Here’s the rundown on environmental bills moving in the General Assembly this week….

Senate

Regulation Justification: Senate Bill 752 (Erickson-R-Delaware) requiring a description of data used to justify regulations before the Independent Regulatory Review Commission was reported from Senate Appropriations Committee and passed by the full Senate. It now goes to the House for consideration.

Use of Funds: Senate Bill 913 (MJWhite-R-Venango) authorizing the transfer of certain excess fine and penalty revenues to the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund was referred to and then reported from the Senate Appropriations Committee. It is now on the Senate Calendar for action.

Landowner Liability: The Senate Game and Fisheries Committee reported out House Bill 13 (Readshaw-D-Allegheny) relating to landowner liability and opening land to recreation and it is now on the Senate Calendar for action.

Keystone Fund: Senate Bill 728 (Scarnati-R-Jefferson) restoring the State System of Higher Education allocation from the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund for fiscal year 2006-07 was reported from the Senate Appropriations Committee.

REAP: Senate Bill 690 (Waugh-R-York, O’Pake-D-Berks) establishing the Resource Enhancement and Protection Act to give farmers tax credits for installing conservation practices was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

House

Nuclear Plant Fees: House Bill 496 (George-D-Clearfield) that would increase fees on nuclear power plants and for transportation escorts was passed by the House and sent to the Senate for its action.

Renewable Transportation Fuels: House Bill 1202 (Gerber-D-Montgomery) requiring transportation fuels to have renewable content was reported from the House Rules Committee, amended on the floor, re-committed to and reported from House Appropriations Committee and passed by the House 138-60 and sent to the Senate for action.

PA Energy Development Authority: House Bill 1200 (DePasquale-D-York) making changes to the responsibilities of the PA Energy Development Authority consistent with the Governor’s Energy Independence Initiative was reported out of the House Rules Committee, amended on the floor, re-committed and reported out of the House Appropriations Committee and was passed by the House 128-70 and sent to the Senate for its action.

Game Lands: House Resolution 193 (Haluska-D-Cambria) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study the future value of assets on Game Commission land was adopted by the House.

Uniform Covenants: House Bill 43 (Rubley-R-Chester) establishing uniform environmental covenants for brownfield site redevelopment was reported from the House Appropriations Committee. It is on the House Calendar for action.

Alternative Energy Standards: House Bill 1203 (Hornaman-D-Erie) amending the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act in line with Gov. Rendell’s Energy Independence Proposal was reported from the House Rules Committee, amended on the floor and re-committed to and reported from House Appropriations Committee and is now on the House Calendar for action.

Utility Code Changes: The House Consumer Affairs Committee amended and reported out House Bill 1201 (George-D-Clearfield) making changes to Title 66 (Utility Code) consistent with Gov. Rendell’s Energy Independence Proposal and then re-referred to the House Rules Committee.

Electric Distribution: House Bill 1530 (Dermody-D-Allegheny) providing for electric supplier long term contracts was reported from the House Consumer Affairs Committee and re-referred to House Rules Committee.

Keystone Fund: House Bill 1295 (Hanna-D-Clinton), restoring the State System of Higher Education allocation from the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund for fiscal year 2006-07 was reported from the House Rules Committee and re-committed to and reported from House Appropriations Committee. It is now on the House Calendar for action.

6/22/2007