Several environmental bills moved this week. Here’s the rundown….

Senate

Capital Budget Bill: House Bill 2317 (Feese-R-Lycoming) establishing the 2005-2006 Capital Budget for flood control, Keystone Recreation, Environmental Stewardship projects was amended and reported from Senate Appropriations and passed by the Senate. It now moves to the House for a concurrence vote.

Mercury Emissions: Senate Bill 1201 (MJ.White-R-Venango, Musto-D-Luzerne) that would reduce mercury emissions from power plants by 86 percent by 2018 was passed by the Senate and now moves to the House where it was reported into and out of the House Rules Committee.

Storage Tanks: House Bill 1195 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne) that makes changes to the program to help underground tank owners upgrade tanks was referred to Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

Funding Sewer Laterals: House Bill 1108 (Rubley-R-Chester) establishing a program within PennVEST to repair or replace private sewer laterals was referred to Senate Appropriations.

House

Mine Families First: The House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee reported out House Bill 2619 (Bastian-R-Somerset) establishing the Mine Families First Program and then referred to the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

Open Space Bond: House Bill 2793 (Petri-R-Bucks) proposing a $150 million bond issue for voter approval to fund open space preservation and flood hazard mitigation projects was reported from House Local Government Committee, referred to and out of House Rules Committee and then to House Appropriations.

Purchasing Flood Hazard Properties: House Bill 2795 (Petri-R-Bucks) authorizing the Commonwealth and local government to purchase property subject to flood hazards was reported from House Local Government Committee, referred to and out of House Rules Committee and then to House Appropriations.

Disaster Assistance: House Bill 2794 (Petri-R-Bucks) establish a disaster assistance program to provide low-interest loans to victims of natural and manmade disasters was reported from the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee and then referred to the House Rules Committee.

Conservation District Funding: House Bill 2742 (Hershey-R-Chester) establishing a Conservation District Fund to simplify county conservation district funding was reported from the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee with a request to refer it to House Appropriations Committee.

Bills Introduced

Several environmental bills of interest were introduced this week. Here’s the rundown…

Open Space Bond: House Bill 2793 (Petri-R-Bucks) proposing a $150 million bond issue for voter approval to fund open space preservation and flood hazard mitigation projects.

Disaster Assistance: House Bill 2794 (Petri-R-Bucks) establish a disaster assistance program to provide low-interest loans to victims of natural and manmade disasters.

Purchasing Flood Hazard Properties: House Bill 2795 (Petri-R-Bucks) authorizing the Commonwealth and local government to purchase property subject to flood hazards.

First Refusal of Mineral Rights: Senate Bill 1229 (Wozniak-D-Cambria) providing for a right of first refusal to surface rights owners when mineral rights are to be transferred.

Historic Preservation Grants: Senate Bill 1232 (Piccola-R-Dauphin) establishing the Historic Preservation Incentive Grant Program.

Emergency Response Grants: Senate Bill 1236 (D.White-R-Indiana) establishing the Volunteer Emergency Service Partnership Grant Program.

6/23/2006