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Environmental Bills Tracked by
PFSC
Updated 12-1-2006
Report provided by
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PLS Summary:
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(PN
1618) The Growing Greener Environmental Stewardship And Watershed
Protection Enhancement Authorization Act places a question of incurring
indebtedness of up to $625,000,000 for the maintenance and protection of the
environment, open space and farmland preservation, watershed protection,
abandoned mine reclamation, acid mine drainage remediation and other
environmental initiatives on the May 17, 2005 primary ballot. It also
abrogates the authority of the Secretary of the Commonwealth to determine
the form of the ballot question and extends the deadline for absentee
ballots until May 31, 2005. Finally, it states that "this act shall
not be construed as authorizing the imposition of any new tax or fee or
permitting the increase of any existing tax or fee to repay the borrowing
authorized by the approval" of the ballot question. (Prior Printers
Numbers: 219, 623, 1610)
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Bill History:
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02-03-05
H Filed
02-03-05 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Environmental
Resources and Energy
02-08-05 H Meeting set for 9:00 a.m., Hearing Room 1, North Office Buil,
House Environmental Resources and Energy
02-08-05 H Voted favorably from committee on House Environmental Resources
and Energy
02-08-05 H Reported as committed from House Environmental Resources and
Energy
02-08-05 H First consideration
02-08-05 H Laid on the table
02-09-05 H Set on the Tabled Calendar for
02-08-05 H Heard in press conference on 2/8/05
02-09-05 H Removed from the table
02-09-05 H Second consideration
02-09-05 H Rereferred to House Appropriations
02-14-05 H Voted favorably from committee on House Appropriations
02-14-05 H Reported as committed from House Appropriations
02-14-05 H Discussed in Green Ribbon Commission Meeting
02-15-05 H Set on the House Calendar
02-15-05 H Laid out for discussion
02-15-05 H 2 Floor amendment(s) adopted
02-15-05 H Third consideration
02-15-05 H Final Passage (Vote: Y:183/N: 12)
03-14-05 S Received in the Senate and referred to Senate Environmental
Resources and Energy
03-15-05 S Meeting set for 10:30 a.m., Room 8E-B, East Wing, Senate
Environmental Resources and Energy
03-15-05 S Voted favorably from committee on Senate Environmental Resources
and Energy
03-15-05 S Reported as committed from Senate Environmental Resources and
Energy
03-15-05 S First consideration
03-16-05 S Set on the Senate Calendar
03-16-05 S Second consideration
03-16-05 S Rereferred to Senate Environmental Resources and Energy
04-12-05 S Meeting set for Off the Floor, Rules Committee Conference Ro,
Senate Appropriations
04-12-05 S Voted favorably from committee as amended Senate Environmental
Resources and Energy
04-12-05 S Reported as amended Senate Environmental Resources and Energy
04-12-05 S Rereferred to Senate Appropriations
04-12-05 S Voted favorably from committee as amended Senate Appropriations
04-12-05 S Reported as amended Senate Appropriations
04-12-05 S Laid out for discussion
04-12-05 S Third consideration
04-12-05 S Final Passage (Vote: Y: 46/N: 1)
04-13-05 H Received as amended in House and rereferred House Rules
04-13-05 H Re-reported on concurrence as committed House Rules
04-13-05 H Set on the House Calendar
04-13-05 H Laid out for discussion
04-13-05 H House concurred in Senate amendments (Vote: Y:178/N: 20)
04-13-05 H Signed in the House
04-13-05 S Signed in the Senate
04-13-05 G In the hands of the Governor
04-23-05 G Last day for Governor's action
04-13-05 G Approved by the Governor (Act: 1)
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PLS Summary:
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(PN
2571) Amends Title 27 (Environmental Resources) to implement an
environmental bond program enabling the Commonwealth to borrow up to $625
million over six years. The funds would be deposited into the Growing Greener
Bond Fund to be allocated as follows:
· $230 million
to DEP for watershed protection, acid mine drainage remediation and mine
cleanup, oil and gas well plugging, advanced energy projects, flood
protection, geological hazard mitigation and brownfields remediation
· $217.5 million
to DCNR for improvements to State park and State forests, community park
and recreation grants and open space preservation
· $80 million to
Department of Agriculture for farmland preservation
· $50 million to
DCED for Main Street
and downtown redevelopment
· $47.5 million
to the Fish and Boat Commission and the Game Commission for capital
improvements to existing lands and facilities
Up to $90 million allocated to various agencies will be available for
projects designated by the counties and up $20 million in FY '05-'06 and
$30 million in FY '06-'07 will be deposited in the Hazardous Sites Cleanup
Fund. Additionally, the Commonwealth will annually spend $60 million for
debt and principal payments. Each department and agency receiving funds are
required to publish a report of all projects funded by that department or
agency. Lastly, the sunset date on the $4 per ton disposal fee is repealed.
(Prior Printers Numbers: 220, 622)
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Bill History:
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02-03-05
H Filed
02-03-05 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Environmental
Resources and Energy
02-08-05 H Meeting set for 9:00 a.m., Hearing Room 1, North Office Buil,
House Environmental Resources and Energy
02-08-05 H Voted favorably from committee on House Environmental Resources
and Energy
02-08-05 H Reported as committed from House Environmental Resources and
Energy
02-08-05 H First consideration
02-08-05 H Laid on the table
02-09-05 H Set on the Tabled Calendar for
02-08-05 H Heard in press conference on 2/8/05
02-09-05 H Removed from the table
02-09-05 H Second consideration
02-09-05 H Rereferred to House Appropriations
02-14-05 H Voted favorably from committee on House Appropriations
02-14-05 H Reported as committed from House Appropriations
02-14-05 H Discussed in Green Ribbon Commission Meeting
02-15-05 H Set on the House Calendar
02-15-05 H Laid out for discussion
02-15-05 H 2 Floor amendment(s) adopted
02-15-05 H Third consideration
02-15-05 H Final Passage (Vote: Y:109/N: 86)
03-14-05 S Received in the Senate and referred to Senate Environmental
Resources and Energy
06-30-05 S Meeting set for Off the Floor, Rules Committee Conference Ro,
Senate Environmental Resources and Energy
06-30-05 S Voted favorably from committee on Senate Environmental Resources
and Energy
06-30-05 S Reported as committed from Senate Environmental Resources and
Energy
06-30-05 S First consideration
07-01-05 S Set on the Senate Calendar
07-01-05 S Second consideration
07-01-05 S Recommitted to Senate Appropriations
07-02-05 S Meeting set for Off the Floor, Rules Committee Conference Ro,
Senate Appropriations
07-03-05 S Meeting set for Off the Floor, Rules Committee Conference Ro,
Senate Appropriations
07-04-05 S Meeting set for Off the Floor, Rules Committee Conference Ro,
Senate Appropriations
07-05-05 S Meeting set for Off the Floor, Rules Committee Conference Ro,
Senate Appropriations
07-05-05 S Passed over in committee Senate Appropriations
07-06-05 S Meeting set for Off the Floor, Rules Committee Conference Ro,
Senate Appropriations
07-06-05 S Voted favorably from committee as amended Senate Appropriations
07-06-05 S Reported as amended Senate Appropriations
07-06-05 S Laid out for discussion
07-06-05 S Third consideration
07-06-05 S Final Passage (Vote: Y: 48/N: 2)
07-07-05 H Received as amended in House and rereferred House Rules
07-07-05 H Re-reported on concurrence as committed House Rules
07-07-05 H Laid out for discussion
07-07-05 H House concurred in Senate amendments (Vote: Y:180/N: 18)
07-07-05 H Signed in the House
07-07-05 S Signed in the Senate
07-07-05 G In the hands of the Governor
07-17-05 G Last day for Governor's action
07-13-05 G Approved by the Governor (Act: 45)
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HB 6
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Tigue
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Amends
Radiation Protection Act re transport
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PLS Summary:
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(PN
4529) Amends the Radiation Protection Act further providing for
definitions, for powers of Environmental Quality Board, for nuclear
facility and transport fees, for creation of special funds, for response program
and for transportation of radioactive materials; and making repeals. Among
many changes, the bill charges fees to applicants for and holder of
licenses for nuclear power reactor sites, away-from-reactor spent nuclear
fuel storage facilities, reactor fuel fabrication facilities, and to
transport nuclear waste in PA. Additionally, each nuclear power reactor
owner would be required to provide to the department existing plant and
radiological monitoring data collected by that owner.
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Bill History:
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08-15-06
H Filed
08-16-06 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Environmental
Resources and Energy
10-04-06 H Meeting set for 9:00 a.m., Hearing Room 1, North Office Buil,
House Environmental Resources and Energy
10-04-06 H Voted from committee with request to re-refer to Veterans, House
Environmental Resources and Energy
Affairs from Environmental Resources & Energy
10-04-06 H Reported from Environmental Resources with request to, House
Environmental Resources and Energy
re-refer to Veterans Affairs
10-04-06 H Rereferred to House Veterans Affairs & Emergency Prepared.
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HB 7
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Ross
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Act re
recycling program for used electronics
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PLS Summary:
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(PN
4530) The Used Electronic Device Recycling Act establishes a recycling
program for used electronic devices. A manufacturer of covered electronic
devices (CED) would report to the department by January 30 of each year the
total weight of CEDs sold in PA the previous calendar year. Each
manufacturer of CEDs would register with the department by January 30 of
each year and pay a registration fee of $5,000. Covered electronic devices
collected through any program would be recycled in a manner that is in
compliance with all applicable Federal, State and local laws, regulations
and ordinances. A manufacturer who is not in compliance with all
requirements of this act is prohibited from offering a covered electronic
device for sale in PA. Lastly, a retailer would clearly post and provide
information provided by the department that describes where and how to
recycle a covered electronic device.
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Bill History:
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08-15-06
H Filed
08-16-06 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Environmental
Resources and Energy
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HB 79
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Hanna
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Act re
emergency services reimbursements
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PLS Summary:
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(PN
73) The Emergency Services Provider Reimbursement Act provides for reimbursement
to certain emergency services providers of the cost of responding to a
request for emergency services on certain State-owned lands. DCNR would pay
to an emergency services provider $225 for each time that the department
requests emergency services on State-owned land from the emergency services
provider and the emergency services provider responds to the request.
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Bill History:
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01-20-05
H Filed
01-25-05 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Veterans Affairs
& Emergency Prepared.
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HB 80
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Hanna
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Act re
additional 100 miles of DCNR trails
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PLS Summary:
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(PN
74) The All-terrain Vehicle Trail Expansion Act states that DCNR would
annually open a minimum of 100 miles of trails or roads in State forest lands
to all-terrain vehicles. The department would have the discretion to
determine whether existing trails or roads should be opened or new trails
or roads should be constructed. DCNR would be appropriated $50,000 to carry
out the Act.
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Bill History:
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01-20-05
H Filed
01-25-05 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Environmental
Resources and Energy
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HB 82
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Hanna
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Act re
emergency services reimbursements
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PLS Summary:
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(PN
76) The Emergency Services Provider Reimbursement Act provides for reimbursement
to certain emergency services providers of the cost of responding to a
request for emergency services on certain State-owned lands. DCNR would pay
to an emergency services provider $225 for each time that the department
requests emergency services on State-owned land from the emergency services
provider and the emergency services provider responds to the request.
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Bill History:
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01-20-05
H Filed
01-25-05 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Veterans Affairs
& Emergency Prepared.
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HB 86
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Steil
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Act re
US Army Corps of Engineers projects
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PLS Summary:
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(PN
1945) Act authorizing the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
on behalf of the Commonwealth to agree to hold and save the United States Army
Corps of Engineers free from certain damages arising from certain
construction projects. (Prior Printers Number: 80)
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Bill History:
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01-21-05
H Filed
01-25-05 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Environmental
Resources and Energy
05-10-05 H Meeting set for 9:00 a.m., Room 60, East Wing, House
Environmental Resources and Energy
05-10-05 H Voted favorably from committee as amended House Environmental
Resources and Energy
05-10-05 H Reported as amended House Environmental Resources and Energy
05-10-05 H First consideration
05-10-05 H Laid on the table
05-11-05 H Set on the Tabled Calendar for
05-11-05 H Removed from the table
05-11-05 H Second consideration
05-11-05 H Rereferred to House Appropriations
06-06-05 H Voted favorably from committee on House Appropriations
06-06-05 H Reported as committed from House Appropriations
06-08-05 H Set on the House Calendar
06-08-05 H Laid out for discussion
06-08-05 H Third consideration
06-08-05 H Final Passage (Vote: Y:197/N: 0)
06-13-05 S Received in the Senate and referred to Senate Judiciary
06-28-05 S Meeting set for 11:30 a.m., Room 8E-B, East Wing, Senate
Judiciary
06-28-05 S Voted favorably from committee on Senate Judiciary
06-28-05 S Reported as committed from Senate Judiciary
06-28-05 S First consideration
06-29-05 S Set on the Senate Calendar
06-29-05 S Rereferred to Senate Appropriations
07-03-05 S Meeting set for Off the Floor, Rules Committee Conference Ro,
Senate Appropriations
07-04-05 S Meeting set for Off the Floor, Rules Committee Conference Ro,
Senate Appropriations
07-03-05 S Voted favorably from committee on Senate Appropriations
07-03-05 S Reported as committed from Senate Appropriations
07-04-05 S Second consideration
07-05-05 S Set on the Senate Calendar
07-05-05 S Laid out for discussion
07-05-05 S Third consideration
07-05-05 S Final Passage (Vote: Y: 50/N: 0)
07-05-05 H Signed in the House
07-06-05 S Signed in the Senate
07-06-05 G In the hands of the Governor
07-16-05 G Last day for Governor's action
07-14-05 G Approved by the Governor (Act: 47)
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PLS Summary:
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(PN
81) Amends Act entitled "An Act authorizing PA and local government
units to preserve, acquire or hold land for open space uses," by
adding to the list of properties that are exempted from millage the
following types of property: property in which the open space property
interests have been acquired by a local government unit; property that is
subject to an easement; and property from which transferable development
rights have been transferred and retired by a local government unit. These
exemptions become authorized when the governing body of each taxing
district approves the exemption either by ordinance in the case of a county
or municipal corporation, or by resolution in the case of a school district.
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Bill History:
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01-21-05
H Filed
01-25-05 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Local Government
02-09-05 H Meeting set for 10:00 a.m., Room 39, East Wing, House Local
Government
02-09-05 H Voted favorably from committee on House Local Government
02-09-05 H Reported as committed from House Local Government
02-09-05 H First consideration
02-09-05 H Laid on the table
03-21-05 H Set on the Tabled Calendar for
03-21-05 H Removed from the table
03-21-05 H Second consideration
03-21-05 H Rereferred to House Appropriations
03-29-05 H Voted favorably from committee on House Appropriations
03-29-05 H Set on the House Calendar
03-29-05 H Reported as committed from House Appropriations
03-29-05 H Laid out for discussion
03-29-05 H Third consideration
03-29-05 H Final Passage (Vote: Y:196/N: 0)
04-06-05 S Received in the Senate and referred to Senate Local Government
06-21-05 S Meeting set for 9:30 a.m., Room 461 Main Capitol Building,
Senate Local Government
06-21-05 S Voted favorably from committee on Senate Local Government
06-21-05 S Reported as committed from Senate Local Government
06-21-05 S First consideration
06-30-05 S Set on the Senate Calendar
06-30-05 S Rereferred to Senate Appropriations
10-18-05 S Meeting set for Off the Floor, Rules Committee Conference Ro,
Senate Appropriations
10-18-05 S Voted favorably from committee on Senate Appropriations
10-18-05 S Reported as committed from Senate Appropriations
11-16-05 S Set on the Senate Calendar
11-16-05 S Laid on the table
11-16-05 S Removed from the table
12-14-05 S Set on the Senate Calendar
12-14-05 S Second consideration
01-23-06 S Set on the Senate Calendar
01-23-06 S Laid out for discussion
01-23-06 S Third consideration
01-23-06 S Final Passage (Vote: Y: 49/N: 0)
01-24-06 H Signed in the House
01-25-06 S Signed in the Senate
01-27-06 G In the hands of the Governor
02-06-06 G Last day for Governor's action
02-02-06 G Approved by the Governor (Act: 4)
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PLS Summary:
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(PN
2135) The Comprehensive Watershed Storm Water Act would enable certain
counties and municipalities to develop comprehensive watershed storm water
plans and encourage the regional implementation of comprehensive watershed storm
water plans within designated watershed boundaries to preserve and protect
areas adversely affected by storm water runoff and subsurface drainage. The
bill explains each plan's required content and provides that public
participation is required in the development of the plan. A municipality
would revise its ordinances and regulations to conform to the requirements
of the comprehensive watershed storm water plan. A municipality would be
reimbursed by the county for its identified costs of infrastructure
implementation and maintenance. Counties would have the power to fix,
alter, charge and collect fees in the area served by the county and the
associated watershed as determined by the county in order to carry out the
powers and duties authorized by the Act. "County" is defined as a
county of the second class, second class A or third class, or a county of
the second class or second class A that has adopted a home rule charter.
DEP, the Environmental Quality Board and other departments and agencies and
county and municipal governments and agencies would make decisions with
respect to issuance of necessary permits. DEP may administer grants to
municipalities and counties and to assist or reimburse them for costs in
preparing comprehensive watershed storm water plans. The bill provides for
exemptions. (Prior Printer Number: 82)
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Bill History:
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01-21-05
H Filed
01-25-05 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Environmental
Resources and Energy
02-08-05 H Meeting set for 9:00 a.m., Hearing Room 1, North Office Buil,
House Environmental Resources and Energy
02-08-05 H Voted favorably from committee on House Environmental Resources
and Energy
02-08-05 H Reported as committed from House Environmental Resources and
Energy
02-08-05 H Rereferred to House Local Government
05-03-05 H Meeting set for 10:00 a.m., Room 39 East Wing, House Local
Government
05-03-05 H Voted favorably from committee on House Local Government
05-03-05 H Reported as committed from House Local Government
05-03-05 H First consideration
05-03-05 H Laid on the table
05-11-05 H Set on the Tabled Calendar for
05-11-05 H Removed from the table
05-11-05 H Second consideration
05-11-05 H Rereferred to House Appropriations
06-06-05 H Voted favorably from committee on House Appropriations
06-06-05 H Reported as committed from House Appropriations
06-08-05 H Set on the House Calendar
06-08-05 H Laid out for discussion
06-08-05 H 1 Floor amendment(s) adopted
06-08-05 H Third consideration
06-08-05 H Final Passage (Vote: Y:132/N: 65)
06-13-05 S Received in the Senate and referred to Senate Environmental
Resources and Energy
11-17-05 S Discussed in Informational meeting on emergency response, House
Veterans Affairs & Emergency Prepared.
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HB 98
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George
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Amends
Title 27 re environmental regulation
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PLS Summary:
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(PN
92) Amends Title 27 (Environmental Resources) by defining
"Communication in furtherance of a person's right of petition or free speech
under the U.S. Constitution or the PA Constitution in connection with a
public issue" as a written or oral statement made: 1) before a
legislative, executive or judicial proceeding or any other official
proceeding authorized by law; 2) in connection with an issue under
consideration or review by a legislative, executive or judicial body or any
other official proceeding authorized by law; or 3) to a government agency
in connection with the implementation and enforcement of environmental law
and regulations. Also, the legislation states that a person who files an
action in the courts of PA to enforce an environmental law or regulation or
that makes an oral or written communication in furtherance of a person's
right of petition or free speech under the U.S. Constitution or the PA
Constitution in connection with a public issue relating to enforcement or
implementation of an environmental law or regulation would be immune from
civil liability in any resulting legal proceeding for damages where the
action or communication is aimed at procuring favorable governmental action
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Bill History:
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01-24-05
H Filed
01-25-05 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Environmental
Resources and Energy
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PLS Summary:
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(PN
129) Act authorizing and directing the Department of Conservation and
Natural Resources to convey a right-of-way to Elwood Kocher and Beatrice
Kocher, his wife, over certain Project 70 Land Acquisition and Borrowing Act
lands in Bushkill Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania.
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Bill History:
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01-27-05
H Filed
01-31-05 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Environmental
Resources and Energy
02-08-05 H Meeting set for 9:00 a.m., Hearing Room 1, North Office Buil,
House Environmental Resources and Energy
02-08-05 H Voted favorably from committee on House Environmental Resources
and Energy
02-08-05 H Reported as committed from House Environmental Resources and
Energy
02-08-05 H Rereferred to House State Government
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PLS Summary:
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(PN
2243) Amends The Second Class Township Code by adding that a board of supervisors
may make appropriations to nonprofit watershed associations for watersheds
serving the township. Such appropriations may not be used for litigation
against any municipal corporation or to seek redress against any individual
landowner. (Prior Printers Numbers: 137, 1818)
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Bill History:
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01-27-05
H Filed
01-31-05 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Local Government
03-16-05 H Meeting set for 10:00 a.m., Room 39, East Wing, House Local
Government
03-16-05 H Voted favorably from committee on House Local Government
03-16-05 H Reported as committed from House Local Government
03-16-05 H First consideration
03-16-05 H Laid on the table
03-21-05 H Set on the Tabled Calendar for
03-21-05 H Removed from the table
03-21-05 H Second consideration
03-21-05 H Rereferred to House Appropriations
03-29-05 H Voted favorably from committee on House Appropriations
03-29-05 H Set on the House Calendar
03-29-05 H Reported as committed from House Appropriations
05-02-05 H Set on the House Calendar
05-02-05 H Laid out for discussion
05-02-05 H 1 Floor amendment(s) adopted
05-02-05 H Third consideration
05-02-05 H Final Passage (Vote: Y:198/N: 0)
05-26-05 S Received in the Senate and referred to Senate Local Government
06-21-05 S Meeting set for 9:30 a.m., Room 461 Main Capitol Building,
Senate Local Government
06-21-05 S Voted favorably from committee as amended Senate Local
Government
06-21-05 S Reported as amended Senate Local Government
06-21-05 S First consideration
06-27-05 S Set on the Senate Calendar
06-27-05 S Rereferred to Senate Appropriations
06-30-05 S Meeting set for Off the Floor, Rules Committee Conference Ro,
Senate Appropriations
06-30-05 S Voted favorably from committee on Senate Appropriations
06-30-05 S Reported as committed from Senate Appropriations
07-01-05 S Set on the Senate Calendar
07-01-05 S Second consideration
07-02-05 S Set on the Senate Calendar
07-02-05 S Laid out for discussion
07-02-05 S Third consideration
07-02-05 S Final Passage (Vote: Y: 50/N: 0)
07-03-05 H Received as amended in House and rereferred House Rules
07-03-05 H Re-reported on concurrence as committed House Rules
07-03-05 H Set on the House Calendar
07-03-05 H Laid out for discussion
07-03-05 H House concurred in Senate amendments (Vote: Y:192/N: 2)
07-03-05 H Signed in the House
07-04-05 S Signed in the Senate
07-04-05 G In the hands of the Governor
07-14-05 G Last day for Governor's action
07-05-05 G Approved by the Governor (Act: 11)
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PLS Summary:
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(PN
264) The Host Municipality Agreement Act states that each host municipality
may enter into negotiations for the development of a host municipality
agreement. If a host municipality agreement is developed, the governing body
of each host municipality would vote to adopt or reject the agreement. The
legislation provides for the contents of agreement and also provides for
enforcement of host municipality agreement. No new municipal waste or
residual waste landfill or resource recovery facility may be permitted to
operate within 2,500 feet of a Pennsylvania
State park. The bill
provides for enforcement and allows the department to assess a civil
penalty upon a person for a violation. The Environmental Quality Board
would adopt the regulations of the department to accomplish the purposes
and to carry out the provisions of the Act.
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Bill History:
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02-03-05
H Filed
02-08-05 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Environmental
Resources and Energy
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PLS Summary:
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(PN
283) The Growing Greener Bond Act states that a question be put to the
electors asking if they authorize incurring indebtedness of $800,000,000
for environmental initiatives, natural resource conservation, agricultural land
preservation and community revitalization. If the question is approved, the
Commonwealth is authorized to incur additional indebtedness, not to exceed
$800,000,000, of which up to $330,000,000 would be spent for parks, open
space, farmland preservation and the improvement of facilities for the
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and the Pennsylvania Game Commission,
up to $300,000,000 would be spent for environmental cleanup, and up to
$170,000,000 would be spent for revitalization of communities as hereafter
provided by law.
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Bill History:
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02-03-05
H Filed
02-08-05 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Environmental
Resources and Energy
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PLS Summary:
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(PN
304) Amends Title 75 (Vehicles) by adding a chapter on dirk bikes. The
legislation requires dirt bikes operated on certain lands of the Department
of Conservation and Natural Resources to be registered and provides for the
registration process. Registration for two years would cost $20.
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Bill History:
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02-07-05
H Filed
02-08-05 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Transportation
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HB 314
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Hanna
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Amends
act re rent & royalties from oil & gas
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PLS Summary:
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(PN
335) Amends the act entitled "An act requiring rents and royalties
from oil and gas leases of Commonwealth land to be placed in a special fund
to be used for conservation, recreation, dams, and flood control;
authorizing the Secretary of Forests and Waters to determine the need for
and location of such projects and to acquire the necessary land" by
requiring rents and royalties from oil and gas leases on PA land to be
allocated to counties, municipalities and school districts. The Secretary
of DCNR is authorized to determine the need for and location of the
projects. The apportionment of the funds is also reconfigured.
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Bill History:
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02-07-05
H Filed
02-08-05 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Environmental
Resources and Energy
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PLS Summary:
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(PN
347) The Municipal Solid Waste Control Act establishes a two-year moratorium
on issuance of permits or modifications on permits for the construction,
expansion, and operation, of municipal waste landfills,
construction/demolition waste landfills, resource recovery facilities, or
commercial residual waste disposal facilities. The Department of
Environmental Protection is also not permitted to except modifications that
would increase average daily volume or the maximum daily volume at a
facility. Ninety days before the bill expires the Secretary of
Environmental Protection will review landfill capacity and usage and if it
is found that landfill capacity is equal or more than six years of unused
landfill capacity remains the moratorium will be extended for a year. The
Department will also be required to calculate actual daily volume amounts
at each facility by averaging the actual daily volume over the preceding
12-month period. Any amount in excess will be subject to rescission. The
municipality also is allowed to deny any permit or modification for a
permit except if it is determined that there is a public need for the
change and a hearing takes place. The bill also makes the facility owner
liable for all pollution water supplies within 2,500 linear feet of the
boundaries of the facility unless the water supply company refused to allow
the facility operator access to conduct survey, the pollution existed prior
to the facility operation, the pollution occurred as a result of some other
cause, or the landowner refused access to the facility operator attempting
to determine the cause of the pollution. Additionally, the act authorizes a
grant of $5,000,000 in the 2005-2006 fiscal year and the two following
fiscal years after that to the Recycling Fund, which goes to municipalities
that significantly increase their recycling effort. Finally, the act
prohibits a new municipal waste or residual waste landfill, or resource
recovery facility from opening 2,500 feet from a Pennsylvania State Park
and repeals all acts that are inconsistent with this act.
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Bill History:
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02-07-05
H Filed
02-08-05 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Environmental
Resources and Energy
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PLS Summary:
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(PN
634) The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act requires the Department of Environmental
Protection to prepare and publish a report on the impact of global warming
in PA. The report would identify the following: (1) predicted changes in
temperature and precipitation patterns and amounts as a result of global
warming; (2) the impact of global warming on forests, wildlife, fisheries,
recreation, human health and agriculture and any significant uncertainties
about the impact of global warming; and (3) economic opportunities for PA
created by the need for global warming- related technologies, services and
strategies, carbon sequestration technologies, capture and utilization of
fugitive greenhouse gas emissions from any source and other mitigation
strategies. The legislation would also require the Department to annually
create an inventory of greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted in PA, which would
establish GHG emission trends and the relative contribution of major
sectors, including, but not limited to, the transportation, electricity
generation, industrial, commercial, mining, agricultural and domestic
sectors. The legislation also creates a stakeholder process in which the
Governor would appoint interested stakeholders who to advise the Department
about implementation of the provisions of the legislation, including
scientific and other experts on global warming issues, business and
industry representatives, representatives from environmental, social,
sportsmen and labor organizations and other interested parties. Lastly, the
legislation requires a Greenhouse gases plan of action to be developed,
which: (1) Identifies GHG emission trends and baselines in PA, (2)
Determines cost-effective strategies for reducing GHG emissions from
various sectors in PA, (3) Establishes specific reduction targets for
overall GHG emissions in PA, (4) Identifies costs, benefits and co-benefits
of GHG reduction strategies recommended by the GHG plan of action, (5)
Identifies areas of agreement and disagreement among stakeholders about the
GHG plan of action, and (6) Recommends to the General Assembly legislative changes
necessary to implement the GHG plan of action.
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