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The information you need to follow legislation in the House and Senate- starting with articles and NewsClips from last week--
Environment & Energy NewsClips--
Gov. Shapiro
-- PA Capital-Star: Shapiro Highlights PA Budget Priorities During County Commissioners Gathering
-- StateScoop: Why Is Everyone Texting Gov. Shapiro?
-- DEP Reports Progress On Permitting Reform; Reduces Permit Backlog By 41% [PaEN]
-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: Shapiro’s Money-Back Guarantee For PA Permits, Licenses Is Working [DEP Used As Example]
Budget
-- Spotlight PA: What To Know About Shapiro’s Proposed $10.3 Million Agriculture Innovation Program
-- PA Capital-Star: Governor’s Budget Secretary Defends Shapiro Plan To Spend Part Of State Surplus
-- PennLive: PA Legislature Ends Budget Hearings In Similar Place To Where It Started
-- Dept. Of Revenue Reports February Tax Collections 2.6% More Than Anticipated: Up $76.1 Million For Fiscal Year
Train Derailments
-- AP: Train Crews Working On Cleanup, Track Repair After Train Derailment In Northampton County
--MCall: Lehigh Valley Officials To Update Hazard Plan After Train Derailment
-- MCall: Cleanup, Investigation Continue After Norfolk Southern Train Derailment In Northampton County
-- PA Capital-Star Guest Essay: How Many More Derailments Until Rail Safety Is A Priority? - By Natalie Bencivenga, KDKA Radio
-- Scranton Times: Norfolk Southern Repairing Rail Freight Bridge In Scranton
-- AP: NTSB Says After Norfolk Southern Train Derailment, Tank Cars Didn’t Need To Be Blown Open To Release Toxic Chemicals
-- WESA/Ideastream Public Media: Residents Impacted By Norfolk Southern Derailment React To News That ‘Controlled’ Burn Was Unnecessary: ‘Really Messed Up’
-- PittsburghUnionProgress: Ohio US Sen. Vance: Did Norfolk Southern Sacrifice East Palestine So Rail Traffic could Quickly Resume?
-- AP: Judge Says Norfolk Southern Alone Should Pay For Cleanup Of Ohio Train Derailment
PA Politics Of Russian Invasion
-- AAA Gasoline Prices: PA $3.53 National $3.40 Ohio $3.37
-- Warren Times: Company Confirms Malfunction At United Refinery Releases ‘Silica Material’ Coating Homes, Vehicles
-- Erie News Now: United Refining Release Of Silica Dust Causes Concern In Warren [Video]
-- LancasterOnline: Why UGI Gas Rates Going Down - Glut Of Gas, Mild Winter Lowering International Gas Prices
-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Hearing Begin On Proposed Peoples Natural Gas Rate Increase Of Up To 21.4%
-- Baker Hughes: PA Natural Gas Drilling Rigs Stay The Same This Week- 24
-- Bloomberg: Natural Gas Prices Jump As EQT Slashes Output To Fight Glut
-- Reuters: Pittsburgh-based EQT To Reduce Gas Production Through March On Low Prices
-- US Senators Introduce Bill To Ban US LNG Gas Sales To Any Entity Under The Control Of Communist China To Protect US Jobs; Americans From Price Spikes; EQT Says We Have A ‘Duty’ To Provide LNG Gas To China; Where Do AMERICAN Interests Lie? [PaEN]
-- Marcellus Drilling News: ‘Selling Oil And Natural Gas To China?’ ‘It Simply Should Not Happen, Period’ [PaEN]
-- Stars and Stripes Guest Essay: Pause On Permits For New LNG Gas Export Facilities Right Move For National Security - Rivals Like China Are Using US LNG To Build Influence - By Steve Anderson, US Army Brigadier General - Retired [PaEN]
-- PA Utility Law Project March 15 Webinar On Impacts Of LNG Gas Exports On Energy Costs For Pennsylvania Families; LNG Export Capacity To Double, Even With Permit Pause [PaEN]
-- Reuters: Major European Energy Companies Ask US Regulators To Deny Permit Extension For Its Louisiana LNG Gas Export Plant
-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: A Rescue Plan For American Energy And The Environment- Unleash Gas Production, Expand LNG Exports - By Dave McCormick, Republican US Senate Candidate [No Support For Limiting LNG Exports To China ]
-- Reuters: Major European Energy Companies Ask US Regulators To Deny Permit Extension For Louisiana LNG Gas Export Plant
-- Bloomberg: Aramco In Talks For US LNG Gas Projects, Looks For Investment Opportunities In China
-- Reuters: Aramco Sees China Oil, LNG Gas Demand Growing, Eyes More Investments
-- Williamsport Sun Guest Essay: Pennsylvania Needs To ‘Get Smarter’ About Natural Gas Production - PA Making Times Tougher On Natural Gas, Coal Industries - By Rep. Joe Hamm (R)
-- Williamsport Sun Guest Essay: State Legislators Need To Become Better Informed About All Energy Issues - By Ralph Kisberg, Responsible Drilling Alliance
-- Reuters: US Natural Gas Pipeline Accidents Pose Big, Unreported Climate Threat
-- Reuters: TC Energy’s Keystone Oil Pipeline Restarts After Going Offline, No Oil Released; Sent Oil Prices Higher; Pipeline Dogged By Problems
Oil & Gas Health Impacts
-- The Allegheny Front/PublicSource: Pittsburgh-Based EQT Gas Drilling Expansion In WV Sent 4 Families Reeling, While State Regulators Trusted The Company To Answer Their Complaints
-- WTAE: Concerns Over Flaring, Fracking In Cecil Twp., Washington County
-- The Energy Age Blog: What Flaring At A Shale Gas Well Pad Looks Like From Your Bedroom Window, Same As It Did 15 Years Ago [Welcome To Washington County]
-- New Reporting On The Uncontrolled Impacts Of Shale Gas Industry: The ‘Poisons Are Still Going Through My System;’ Roar, Fire From Gas Flares; Nothing Has Changed In 15 Years [PaEN]
-- New Reporting On The Uncontrolled Impacts Of Shale Gas Industry: The ‘Poisons Are Still Going Through My System;’ Roar, Fire From Gas Flares; Nothing Has Changed In 15 Years [PaEN]
-- PennLive Guest Essay: Plugging PA’s Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Is A Game Of Whac-A-Mole - By Rep. Greg Vitali, Majority Chair House Environmental Committee
-- DEP Declares 101 Medina Res Dev Co. LLC Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Abandoned, Not Plugged In Crawford, Erie Counties On March 5 [PaEN]
-- DEP Imposed $422,365 In Penalties On 14 Conventional Oil & Gas Well Operators In 2023 For Abandoning Wells, Spills, Venting Gas; 93 Operators Cited For Abandoning 271 Wells [PaEN]
-- Warren Times: Company Confirms Malfunction At United Refinery Releases ‘Silica Material’ Coating Homes, Vehicles
-- Erie News Now: United Refining Release Of Silica Dust Causes Concern In Warren [Video]
Gas Explosions
-- WTAE: Concerns Over Flaring, Fracking In Cecil Twp., Washington County
-- The Energy Age Blog: What Flaring At A Shale Gas Well Pad Looks Like From Your Bedroom Window, Same As It Did 15 Years Ago [Welcome To Washington County]
-- WTAE: Concerns Mounting Over Gas Leaks In Cecil Twp. Columbia Gas System In Washington County
-- Reading Eagle: Kutztown Post Office Evacuated After Gas Leak
Environment/Energy Issues
-- DEP Reports Progress On Permitting Reform; Reduces Permit Backlog By 41% [PaEN]
-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: Shapiro’s Money-Back Guarantee For PA Permits, Licenses Is Working [DEP Used As Example]
-- DEP Took Action On 893 Permits, 97% Within Permit Decision Guarantee Deadlines; Conducted 1,634 Inspections; Responded To 8 Emergencies During Week Ending March 3
-- PennLive Guest Essay: Plugging PA’s Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Is A Game Of Whac-A-Mole - By Rep. Greg Vitali, Majority Chair House Environmental Committee
-- DEP Declares 101 Medina Res Dev Co. LLC Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Abandoned, Not Plugged In Crawford, Erie Counties On March 5 [PaEN]
-- DEP Imposed $422,365 In Penalties On 14 Conventional Oil & Gas Well Operators In 2023 For Abandoning Wells, Spills, Venting Gas; 93 Operators Cited For Abandoning 271 Wells [PaEN]
-- US Senators Introduce Bill To Ban US LNG Gas Sales To Any Entity Under The Control Of Communist China To Protect US Jobs; Americans From Price Spikes; EQT Says We Have A ‘Duty’ To Provide LNG Gas To China; Where Do AMERICAN Interests Lie? [PaEN]
-- Marcellus Drilling News: ‘Selling Oil And Natural Gas To China?’ ‘It Simply Should Not Happen, Period’ [PaEN]
-- Stars and Stripes Guest Essay: Pause On Permits For New LNG Gas Export Facilities Right Move For National Security - Rivals Like China Are Using US LNG To Build Influence - By Steve Anderson, US Army Brigadier General - Retired [PaEN]
-- PA Utility Law Project March 15 Webinar On Impacts Of LNG Gas Exports On Energy Costs For Pennsylvania Families; LNG Export Capacity To Double, Even With Permit Pause [PaEN]
-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: A Rescue Plan For American Energy And The Environment- Unleash Gas Production, Expand LNG Exports - By Dave McCormick, Republican US Senate Candidate [No Support For Limiting LNG Exports To China ]
-- Reuters: Major European Energy Companies Ask US Regulators To Deny Permit Extension For Louisiana LNG Gas Export Plant
-- Bloomberg: Aramco In Talks For US LNG Gas Projects, Looks For Investment Opportunities In China
-- Reuters: Aramco Sees China Oil, LNG Gas Demand Growing, Eyes More Investments
-- Williamsport Sun Guest Essay: Pennsylvania Needs To ‘Get Smarter’ About Natural Gas Production - PA Making Times Tougher On Natural Gas, Coal Industries - By Rep. Joe Hamm (R)
-- Williamsport Sun Guest Essay: State Legislators Need To Become Better Informed About All Energy Issues - By Ralph Kisberg, Responsible Drilling Alliance
-- LancasterOnline: Republican Rep. Cutler Looks To Reduce Drug Prices By Expanding Prescription Recycling Program
-- Spotlight PA: Game Commission Won’t Renew Controversial Contract With Sen. Scarnati’s Lobbying Firm
-- Altoona Mirror: Damaging Deer: Destruction Of Crops Costing Farmers Thousands Annually
-- PennEnvironment: House Bipartisan Resolution Helps Secure $840,000 Federal Funding For Wildlife Corridor Study To Reconnect Habitats
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]
Bill Calendars
Senate (March 18): Senate Bill 1058 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) abrogating the final regulation reducing carbon pollution from power plants [RGGI]; 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 US Environmental Protection Agency and establish a legal and regulatory framework for potential carbon dioxide capture, utilization and sequestration in Pennsylvania; Senate Bill 832 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) establishing an Independent Energy Office; House Bill 1246 (Malagari-D-Montgomery) set operational temperatures for crematories. <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.
House (March 18): House Resolution 196 (Matzie-D-Beaver) designating the week of September 18-24 Rail Safety Week; House Resolution 228 (Otten-D-Chester) designating the week of October 1 through 7, 2023, as "Climate Week" in Pennsylvania. <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.
Committee Meetings
House
March 19-- House Game & Fisheries Committee informational meeting on Fish & Boat Commission’s 2023 Annual Report. Room 523, Irvis Building. 9:00 a.m. Click Here to watch online.
March 20-- House Game & Fisheries Committee informational meeting on Game Commission’s 2023 Annual Report. Room 523, Irvis Building. 9:00 a.m. Click Here to watch online.
<> Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.
Senate
<> 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--
Senate
March 18, 19, 20
April 8, 9, 10, 29, 30
May 1, 6, 7, 8
June 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
House
March 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27
April 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 29, 30
May 1, 6, 7, 8, 20, 21, 22
June 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28
[Posted: March 10, 2024]
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