The Senate and House both return to voting session on March 19

House

Committees: the Game and Fisheries Committee meets to consider House Bill 13 (Readshaw-R-Allegheny) further providing for the liability of landowners toward recreational users; the Consumer Affairs Committee holds an informational meeting with members of the Natural Gas industry;

Senate

Calendar: Senate Bill 355 (MJ.White-R-Venango) requiring additional public review of Air Quality State Implementation Plans and their publication on the Internet.

Committees: the Appropriations Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 356 (MJ.White-R-Venango) establishing the PA Center for Environmental Education in statute.

Senate/House Bills Moving

These environmental bills moved in the Senate and House last week…

Wild Resource Conservation Fund: Senate Bill 99 (Musto-D-Luzerne) repealing the prohibition on General Fund dollars going to the Wild Resources Conservation Fund was reported from the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and re-referred to Senate Appropriatiosn.

Air Quality Plans: Senate Bill 355 (MJ.White-R-Venango) requiring additional public review of Air Quality State Implementation Plans and their publication on the Internet was reported from the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and is on the Senate Calendar for action.

PA Environmental Ed Center: Senate Bill 356 (MJ.White-R-Venango) establishing the PA Center for Environmental Education in statute was reported from the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and was re-referred to Senate Appropriations.

Conservation Districts Day: House Resolution 98 (Hanna-D-Centre) designating March 12 as “PA Association of Conservation Districts” Day was adopted by the House.

Bills Introduced

Several more environmental bills were introduced this week, here’s the rundown…

Landslide Insurance: Senate Bill 279 (Costa-D-Allegheny) establishing a Landslide Insurance and Assistance Program within the PA Emergency Management Agency.

Home Energy Assistance: Senate Bill 352 (Robbins-R-Mercer) establishing the Home Energy Assistance in Time of Need program to expand the LIHEAP grants.

Riparian Forest Buffers: Senate Bill 453 (Rafferty-R-Montgomery) establishing the PA Riparian Buffer Ordinance Act authorizing municipalities to enact local land use ordinances to protect and preserve riparian buffers.

Energy Efficiency/Awards: House Bill 772 (Hershey-R-Chester) establishing an energy efficiency and pollution reduction initiative within the Department of Environmental Protection, establishing the Keystone Energy and Environmental Excellence Award and providing funding to the Small Business Advantage Grant Program. (text not yet online)

Sludge Testing: House Bill 792 (George-D-Clearfield) authorizing municipalities and the Department of Environmental Protection to conduct sludge testing. (text not yet online)

MTBE Ban: House Bill 793 (George-D-Clearfield) prohibiting the sale or distribution of gasoline containing MTBE. (text not yet online)

Lyme Disease Task Force: House Bill 798 (Phillips-R-Northumberland) establishing a task force on Lyme disease carried by deer ticks. (text not yet online)

Nuclear Power Plant Fees: House Bill 829 (Fairchild-D-Montour) increasing fees on nuclear power plans and for transportation of nuclear materials. (text not yet online)

LIHEAP Expansion: House Resolution 122 (George-D-Clearfield) petitioning the President and Congress to increase funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

3/16/2007