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

-- Franklin & Marshall August Poll: Gov. Shapiro Has Highest Rating For Governor At This Point In His Term Since Gov. Ridge

-- Politics PA: F&M Poll: Optimism On Rise; Shapiro, Biden, Casey Approval Ratings Improve

-- Beaver County Times Guest Essay: Let’s Keep Pennsylvania’s Progress Moving Forward - By Lt. Gov. Austin Davis

Budget

-- WITF: PA Senate To Return Aug. 30 To Work On State Budget

-- PA Capital-Star: PA Senate To Return To Session For One Day Aug. 30

-- PennLive: PA Senate To Convene Aug. 30 To Deal With Unfinished State Budget

-- Spotlight PA: Funding For Home Repairs, Public Defense On Hold As PA Lawmakers Negotiate Final State Budget Pieces

 Oil & Gas Health Study

-- TribLive: Environmental Advocates Weight In On State Dept. Of Health, Pitt Study Of Natural Gas Development Health Impacts

-- Capital & Main - Audrey Carleton: PA Residents Call For Action After Pitt Study Links Natural Gas Development To Asthma, Childhood Lymphoma

-- Inquirer - Will Bunch: Does Anyone Care About The Study Linking PA Natural Gas Development To Cancer In Kids?

-- Post-Gazette Letter: We Now Know How Bad Natural Gas Development Is For Children - By Dr. Edward Ketyer, Physicians For Social Responsibility PA

-- Republican Herald Editorial: Health Depends On Regulation Of Oil & Gas Development  [PaEN]

-- TribLive Editorial: Studies Of Natural Gas Development Point To Health Costs

-- Marcellus Drilling News: Gov. Shapiro Plans To Use Fake Pitt Studies To Push BIG Drilling Setbacks

-- Republican Rep. Krupa To Introduce Bill To Ban Oil, Gas Wastewater Injection Wells To Protect The Public From Radioactive, Toxic Materials  [PaEN]

-- Observer-Reporter: State, County Elected Leaders Take Proactive Steps To Ban Oil, Gas Wastewater Injection Wells

-- Marcellus Drilling News: SW PA Republican House Member Sells Out, Turns Against Marcellus Industry 

Village Of Reno Water System Contamination

-- DEP Finds 2 More Petro Erie, Inc. Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Tanks With A Pipe Leading To A Discharge Area In A Ditch In Sugarcreek Boro, Venango County  [PaEN]

-- The Derrick - Makayla Keating: DEP Cites Petro Erie With 5 Additional Violations [For More Leaking Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Tanks In Sugarcreek Boro, Venango County, Near Contaminated Reno Water Supply]  [PDF of article]

-- Petro Erie, Inc. Appeals DEP’s July Field Order To Clean Up Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill Contaminating Village Of Reno’s Water Supply In Venango County; 2nd Appeal May Be Coming  [PaEN] 

-- The Derrick: No Word Yet On When Do Not Consume Water Advisory Will Be Lifted For The Village Of Reno Water Supply Contaminated By Conventional Oil Well Wastewater In Venango County  [PDF of article]

-- The Derrick: DEP Opens Webpage For Updates On Village Of Reno Water Supply, Venango County; Actions Related To Petro Erie, Inc. Conventional Oil Driller Who Contaminated The Water  [PDF of article]

-- The Derrick - Letter To Editor: Disappointed In Lack Of Involvement In Sen. Hutchinson, Rep. James To Resolve Village Of Reno Water Contamination Issue In Venango County [Polluted By Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill]   [PDF of Article] 

Plum Boro Home Explosion

-- Shapiro Administration Secures Methane Detectors For Neighborhood In Plum Boro, Allegheny County Where Home Exploded  [PaEN]

-- TribLive: Olympus Energy Donating 250 Methane Detectors To Plum’s Rustic Ridge Neighborhood

-- Post-Gazette: Olympus Energy Donates Gas Detectors To Plum Boro Families

-- WTAE: DEP Pledges Home Methane Detectors, Fast-Tracked Test Results For Plum Boro Residents

-- TribLive: Like Smoke Alarms, Natural Gas Alarms Can ‘Alert You To A Potential Problem,’ Plum Boro Neighborhood Where Home Exploded May Soon Have Them

-- WTAE: Homeowners Searching For Natural Gas Detectors After Plum House Explosion

-- TribLive: Plum Boro Hosting Multi-Agency Resource Center Event Aug. 24 For Families Impacted By Gas Explosion

-- TribLive: DEP Examining ‘Pinhole Leak’ In A Penneco Natural Gas Gathering Line Behind Homes That Exploded In Plum Boro, Allegheny County  [PUC, DEP Have No Statutory Authority To Regulate Safety Of Gathering Pipelines]

-- WTAE: Plum Boro Homeowner Says Peoples Gas Company Found Gas Leak At His Home

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: DEP Investigators Work Their Piece Of Gas Explosion Puzzle In Plum Boro 

-- TribLive: Neighbor Near Fatal Plum House Explosion Can Get House Fixed, But Mourns Loss Of Friends, Wonders About The Future

-- TribLive: Plum Boro Homeowners Whose Houses Damaged By Explosion Could Get Tax Relief

-- AP: 10 Damaged Homes Remain Uninhabitable A Week After Explosion That Killed 6 In Plum Boro, Allegheny County

-- TribLive Editorial: People Of Plum Deserve Honesty, Transparency In Explosion Investigation

-- TribLive: Plum Boro Community Seeks Will To Push Forward, A Week After Fatal House Explosion

-- TribLive: National Transportation Safety Board Will Not Investigate Fatal Plum Boro Home Explosion For Now

Other Natural Gas Explosions

-- WHYY/Billy Penn: Neighbors Raise $20,000 For Residents Impacted By New Year’s Day Natural Gas Explosion In Port Richmond, Philadelphia 

Train Derailment

-- Scranton Times Editorial: Don’t Derail Train Safety Bills [Both Congress, PA Legislature Have Bills Pending]

-- AP: Railroads Resist Joining Safety Hotline Program To Protect Whistleblowers Because They Want To Be Able To Discipline Workers

-- The Intercept: Norfolk Southern Spent $1.9 Million In Washington As Congress Weakened Rail Safety Bill

PA Politics Of Russian Invasion

-- Warren Times: Warren County Continues To Lead Region In Highest Gasoline Prices [Center of Conventional Oil Well Drilling In PA]

-- WTAJ: Sheetz Cuts Unleaded 88 Gasoline Price To $2.99 For Rest Of August

-- Reuters Column: US Power Systems Used More Natural Gas, But Didn’t Get Much Cleaner So Far In 2023

-- Wall Street Journal: Europe’s Natural Gas-Guzzling Days Are Fading, Homes, Factories Go Green Faster Than Expected 

-- Financial Times: European Natural Gas Price Tumbles As Fears Of Australian LNG Strike Subside

-- Bloomberg: European Natural Gas Prices Soar On Australia LNG Workers’ Strike Ultimatum

-- Reuters: US Energy Firm Payouts To Oil, Natural Gas Investors Top Exploration Spending For First Time

Environment/Energy Issues

-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - August 19 to 25 - More Abandoned Conventional Wells; Gas Frack-Out; More Leaking Wastewater Tanks; Equitrans Cleanup Continues  [PaEN] 

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - August 26  [PaEN]

-- Lawsuit Filed Against General Assembly, Governor Challenges Constitutionality Of Law Preventing DEP From Protecting Public Health, Environment From Harm Caused By Abandoning Conventional Oil & Gas Wells  [PaEN] 

-- 150+ Residents Of Chester Opposed To An LNG Natural Gas Export Facility Proposed In Their Community Let Their Feelings Be Known To The House Philadelphia LNG Export Task Force  [PaEN] 

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: LNG Natural Gas Export Facility Proposed In Chester Draws Pushback: ‘We Suffer For Everybody Else’s Comfort’

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: ‘We Suffer For Everybody’s Else’s Comfort’ Critics Of LNG Natural Gas Export Hub Say

-- WHYY: Chester Residents Unite Against Philly LNG Natural Gas Task Force Proposal: ‘We Will Not Allow This Environmental Genocide’

-- PA Capital-Star: Advocates Vow To Fight LNG Natural Gas Export Facility In Delaware County’s Poorest Community

-- Inquirer: LNG Natural Gas Plant Could Bring Millions To Bankrupt Chester, Leaders, Residents Say No Thanks

-- Scranton Times Editorial: Give Teeth To Environmental Justice Policy

-- AP: Environmental Groups Recruit People Of Color Into Overwhelmingly White Conservation World [Includes Philadelphia]

-- Equitrans Determined Leak Of Over 1.1 Billion Cubic Feet Of Natural Gas From Cambria County Storage Facility Was Caused By Corrosion In Conventional Gas Well Casing  [PaEN] 

-- WJAC: Cause Of 2022 Natural Gas Leak At Equitrans Gas Storage Facility In Cambria County Determined

-- Reuters: Equitrans Midstream Says November Natural Gas Leak Caused By Failure Due To Corrosion At PA Gas Storage Area

-- Petro Erie, Inc. Appeals DEP’s July Field Order To Clean Up Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill Contaminating Village Of Reno’s Water Supply In Venango County; 2nd Appeal May Be Coming  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Finds 2 More Petro Erie, Inc. Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Tanks With A Pipe Leading To A Discharge Area In A Ditch In Sugarcreek Boro, Venango County  [PaEN]

-- The Derrick - Makayla Keating: DEP Cites Petro Erie With 5 Additional Violations [For More Leaking Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Tanks In Sugarcreek Boro, Venango County, Near Contaminated Reno Water Supply]  [PDF of article]

-- The Derrick: No Word Yet On When Do Not Consume Water Advisory Will Be Lifted For The Village Of Reno Water Supply Contaminated By Conventional Oil Well Wastewater In Venango County  [PDF of article]

-- The Derrick: DEP Opens Webpage For Updates On Village Of Reno Water Supply, Venango County; Actions Related To Petro Erie, Inc. Conventional Oil Driller Who Contaminated The Water  [PDF of article]

-- The Derrick - Letter To Editor: Disappointed In Lack Of Involvement In Sen. Hutchinson, Rep. James To Resolve Village Of Reno Water Contamination Issue In Venango County [Polluted By Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill]   [PDF of Article] 

-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: Appalachian Economy Sees Few Gains From Natural Gas Development, Report Says

-- 15 Western PA Environmental Organizations Call On Gov. Shapiro To Implement RGGI  [PaEN]

-- Capital & Main - Audrey Carleton: PA Battle Over Climate-Warming Cryptocurrency Mines Intensifies

-- StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: Cryptocurrency Mining Company Wants Plant To Burn Tires To Fuel Its Operations; Environmental Advocates Ask DEP To Say No

-- MCall Guest Essay: The Shift To Green Energy Should Protect Families Who Work In Fossil Fuel Industry - By Reba Elliott, Catholic Laudato Si’ Movement Protecting God’s Creation

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Business Advocates: Lack Of PA Permitting Reform Is Costing Jobs 

-- City & State PA: Business Leaders, Lawmakers Hope For Bipartisan Action On Permitting Reform

-- The Center Square: Permitting Reformers Say Make State Permits More Like Pizzas

-- DEP Took Action On 888 Permits, 93% Within Permit Decision Guarantee Deadlines; Conducted 1,269 Inspections; Responded To 1 Environmental Emergency In Week Ending Aug. 20

-- Scranton Times Editorial: Don’t Derail Train Safety Bills [Both Congress, PA Legislature Have Bills Pending]

-- Bipartisan Group Of PA Members Of Congress Urge President To Declare Federal Disaster After Severe Flooding, Storms Caused 7 Deaths, Property Damage In Berks, Bucks, Northampton Counties  [PaEN]

-- StateImpactPA: In PA, Climate Change Stresses Old Infrastructure, Stormwater Fees To Fund Projects Are A Way To Help Limit Flooding, Pollution

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 (September 18): Senate Bill 286 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) would redefine when a spill needs to be reported by letting the polluter decide when to notify DEP taking into account control and remedial measures, whether the discharge will harm receiving waters or public health  Read more here; Senate Bill 382 (Laughlin-R-Erie) exempting Lake Erie coastal property owners from annual groin structure fees; Senate Bill 831 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) would direct the state to apply for primary authority to regulate Class VI carbon dioxide underground injection wells from the U.S. EPA  Read more here.  <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.

House (September 26): 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 Resolution 79 (Pisciottano-D- Allegheny) urging the Biden Administration and Congress to designate Pennsylvania as a hydrogen hub.<> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Committee Meetings

House   

September 8-- House Agriculture and Rural Affairs informational meeting on invasive species in Pennsylvania.  Temple University - Ambler, 580 Meetinghouse Road, Ambler.  9:30 a.m.  Click Here to watch live online.

September 26-- House Game and Fisheries Committee informational meeting on problems with Game Commission launch of license sales.  Room 523 Irvis Building. 9:00 a.m. Click Here to watch live online.

<>  Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate

 <>  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--

Senate

August 30

September 18, 19, 20

October 2, 3, 4, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25

November 13, 14, 15

December 11, 12, 13

House

September 26, 27

October 2, 3, 4, 16, 17, 18, 30, 31

November 1, 13, 14, 15

[Posted: August 27, 2023]

8/28/2023