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

Environment & Energy NewsClips--

Gov. Shapiro

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Even Republicans Applauded Gov. Shapiro’s Budget, But Now The Hard Work Begins - By Mark Singel

Budget

-- Hearings Start March 21 For DCNR, DEP, Agriculture FY 2023-24 Budget Requests  [PaEN]

-- Bay Journal - Ad Crable: PA Governor’s First Budget Includes RGGI, Abandoned Oil & Gas Well Plugging, Park Improvements

-- TribLive Guest Essay: Coming Soon To PA, The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Energy Tax - By Keystone Forward

-- PA Capital-Star: Republican Rep. Grove Warns Shapiro’s Budget Proposal Will Lead To Massive Deficit

-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: PA Budget Outlook May Make Future Tax Increases Unavoidable, Republican Rep. Grove Says

-- The Center Square: Inflation Drag May Undermine Shapiro’s Budget Savings

-- Post-Gazette/Capitolwire.com - Robert Swift: Shapiro Outlines Plan For PA’s Federal Infrastructure Aid Spending

-- DCNR Posts FY 2023-24 Budget Proposal Documents

-- DEP Posts Documents On Proposed FY 2023-24 Agency Budget Request

Train Derailment

-- WESA: Paradox Of East Palestine: Safe Test Results Come Back, While Residents Report Health Problems

-- Moms Clean Air Force: Moms From Beaver County, SW PA Impacted By Ohio/PA Train Derailment To Attend House Hearing Today

-- The Center Square: Federal, State Agencies To Hold Open House On Train Derailment In Beaver County March 16

-- PA Dept. Of Health Acting Secretary Visits Workers, Residents At Train Derailment Health Resource Center In Beaver County

-- The Center Square: Support Remains As PA Closes Train Derailment Resources Health Center

-- UnionProgress.com: Clean Air Council Works To Provide Direct Relief To East Palestine, OH Residents

-- PA Capital-Star: Ohio/PA Train Derailment Was ‘H.G. Wells War Of The Worlds Stuff’

-- PA Capital-Star Guest Essay: East Palestine Rail Disaster Could Happen Anywhere In PA - By Clean Air Council

-- WESA/Allegheny Front - Reid Frazier: After Derailment, Many In East Palestine Live With Questions About Dioxins

-- The Center Square: Local PA Farmers Spearhead Soil Testing After Train Derailment

-- Post-Gazette - Salena Zito: After 2 Centuries, A Dairy Farm Family In Lawrence County Worries For The Future Across The State Line From Norfolk Southern Train Derailment

-- Post-Gazette - Salena Zito: In Beaver County, Anxiety, Uncertainty Under The Black Cloud Of A Rail Disaster

-- WESA: Environmental Groups Push EPA, Not Norfolk Southern, To Lead Testing For Dioxins

-- WESA/ProPublica: Norfolk Southern Contractor Testing Air In East Palestine Homes

-- AP: EPA Tells States Not To Block Waste From Ohio/PA Train Derailment

-- Grid: PA Congressional Staffer Sought Help From EPA’s Ohio/PA Train Derailment Hotline After Being Stonewalled By State Officials

-- TribLive/AP: Ohio Sues Norfolk Southern Over Toxic Train Derailment

-- TribLive: Norfolk Southern CEO: ‘I Understand My Responsibility’ In Ohio/PA Train Derailment Cleanup

-- TribLive Editorial: Will Norfolk Southern CEO’s Response Lead A Bad Taste?

-- Scranton Times Editorial: Create Federal Fund For Rail Crashes To Make Sure Communities, Emergency Responders Are Made Whole

-- Wilkes-Barre Times Guest Essay: Rail Remains Safest Way To Ship Materials, Despite The Train Derailment In Ohio - By Illinois Railroad Association

-- AP: Pro-Moscow Voices Tried To Steer Ohio Train Disaster Debate

Environment/Energy Issues

-- DEP To Submit Letter Of Intent To EPA As Early As This Week For Primacy To Regulate Underground Injection Wells  [PaEN]

-- PA Business Groups Urge EPA To Speed Up Approval Of State Primacy Applications For Injection Well Regulation [PaEN]

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: PA Wants To Regulate Carbon Dioxide Storage Wells, State Plans To Tell Feds

-- PennLive Editorial: PA Could Benefit Greatly From Hydrogen Hubs, If They Are Well-Regulated

-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - March 11 to 17; Fracking 2 Wells Interfered With Another Shale Gas Well In Westmoreland County  [PaEN]

-- Equitrans/DEP In Discussions To Resolve EHB Appeal Of DEP’s Order To Fix Cambria County Underground Natural Gas Storage Area Conventional Access Wells  [PaEN]

-- Pennsylvania's Clean Energy Economy Grew To Over 92,700 Jobs Since COVID Economic Crisis  [PaEN]

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Pennsylvania Jumps To Top 10 In Clean Energy Jobs

-- York Dispatch: 2nd Solar Energy Facility Proposal Advances Toward Vote In Dover Township

-- Erie News Now: U.S. Cities Are Cracking Down On Climate Emissions, PA Republicans Want To Get Ahead Of Bans Phasing Out Fossil Fuels

-- TribLive Guest Essay: Coming Soon To PA, The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Energy Tax - By Keystone Forward

-- UnionProgress.com: Improving Air Quality A Top Priority For Allegheny County Executive Candidates

-- Centre Daily Times: Climate Watch: Conservatives Care About Climate Change

-- The Guardian: Older Americans To Blockade Banks In Climate Protest: ‘We Have Money And Power’

-- The Guardian: US Utility Firms Spent Big Preparing Power Grid For Storms And Still Failed

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

Senate (April 24): Senate Bill 188 (DiSanto-R-Dauphin) amending the Regulatory Review Act to authorize the General Assembly to kill “economically significant” regulations by doing nothing;  Senate Bill 190 (Brooks-R- Crawford) requiring an automatic three-year review of economically significant regulations in a process similar to what was called “sunset reviews” decades ago. That process was abandoned by the General Assembly because it became a costly, time-consuming exercise with little benefit; Senate Bill 508 (Mastriano-R-Adams) providing for a Train Derailment Emergency Grant Program to provide financial support for residents and small businesses impacted by the February Ohio/PA train derailment;  Senate Bill 466 (Brown-R-Lackawanna) providing for land bank environmental cleanup liability; Senate Resolution 59 (Mastriano-R- Adams) recognizing the impact of the February Ohio/PA train derailment on Pennsylvania residents.  <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.

House (April 24): <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Committee Meetings

House   

March 22-- House Appropriations Committee Budget Hearing: 1:00- Dept. of Agriculture.  Click Here to watch live.

March 22-- House Republican Policy Committee hearing on Obstacles to Opportunity - PA’s Permitting Process.  Room 205 Ryan Building. 10:00 a.m.  Watch Live (if available).

March 23-- House Appropriations Committee Budget Hearings: 10:00- Dept. of Conservation & Natural Resources; 1:00- Dept. of Environmental Protection.  Click Here to watch live.

<>  Click Here for full House Committee Schedule. 

Senate

March 20-- Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee hearing to question Alan Shaw, CEO of Norfolk Southern on the Ohio/PA train derailment. Room 8E-B Capitol. 10:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch live.  Click Here to read more on agenda.

March 21-- Senate Appropriations Committee Budget Hearing: 9:30 - Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Hearing Room 1, North Office Building.  Click Here to watch live.

March 22-- Senate Appropriations Committee Budget Hearing: 9:30 - Department of Environmental Protection . Hearing Room 1, North Office Building.  Click Here to watch live.

March 28-- Senate Appropriations Committee Budget Hearing: 1:00 - Department of Agriculture. Hearing Room 1, North Office Building.  Click Here to watch live.

 <>  Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

Bills Introduced

Financial Incentives For Hybrid/Alternative Fueled Vehicles: House Bill 314 (Ciresi-D-Montgomery),  House Bill 315 (Ciresi-D-Montgomery), House Bill 316 (Ciresi-D-Montgomery), House Bill 317 (Ciresi-D-Montgomery), House Bill 318 (Ciresi-D-Montgomery) further providing financial incentives for purchase of hybrid and alternative fueled vehicles. 

Solar Energy Subscriber Program: House Bill 330 (Stambaugh-R-Perry) establishing a solar energy subscriber program supported by electric utilities-- former House Bill 1161; not a community solar energy program.  Read more here.

Prohibiting Financial Institutions From Using ESG Policies: House Bill 334 (Stambaugh-R- Perry) prohibiting financial institutions from using ESG (environmental, social and governance) policies in credit scoring.

Addition Of Fracking Tracing Fluid: House Bill 367 (Isaacson-D-Philadelphia) requires the use of tracing fluids in natural gas drilling operations to more easily determine water quality impairment caused by unconventional natural gas drilling. Note: conventional drilling not included although it routinely fracks its wells.

Eliminating Authority Of Fish & Boat Commission On Stream Cleaning: House Bill 423 (Hamm-R-Lycoming) eliminating the authority of the Fish and Boat Commission for permitting or enforcement related to “stream cleaning” or maintenance activities. The authority shall rest solely with DEP or county conservation districts.

Real-Time Alerts OF Pipeline Emergencies: House Bill 425 (Howard-D-Chester) requires the use of fiber optic technology to monitor risks to public safety and alert appropriate state and local agencies in the event of a potential pipeline emergency.

Fracking Chemical Disclosure: House Bill 477 (D.Miller-D-Allegheny) requiring full disclosure of chemicals used in oil and gas well fracking.

Real Community Solar Energy Program: Senate Bill 230 (Santarsiero-D-Bucks) establishing a real community solar energy program.  Read more here.

Water Ratepayer Bill Of Rights: Senate Bill 432 (Kane-D-Chester) establishing a water ratepayer bill of rights in circumstances where private companies are acquiring publicly owned drinking water and wastewater systems.

Removing Cap On Purchasing State Game Lands: Senate Bill 439 (Laughlin-R-Erie) would remove the $400 cap on purchasing State Game Lands.

Rising Flood Insurance Premiums: Senate Bill 442 (Santarsiero-D-Bucks) establishing the Flood Insurance Premium Assistance Task Force and  Senate Resolution 44 (Santarsiero-D- Bucks) directing the Joint State Government Commission to establish an advisory committee to study rising flood insurance premiums.

Requiring Recycling Of Solar Panels Under Dysfunctional Electronics Recycling Law: Senate Bill 455 (Dush-R-Jefferson) require the recycling of solar panels under the dysfunctional electronics recycling law.  Read more here.

Exempting Farmers From Permits For ‘Stream Cleaning’: Senate Bill 477 (Brooks-R- Crawford) exempting farmers from Chapter 105/102 permits for “stream cleaning” activities.

Landowner Recreation Liability Protection: Senate Bill 507 (Laughlin-R-Erie) further providing for landowner recreation liability protection.

Child Lead Testing: Senate Bill 514 (Baker-R-Luzerne) requiring child blood level testing for lead.

Repeal Sunday Hunting Prohibition: Senate Resolution 67 (Laughlin-R-Erie) repeal Game Commission Sunday hunting prohibition.

Urging Opposition To Federal Waters Of U.S. Rule: Senate Resolution 76 (Brooks-R- Crawford) urging opposition to federal Waters of the U.S. Rule.

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

Budget Hearings: March 20, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30, April 11, 12, 13, 14

April 24, 25, 26

May 1, 2, 3, 22, 23, 24

June 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

Senate

Budget hearings: March 20, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30 and April 11, 12, 13

April 24, 25, 26

May 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10

June 5, 6, 7, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 

[Posted: March 19, 2023]

3/20/2023