The information you need to follow legislation in the House and Senate- starting with articles and NewsClips from last week--

Environment & Energy NewsClips--

-- Rep. Metcalfe: It Would Be ‘Irresponsible’ And ‘Neglecting Your Duty’ Not To Protect The Public From The Health Consequences Of Certain Businesses [PaEN]

-- Republicans On House Committee Report Out Bill To Prohibit Communities From Moving To Clean, Cheaper Energy Sources To Address Climate Change  [PaEN]

-- PA Resources Council, Partners, Local Officials Announce Plan To Reduce Waste, Modernize Recycling In Pennsylvania  [PaEN]

Top 10 Stories On Harrisburg/PA Politics Last Week--

Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else--

-- Top 10 Stories: Harrisburg/PA Politics Reported By Local News Media Last Week [PaEN]

Senate, House Bills Moving Last Week

The following environmental and energy bills saw movement last week--

Senate

Mining Penalties: Senate Bill 1038 (Stefano-R- Fayette) directing mining civil penalties to reclamation O&M Trust Fund [$30,000 this year) was reported from the Senate Appropriations Committee [Senate Fiscal Note & Summary] and was passed by the Senate.  The bill now goes to the House for action.

Make It Easier To Sell Public Utilities To Private Companies: Senate Bill 597 (Stefano-R- Fayette) would impose conflicting and expensive requirements on small water and wastewater systems for no benefit to their customers and if they can’t comply they would come under the regulation of the Public Utility Commission was amended on Third Consideration to put the bill in Title 27 (Environmental Resources) and not Title 66 (Public Utilities) and remains on the Senate Calendar for action.  [Read more here] 

House

Prohibiting Local Clean Energy Programs: Senate Bill 275 (Yaw-R- Lycoming) which limits the ability of communities to offer new and clean energy sources and energy efficiency programs by locking in the status quo, in particular natural gas was amended and reported out of the House Local Government Committee and Tabled.  Read more here.

Storage Tank Cleanup Programs: House Bill 1780 (Armanini-R-Clearfield) which would extend the sunset date for the underground storage tank cleanup and pollution prevention programs to December 31, 2027, from  June 30, 2022 was amended and reported out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee unanimously and is now on the House Calendar for action

Flooding, Stream Debris Clearance: This is a package of eight Republican bills all deal with the symptoms of flooding, but not prevention--

-- House Bill 2404 (Owlett-R-Tioga): Would allow local government organizations to apply for a permit for continuing maintenance for a period of at least 10 years for the streams within their jurisdiction. This permit would grant an affirmative duty to the local government entity to properly maintain the streams and would not require the local government to get pre-approval for maintenance projects-- amended-- now on the House Calendar for action.

-- House Bill 2405 (Pickett-R-Bradford): Would create a program that allows counties to opt in to address hazards within their streams by allowing for emergency maintenance permits in consultation with their county conservation district. This is modeled after a pilot project that has proven successful in Bradford County and now on the House Calendar for action;

-- House Bill 2406 (Fritz-R- Susquehanna): Would create a permit specific to smaller maintenance projects for the mitigation of flood-related hazards of less than 250 linear feet. This permit would be reviewed and issued by the local county conservation district and now on the House Calendar for action;  

-- House Bill 2407 (Hamm-R-Lycoming): Would clarify that the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has no authority for permitting or enforcement related to stream clearing or maintenance activities. This authority shall belong solely to DEP and the county conservation districts as appropriate;

-- House Bill 2408 (Armanini-R-Clearfield): Would declare that no permit or authorization shall be required for maintenance activities conducted on a culvert and now on the House Calendar for action;

-- House Bill 2409 (O’Neal-R-Washington): Would state that no permit shall be required for the removal of flood-related hazards from streams that are deemed to be an emergency by a state or county;  

-- House Bill 2410 (Smith-R-Jefferson): Would state that no permit shall be required for stream maintenance activities conducted 50 feet or less upstream or downstream of a bridge or culvert and now on the House Calendar for action;

-- House Bill 2411 (Hershey-R-Mifflin) requires DEP to issue an annual report on flooding and stream restoration and now on the House Calendar for action.

The bills were all reported out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee by a party-line vote, Republicans supporting.  Read more here.

Bill Calendars

Senate (June 6):  Senate Bill 597 (Stefano-R-Fayette) would impose conflicting and expensive requirements on small water and wastewater systems for no benefit to their customers and if they can’t comply they would come under the regulation of the Public Utility Commission [Read more here]; Senate Bill 718 (Bartolotta-R-Washington) limiting scope of DEP permit appeals [Read more here];   Senate Bill 1188 (Brooks-R-Crawford) requiring insurance coverage for Lyme disease and tick-borne illnesses; Senate Resolution 229 (Dush-R-Jefferson, Yudichak-I-Luzerne, Flynn-D-Lackawanna) was introduced directing the Joint State Government Commission to study the economic, environmental and health impacts related to the development of a critical and rare earth mineral industry in Pennsylvania (sponsor summary). <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.

House (June 7): House Bill 1161 (Mizgorski-R- Allegheny) authorizing the establishment of a local solar energy subscriber program [not preferred by clean energy advocates Read more here];  House Bill 2069 (Cutler-R- Lancaster) Amend Article III, Section 9, to exempt the disapproval of a regulation by the General Assembly from the presentment requirement for the governor’s approval or disapproval [Read more here]; House Bill 2070 (Cutler- R-Lancaster) Amend Article IV, to add a new section providing that any executive order or proclamation issued by the governor, which purports to have the force of law, may not be in effect for more than 21 days, unless extended by concurrent resolution of the General Assembly [Read more here]; House Bill 2404 (Owlett-R-Tioga): Would allow local government organizations to apply for a permit for continuing maintenance for a period of at least 10 years for the streams within their jurisdiction. This permit would grant an affirmative duty to the local government entity to properly maintain the streams and would not require the local government to get pre-approval for maintenance projects;House Bill 2405 (Pickett-R-Bradford): Would create a program that allows counties to opt in to address hazards within their streams by allowing for emergency maintenance permits in consultation with their county conservation district. This is modeled after a pilot project that has proven successful in Bradford County; House Bill 2406 (Fritz-R- Susquehanna): Would create a permit specific to smaller maintenance projects for the mitigation of flood-related hazards of less than 250 linear feet. This permit would be reviewed and issued by the local county conservation district; House Bill 2408 (Armanini-R-Clearfield): Would declare that no permit or authorization shall be required for maintenance activities conducted on a culvert; House Bill 2410 (Smith-R- Jefferson): Would state that no permit shall be required for stream maintenance activities conducted 50 feet or less upstream or downstream of a bridge or culvert;  House Bill 2411 (Hershey-R-Mifflin) requires DEP to issue an annual report on flooding and stream restoration; House Bill 1780 (Armanini-R-Clearfield) which would extend the sunset date for the underground storage tank cleanup and pollution prevention programs to December 31, 2027, from  June 30, 2022; House Resolution 74 (Daley-D-Montgomery) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study of wildlife conservation corridors; Senate Bill 275 (Yaw-R- Lycoming) which limits the ability of communities to offer new and clean energy sources and energy efficiency programs by locking in the status quo, in particular natural gas   <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Committee Meetings

House   

June 6-- House Democratic Policy Committee hearing on electric vehicle charging stations.  Room 418 Main Capitol. 1:00 p.m.  Click Here for online availability.

June 7-- Joint Hearing Of House Environmental Resources & Energy and Health Committees on oil and gas byproducts powering modern medicine and our healthcare system.  Room 515 Irvis Building. 10:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch online.

June 15-- House Consumer Affairs Committee hearing on House Bill 1789 (Sankey-R-Clearfield) further providing for price and other disclosures related to competitive electric and natural gas shopping. Room 205 Ryan Building. 10:00 a.m.   Click Here to watch online.

<>  Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate

June 2-- Senate Democratic Policy Committee holds a hearing on health impacts of shale gas infrastructure. Community College of Allegheny County, Boyce Campus Auditorium, 595 Beatty Road, Monroeville. 1:00 p.m.  Click Here to register to watch online.  Click Here for more on the agenda.

 <>  Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

Bills Introduced

Increasing Limit Household Hazardous Waste Collection Grants: Senate Bill 1220 (Martin-R-Lancaster) would increase the limit for DEP grants for household hazardous waste collection events from $100,000 to $250,000 per county per year.

Bills Pending In Key Committees

Check the PA Environmental Council Bill Tracker for the status and updates on pending state legislation and regulations that affect environmental and conservation efforts in Pennsylvania.

Session Schedule [Updated]

Here is the latest voting session schedule for the Senate and House--

Senate [Updated]

June 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30

September 19, 20, 21

October 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26

November 15

House

June 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30

September 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21

October 24, 25, 26

November 14, 15, 16

[Posted: May 29, 2022]

5/30/2022