PA Environment Digest

Train Safety Measures: House Bill 1028 (Matzie-D-Beaver, Marshall-R-Beaver) that would set the first new state rail safety requirements in response to the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio was reported out of the House Appropriations Committee (House Fiscal Note & Summary) and passed by the House by a vote of 141 to 62. The bill now goes to the Senate for action.

Forwarding EPA NOVs: House Bill 718 (Mako-R-Northampton) requiring DEP to forward notices of noncompliance by the EPA for violations of the Toxic Substances Control Act to municipalities was referred into and out of the House Appropriations Committee [House Fiscal Note & Summary] and passed by the House. The bill now goes to the Senate for action.

Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week: House Resolution 104 (Sturla-D-Lancaster, Benninghoff-R-Mifflin) designating June 4 to 10 as Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week was adopted by the House 172 to 31-- Republicans voting against.

Preventing Abandonment Of Conventional Oil/Gas Wells: House Bill 962 (Vitali-D- Delaware) to restore DEP’s authority to review conventional oil and gas well plugging bonding amounts to help prevent the routine abandonment of between 400 and 600 conventional oil and gas wells a year by operators was removed from the Table and is now on the House Calendar for action. Read more here.

Solar Energy Grants For Schools: House Bill 1032 (Fiedler-D-Philadelphia) establishing a solar energy grant program for schools was removed from the Table and is now on the House Calendar for action. Read more here.

Cumulative Impact Report: House Bill 652 (Bullock-D-Philadelphia) requiring environmental impact reports on certain major sources of pollution in communities already burdened by pollution was amended to more closely align with the new Environmental Justice Program of the Department of Environmental Protection and reported out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee by party-line votes, Republicans opposing and recommitted to House Rules Committee as all bills are this time of year. Read more here.

Excluding Cryptocurrency Operations From Tax Credits: House Bill 1282 (Vitali-D- Delaware) excluding cryptocurrency mining operations from state Computer Data Center Equipment Tax Credit (sponsor summary) was reported out of House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee by a party-line vote, Republicans opposing and was recommitted to House Rules Committee as all bills are this time of year. Read more here.

Alkaline Hydrolysis Cremation: House Bill 1172 (Daley-D-Montgomery) expanding the use of alkaline hydrolysis cremation (sponsor summary) was unanimously reported out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee with a recommendation it be referred to the House Commerce Committee and it was. Read more here.

Estimating Lost Natural Gas Severance Tax Revenue: House Resolution 131 (Steele-D- Allegheny) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to estimate how much revenue Pennsylvania could have collected by adopting a natural gas severance tax since February 2012 (sponsor summary) was reported out of of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee by a party-line vote, Republicans opposing and it is on the House Calendar for action. Read more here.

Skip The Straw: House Resolution 119 (Krueger-D-Delaware) designating June 1, 2023 as “Skip The Straw Day” in Pennsylvania (sponsor summary) was reported out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee by a party-line vote, Republicans opposing and it is on the House Calendar for action. Read more here.

Diesel Mining Equipment: Senate Bill 115 (Stefano-R-Fayette) adopting a 100-hour diesel oil change requirement for underground coal mining equipment (Senate Fiscal Note & Summary) was reported out of the House Transportation Committee and was Tabled.

Senate

Changing DEP Name: Senate Bill 691 (Yaw-R- Lycoming) dropping ‘Protection’ from the name of the Department of Environmental Protection was referred into and out of the Senate Appropriations Committee, amended on the Senate Floor and passed by the Senate in a party-line vote of 28 to 22-- Democrats opposed. The bill now goes to the House for action.

The amendment added provisions to the bill saying DEP--

-- The name on buildings other locations shall not be changed until signs ware out;

-- The name on badges, stationary will not be affected until supplies run out;

-- DEP may substitute the new name on documents and materials on a scheduled it deems appropriate;

-- The name on licenses, contracts, deeds and other officials documents to the new name will not be affected; and

-- Computer systems are not affected by the name change until regular upgrades.

Read more here.

Narrowing Grounds For Appeal Of DEP Permits: Senate Bill 198 (Bartolotta-R-Washington) which would create a new standard for the review for appeals of DEP permit actions before the Environmental Hearing Board by limiting parties appealing permit decisions-- a company or a citizens group-- to issues raised in and information contained in a record of decision of a permit prepared by DEP. This would prevent a citizens group or anyone else from raising issues DEP missed or misinterpreted. The bill was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Read more here.

Terms Of Environmental Hearing Board Members: Senate Bill 199 (Bartolotta-R- Washington) requires members of the Board whose terms have expired to be reappointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The bill was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Read more here.

Testing Children For Lead: Senate Bill 514 (Baker-R-Luzerne) requiring child testing for lead blood levels (sponsor summary) was reported from the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and is now on the Senate Calendar for action.

Penalties For Killing Bald, Golden Eagles: Senate Bill 709 (Boscola-D-Lehigh) increasing the penalty for killing Bald or Golden Eagles (sponsor summary) was amended and reported from the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee and is now on the Senate Calendar for action.

Allowing Recycled Materials In Stuffed Toys: Senate Bill 756 (Robinson-R-Allegheny) allowing recycled materials in stuffed toys (sponsor summary) was reported out of the Senate Labor and Industry Committee and is now on the Senate Calendar for action.

Taxing Electric Vehicles: Senate Bill 656 (Rothman-R-Cumberland) imposing a fee-in-lieu of gasoline tax on electric vehicles (sponsor summary) was amended and reported from the Senate Transportation Committee and is now on the Senate Calendar for action.

Bill Calendars

House (June 12): House Bill 962 (Vitali-D- Delaware) to restore DEP’s authority to review conventional oil and gas well plugging bonding amounts to help prevent the routine abandonment of between 400 and 600 conventional oil and gas wells a year by operators Read more here; House Bill 1032 (Fiedler-D-Philadelphia) establishing a solar energy grant program for schools Read more here; House Resolution 79 (Pisciottano-D- Allegheny) urging the Biden Administration and Congress to designate Pennsylvania as a hydrogen hub; House Resolution 119 (Krueger-D-Delaware) designating June 1, 2023 as “Skip The Straw Day” in Pennsylvania (sponsor summary); House Resolution 131 (Steele-D- Allegheny) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to estimate how much revenue Pennsylvania could have collected by adopting a natural gas severance tax since February 2012 (sponsor summary). <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Senate (June 19): Senate Bill 100 (Brooks-R-Crawford) further providing for Lyme disease and tick-borne illness medical coverage; Senate Bill 514 (Baker-R-Luzerne) requiring child testing for lead blood levels (sponsor summary); Senate Bill 689 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) would authorize DEP to issue a 10-year “stream cleaning” permits to local governments or PennDOT without need for further preapprovals for actions in the stream regardless if stream conditions changes within their jurisdictions [Read more here]; Senate Bill 690 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) would authorize county conservation districts to develop a complex and expensive program related to “reconstruction emergency permit authorizations” to conduct “stream cleaning” operations [Read more here]; Senate Bill 709 (Boscola-D-Lehigh) increasing the penalty for killing Bald or Golden Eagles (sponsor summary); Senate Bill 756 (Robinson-R-Allegheny) allowing recycled materials in stuffed toys (sponsor summary). <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.

Committee Meetings

House

June 12-- House Republican Policy Committee hearing on negative impact of the energy tax. Room 205 Ryan Building. 10:00 a.m.

June 13-- House Consumer Protection, Technology, Utilities Committee informational meeting on the Public Utility Commission. Room 140 Main Capitol. 10:00 a.m.. Click Here to watch online.

June 16-- House Republican Policy Committee hearing on Electrifying Our World - Impacts On Grid Integrity & Reliability. Back Mountain Regional EMA, 3593 State Route 118, Dallas, Luzerne County. 10:00 a.m.

<> Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate

June 20-- Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee hearing on solar energy’s impact on Pennsylvania ratepayers. Hearing Room 1, North Office Building. 9:00 a.m. Click Here to watch live.

<> 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

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

Senate

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

[Posted: June 11, 2023]

6/12/2023

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