PA Environment Digest

Narrowing Grounds For Appeal Of DEP Permits: Senate Bill 198 (Bartolotta-R-Washington) which would create a new standard for the review for appeals of DEP permit actions before the Environmental Hearing Board by limiting parties appealing permit decisions-- a company or a citizens group-- to issues raised in and information contained in a record of decision of a permit prepared by DEP. This would prevent a citizens group or anyone else from raising issues DEP missed or misinterpreted. The bill was referred into and out of the Senate Appropriations Committee, amended and passed by the Senate by a party-line vote, Republicans supporting. The bill now goes to the House for action. Read more here.

Terms Of Environmental Hearing Board Members: Senate Bill 199 (Bartolotta-R- Washington) requires members of the Board whose terms have expired to be reappointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The bill was referred into and out of the Senate Appropriations Committee and passed by the Senate by a party-line vote, Republicans supporting. The bill now goes to the House for action. Read more here.

Vehicle Emission Inspections: Senate Bill 561 (Langerholc-R-Cambria) and Senate Bill 562 (Langerholc-R-Cambria) making changes to the vehicle emissions control program were reported out of the Senate Appropriations Committee and passed by the Senate by an almost party-line votes. The bills now go to the House for action.

Electric Vehicle Road Fee: Senate Bill 656 (Rothman-R-Cumberland) establishing an electric vehicle road user fee was referred into and out of the Senate Appropriations Committee and passed by the Senate 41 to 9. The bill now goes to the House for action.

Penalty For Killing Eagles: Senate Bill 709 (Boscola-D-Lehigh) increasing penalties for killing bald and golden eagles was passed by the Senate and now goes to the House.

Stream Cleaning: Senate Bill 690 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) would authorize county conservation districts to develop a complex and expensive program related to “reconstruction emergency permit authorizations” to conduct “stream cleaning” operations [Read more here] was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

10-Year Stream Cleaning Permit: Senate Bill 689 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) would authorize DEP to issue a 10-year “stream cleaning” permits to local governments or PennDOT without need for further preapprovals for actions in the stream regardless if stream conditions changes within their jurisdictions [Read more here] was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Using Recycled Materials In Stuffed Toys: Senate Bill 756 (Robinson-R-Allegheny) allowing the use of recycled materials in stuffed toys (sponsor summary) was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Redefining Spills: Senate Bill 286 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) would redefine when a spill needs to be reported by letting the polluter decide when to notify DEP taking into account control and remedial measures, whether the discharge will harm receiving waters or public health. [The current standard is if you spill something within reportable quantities you report it-- simple.] The bill was reported out of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and is now on the Senate Calendar for action. Read more here.

CO2 Injection Wells: Senate Bill 831 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) would direct the state to apply for primary authority to regulate Class VI carbon dioxide underground injection wells from the U.S. EPA. The bill was reported out of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and is now on the Senate Calendar for action. Read more here.

Lyme Disease Testing: Senate Bill 100 (Brooks-R-Crawford) further providing for diagnosis and treatment of Lyme Disease and other tick-borne illnesses was Tabled.

House

ATV Penalties: House Bill 1338 (Neilson-D- Philadelphia) authorizing Philadelphia to adopt a local ordinance regulating illegal use of off-road vehicles like dirt bikes and ATVs on city streets was amended and reported out of the House Transportation Committee and re-referred to House Rules Committee.

Catalytic Converter Thefts: House Bill 791 (Isaacson-D-Philadelphia) further providing for penalties for catalytic converter thefts was amended and reported out of the House Consumer Protection, Technology and Utilities Committee and re-referred to the House Rules Committee.

Pollinator Week: House Resolution 132 (Matzie-D-Beaver) designating June 19 to 25 as Pollinator Week in Pennsylvania was reported out of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and adopted by the House 202 to 1-- Rep. Wendy Fink (R-York) was the lone no vote.

Bill Calendars

House (June 26): House Bill 962 (Vitali-D- Delaware) to restore DEP’s authority to review conventional oil and gas well plugging bonding amounts to help prevent the routine abandonment of between 400 and 600 conventional oil and gas wells a year by operators Read more here; House Bill 1032 (Fiedler-D-Philadelphia) establishing a solar energy grant program for schools Read more here; House Resolution 79 (Pisciottano-D- Allegheny) urging the Biden Administration and Congress to designate Pennsylvania as a hydrogen hub; House Resolution 131 (Steele-D-Allegheny) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to estimate how much revenue Pennsylvania could have collected by adopting a natural gas severance tax since February 2012 (sponsor summary). <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Senate (June 26): Senate Bill 286 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) would redefine when a spill needs to be reported by letting the polluter decide when to notify DEP taking into account control and remedial measures, whether the discharge will harm receiving waters or public health Read more here; Senate Bill 514 (Baker-R-Luzerne) requiring child testing for lead blood levels (sponsor summary); Senate Bill 831 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) would direct the state to apply for primary authority to regulate Class VI carbon dioxide underground injection wells from the U.S. EPA Read more here. <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.

Committee Meetings

House

June 26-- House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee to hold hearing on Pennsylvania Waterways and the Chesapeake Bay. Room G-50 Irvis Building. 10:00 a.m. Click Here to watch live.

June 26-- House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee meets to consider House Bill 1323 (Mako-R-Northampton) prohibiting construction of wind farms that negatively affect military installations (sponsor summary). Room 60 East Wing. 11:00 a.m. Click Here to watch live.

June 27-- House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meets to consider House Bill 170 (Otten-D-Chester) establishing 2,500 foot setbacks from natural gas compressor stations, well pads, pits, storage tanks, wastewater, chemicals, condensate and other waste as recommended in Attorney General Shapiro’s Grand Jury Report (sponsor summary); House Bill 1476 (Vitali-D-Delaware) establishing a 2-year moratorium on issuing air quality permits to cryptocurrency data mining facilities (sponsor summary). Room G-50 Irvis Building. 9:00 a.m. Click Here to watch live. Read more here.

June 28-- House Game and Fisheries Committee meets to consider House Bill 1409 (Kulik-D-Allegheny) reauthorization of authority of Fish and Boat Commission to set fees. Room 523 Irvis Building. 9:00 a.m. Click Here to watch live.

<> Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate

June 26-- Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to consider the nomination of Richard Negrin as Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection and these bills: Senate Bill 832 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) that would establish the Independent Energy Information Office to provide “impartial, timely and data driven analysis to guide the state in determining and meeting future energy needs” modeled on the current Independent Fiscal Office. An amendment to the bill is expected. This initiative continues efforts by Republicans to build their own taxpayer-funded environmental and energy bureaucracy; Senate Resolution 116 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study the issue of consolidated electricity billing. Room 8E-B East Wing. Noon. Click Here to watch live. Read more here.

<> Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

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

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

House

June 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

Senate

June 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

[Posted: June 25, 2023]

6/26/2023

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