The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee this week reported out several pieces of environmental legislation without changes—

· Senate Bill 76 (Tomlinson-R-Bucks) establishing the Home Energy Assistance Act to provide matching public funds to hardship funds contributed by stockholders, employees and ratepayers of home energy providers and is on the Senate Calendar for action;

· Senate Bill 105 (Musto-D-Luzerne) authorizing the Environmental Quality Board to retain independent legal advice and is on the Senate Calendar for action;

· Senate Bill 176 ( Pippy-R-Allegheny) authorizing the use of public funds to pay for the repair of lateral sewer lines and is on the Senate Calender for action;

· Senate Bill 354 (MJWhite-R-Venango) prohibiting the Environmental Quality Board from accepting rulemaking petitions to regulate substances not authorized by current state or federal law and is on the Senate Calender for action; and

· Senate Resolution 79 (Rafferty-R-Montgomery) designating April 22, 2007 as Earth Day Pennsylvania and was adopted by the full Senate.

The Committee is chaired by Sen. Mary Jo White (R-Venango) and Sen. Ray Musto (D-Luzerne).

4/20/2007