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For Immediate Release
May 5, 2009
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White: Committee Votes to Extend Climate Change Plan
Deadline, Increase Transparency of Gas Well Reporting Requirements
Harrisburg – The state Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee,
chaired by Sen. Mary Jo White (R-21), approved six bills today, including
legislation to extend the deadline for submitting a Pennsylvania Climate Change
Action Plan and tighten
Marcellus Shale gas well reporting requirements.
Senate Bill 829, sponsored by Senate White, extends the timeframe for
submittal of the PA Climate Change Action Plan and restores a 60-day public
comment period.
Senate Bill 297, sponsored by Sen. Gene Yaw (R-23), requires
Marcellus Shale gas well operators to submit a semi-annual report in
addition to the existing annual report, and requires the Department of
Environmental Protection to post well production information online. The
legislation is intended to encourage additional interest and investment in the
Marcellus Shale region in Pennsylvania.
The committee also improved the following bills:
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Senate Bill 617 , sponsored by Sen. Jane Orie (R-40), establishes the
Heritage Area Program to identify, protect, enhance and promote the historic,
recreational and scenic resources of Pennsylvania.
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Senate Bill 783 , sponsored by Senator White, amends the Hazardous Sites
Cleanup Funding Act to change the date the annual report on the Hazardous Sites
Cleanup Fund is due from August 31 to December 31. The bill was amended to also
require any fines imposed under the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act (HSCA) to be
deposited into the HSCA Fund.
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House Bill 262 -- Seeks to encourage the continued use of prescribed
burning for fuel reduction, ecological, forest, wildlife and grassland
management purposes.
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House Bill 263 -- Requiring zoning ordinances to protect
the Appalachian
Trail.
The measures now move to the full Senate.
In addition, four bills previously approved by the committee to increase
transparency and accountability in state environmental spending were approved
last week by the full Senate.
he following bills, sponsored by Senator White, were unanimously approved by
the Senate:
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Senate Bill 115 requires the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
to post and maintain all clean air State Implementation Plans on its website,
and to provide the same to the standing Senate and House oversight committees.
The State Implementation Plans are the Commonwealth's formal submittals to the
Environmental Protection Agency detailing how the state will comply with
various air quality standards. This legislation would ensure that the plans are
readily available for public and legislative review and comment.
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Senate Bill 116 requires DEP to annually compile a comprehensive report
on all of the special funds and restricted accounts that it administers.
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Senate Bill 117 requires state agencies which receive funding under the
Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund Act (Key '93) to submit annual
reports to the governor and General Assembly - including a description of
projects and amounts requested - and post the information online.
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Senate Bill 118 requires DEP to deposit any HSCA-related fine money into the
HSCA Fund. Any business which causes a hazardous spill or release is obligated
under the HSCA statute to pay 100 percent of recovery and cleanup costs, and is
also liable for significant fines.
The bills were sent to the House of Representatives.
More information on these bills and all committee action is available at
www.senatormjwhite.com under
"Senate
Environmental Resources and Energy Committee."
CONTACT: Patrick Henderson
(717)
787-9684
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