PA Environment Digest

10-Year ‘Stream Cleaning’ Permit: 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 was passed by the Senate in a party-line vote, Republicans supporting. The bill now goes to the House for action.

DEP and the Shapiro Administration opposed the bill when it was reported out of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee in May. The Environmental Committee reported out the bill by a party-line vote, Republicans supporting. Read more here.

Read more about DEP’s less complex program to authorize stream maintenance to avoid flooding. Last week, DEP also released a new online tool to assist applicants in determining when permits are or are not needed. Read more here.

County ‘Stream Cleaning’ Permit: 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 was passed by the Senate in a largely party-line vote, Republicans supporting. The bill now goes to the House for action.

DEP is neutral on the bill because the prime sponsor worked with DEP on changes when it was reported out of the Senate Environmental Committee in May. Read more here.

Apply For Injection Well Primacy/Providing For Carbon Sequestration: 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 US Environmental Protection Agency and establish a legal and regulatory framework for potential carbon dioxide capture, utilization and sequestration in Pennsylvania was removed from the Table and is now on the Senate Calendar for action. [Note: DEP submitted a notice of intent to apply for injection well primacy to EPA in April Read more here. Sen. Carolyn Comitta (D-Chester) has expressed significant concerns with the legislation and the capacity of the state to safely regulate all aspects of carbon sequestion from pipelines to injection wells. Read more here.]

Operating Temperatures Of Crematories: House Bill 1246 (Malagari-D- Montgomery) reducing the operating temperatures of crematories from 1,800 degrees to 1,600 degrees was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

House

Increasing Recycling Fee On Municipal Waste: House Bill 223 (Isaacson-D-Philadelphia) increasing the recycling fee on municipal waste disposed in the state to $5/ton from $2/ton (sponsor summary) was reported out of the House Local Government Committee by a vote of 21 to 4 and was Tabled on the House Floor [normal procedure].

Solar Energy On Farms: House Resolution 224 (Rabb-D-Philadelphia) directing the Joint State Government commission to do a study and establish an advisory committee to analyze opportunities for solar energy facilities on farms (sponsor summary) was reported out of the House Local Government Committee by a vote of 24 to 1 and was Tabled on the House Floor [normal procedure].

Study Mine Pool/Oil & Gas Well Geothermal Energy: House Resolution 185 (Webster-D- Montgomery) directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study on the feasibility of using geothermal energy technologies that utilize abandoned mine locations and operations was amended to add potential of “reconfiguration of abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal production” to the study and passed by the House 199 to 4. [Read more here.] No further action is needed for the Commission to begin its study.

Comparing Gas Drilling Fees & Severance Taxes: House Resolution 131 (Steele-D- Allegheny) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study to compare oil and gas drilling fees and severance taxes in the largest natural gas producing states and examine the competitive business climate for the industry in those states was amended significantly on the House Floor in ways that take it far from the original purpose of the resolution and passed by a party-line vote of 102 to 101-- Democrats supporting.

Bill Calendars

House (December 11): House Resolution 196 (Matzie-D-Beaver) designating the week of September 18-24 Rail Safety Week; House Resolution 228 (Otten-D-Chester) designating the week of October 1 through 7, 2023, as "Climate Week" in Pennsylvania. <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Senate (December 11): Senate Bill 265 (Laughlin-R-Erie) amending the Sewage Facilities Act to allow garage floor drains to discharge into on-lot septic systems; 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 US Environmental Protection Agency and establish a legal and regulatory framework for potential carbon dioxide capture, utilization and sequestration in Pennsylvania. <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.

Committee Meetings

House

<> 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

December 11, 12, 13

House

December 11, 12, 13

[Posted: November 19, 2023]

11/20/2023

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