The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee this week reported out legislation establishing additional landfill siting criteria, reestablishing the Forestry Task Force and requesting federal funding for river basin commissions.

Rep. Bud George (D-Clearfield) serves as Majority Chair and Rep. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) serves as Minority Chair.

The bills included:

· House Bill 1242 (Goodman-D-Schuylkill) establishing additional siting criteria for municipal and residual waste landfills was reported out and then referred to House Appropriations Committee;

· House Resolution 712 (Hutchinson-R-Venango) re-establishing the Forestry Task Force, and is now on the House Calendar for action; and

· House Resolution 719 (George-D-Clearfield) endorsing request for federal funding for PA river basin commissions, and is now on the House Calendar for action.

"The federal government has provided no direct funding for the last decade to the three basin commissions - known as Mid-Atlantic Commissions - even though it promised its fair share of funding when it helped to create these interstate compacts," Rep. George said. "Congress also required funding when it enacted the Water Resources Development Act of 2007."

The Susquehanna, Delaware and Potomac river basin commissions are seeking $1 million to establish flow targets so major withdrawals from the Susquehanna River can be better managed, $715,000 for flood mitigation along the Delaware, and $650,000 to protect drinking water resources in the Potomac basin.

NewsClip: House Bill Would Shield Watersheds From Landfills

George Asks Feds to Follow Through on Water Funding Commitments

5/16/2008