dr. John Stolz, Duquesne University - Monitoring Impact Of Shale Gas Extraction On Private Water Wells, Groundwater In SW PA  [PaEN]

-- EQB Meets Aug. 9 On Final Reg. Setting Manganese Toxics Water Quality Standard, RACT For Major Sources Of Nitrogen Oxides  [PaEN]

-- Grist - Naveena Sadasivam: Pennsylvania Just Lost A Key Tool To Address Its Abandoned Oil & Gas Well Problem

-- House Committee Meets Aug. 2 To Disapprove Final Reg. Reducing VOC/Methane Emissions From Unconventional Oil & Gas Facilities; Blocking The Rule Will Mean Loss Of Federal Highway Funds  [PaEN]

-- AP: Hidden Menace: Massive Methane Leaks From Oil & Gas Facilities Speed Up Climate Change

-- Inside Climate News/StateImpact PA: Fetterman’s Evolution On Climate Change, Fracking And The Environment

-- Conservation Voters Of PA Victory Fund Investing $2 Million In Field Organizing To Support Pro-Environment, Pro-Democracy Candidates

Top 10 Stories On Harrisburg/PA Politics Last Week--

Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else--

-- Top 10 Stories: Harrisburg/PA Politics Reported By Local News Media Last Week [PaEN]

Bill Calendars

House (September 12): House Bill 2069 (Cutler-R- Lancaster) Amend Article III, Section 9, to exempt the disapproval of a regulation by the General Assembly from the presentment requirement for the governor’s approval or disapproval [Read more here]; House Bill 2070 (Cutler- R-Lancaster) Amend Article IV, to add a new section providing that any executive order or proclamation issued by the governor, which purports to have the force of law, may not be in effect for more than 21 days, unless extended by concurrent resolution of the General Assembly [Read more here]; House Resolution 74 (Daley-D-Montgomery) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study of wildlife conservation corridors.<> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Senate (September 19): Senate Bill 1249 (Comitta-D-Chester) establishing a Pollinator Habitat Program Fund and Program in PennDOT.  <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.

Committee Meetings 

House   

August 2-- House Environmental Resources & Energy Committee meets to consider a concurrent resolution disapproving of Part I of a final Environmental Quality Board regulation reducing VOC/methane emissions from unconventional (shale) oil and gas facilities.  Room G-50 Irvis Building. 9:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch it online.  Read more here on the agenda.

August 2-- House Environmental Resources & Energy Committee informational meeting on Senate Bill 597 (Stefano-R-Fayette) imposing additional requirements on publicly-owned water and wastewater systems and the status of water and wastewater infrastructure.  Room G-50 Irvis Building. 10:00 a.m.

August 9--  House Democratic Policy Committee hearing on Powering PA - Nuclear Fusion. K&L Gates Center, 210 6th Ave., Pittsburgh. 10:00 a.m.

August 9-- House Republican Policy Committee hearing on PA’s emerging critical mineral and rare earth element industry.  Hintz Family Alumni Center, Penn State University, State College. 1:00 p.m.

August 10-- House Democratic Policy Committee hearing on Hydrogen Hub.  Operating Engineers 66, 111 Zeta Dr., Pittsburgh. 10:00 a.m.

<>  Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate

August 10-- Joint Meeting Of Senate & House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committees. Ag Progress Days, Red Barn Annex.  10:00 a.m.

 <>  Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

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--

House

September 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21

October 24, 25, 26

November 14, 15, 16

Senate

September 19, 20, 21

October 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26

November 15

[Posted: July 31, 2022]

8/1/2022