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Senate Republicans continue the legacy of
responsible environmental stewardship in Pennsylvania dating back to
Republican Gov. Gifford Pinchot, in which natural resources are protected
without harming the economy or restricting use by citizens.
Growing Greener
In 1999, led by Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee
Chairman Mary Jo White (R-Venango), the Senate approved the
largest environmental investment in Pennsylvania's history: the $645 million
Growing Greener environmental initiative.
Signed into law by Republican Gov. Tom Ridge,
Act 68 cleaned up abandoned mines and restored watersheds, protected open
space, eliminated the maintenance backlog in state parks, and provided new and
upgraded water and sewer systems. In 2002, Republican Gov. Mark Schweiker signed
into law Act 90, which
extended Growing Greener into a 13-year, $1.24 billion
program.
In 2005, the Senate passed legislation to implement a $625 million
Growing Greener environmental bond approved by voters. Under
Act 45, debt service on the bond is paid by using a portion of the existing
fee charged for waste disposal at landfills. The Rendell Administration
had proposed increasing taxes on households and businesses by nearly $150
million annually to pay debt service and fund other projects. Senate
Republicans
rejected the governor's proposal.
Water Supplies and Recycling
Other environmental measures that Senator White and Senate Republicans
worked to implement include
Act 220 of 2002, which launched the first
comprehensive review of Pennsylvania's water supplies in more than 25
years. In 2006, the Senate approved Act 140, which extended funding of the
Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction
program until 2012. The recycling fee was scheduled to sunset in 2009. As
amended by Republicans, the measure exempts smaller communities from certain
mandates and provides more local control and flexibility for larger communities. |
| Senate GOP Alternative Energy Plan Rejects
Administration’s Call for New Taxes |
The Senate
approved legislation to invest $650 million over the next seven years in
consumer energy programs, energy conservation, and the development of
alternative and renewable energy.
The Alternative Energy Investment Act, introduced by Sen. Mary Jo White
(R-Venango) and Sen. Robert M. Tomlinson (R-Bucks), provides funding for grants
and loans to projects geared at improving energy supply and efficiency,
improved conservation and reduced demand for energy – with no tax increases.
"Our focus needs
to be on helping energy consumers," said Sen. Tomlinson. "Energy costs are going
up, and the state should support energy conservation and alternative energy
development as a long-term way to reduce the impact those rates have on
Pennsylvania families."
"This package is
both aggressive and balanced," said Sen. White. "We're providing a fiscally
responsible approach to encouraging the development of alternative and renewable
energy and energy conservation."
The senators noted
that much work lies ahead to reach a consensus on legislation creating a fund to
promote energy conservation and alternative energy.
Bill Summary
Special Session on Energy Web Page
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Funding and Strengthening
Hazardous Sites Cleanup |
Legislation to provide funding for the Hazardous Sites
Cleanup Act Fund (HSCA), sponsored by Senate Majority Leader
Dominic Pileggi (R-9) and Senator Mary Jo White (R-21),
chairman of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy
Committee, was signed into law.
Act 77 of 2007 transfers about $17 million to HSCA from
legislative accounts for the current fiscal year. Using
legislative accounts to fund HSCA for the first half of 2008
ensures that no state program is cut. And this
approach to HSCA funding does not require higher taxes.
The
HSCA Fund finances cleanups at contaminated sites and the
investigation of illegal hazardous waste disposals. In
addition to providing funding for the remainder of the
2007-08 session year, Act 77 earmarks $40 million in
existing revenues for HSCA from the Capitol Stock and
Franchise Tax for fiscal years 2008-09 through 2010-11. This
legislation does not change the scheduled phase-out of the
Capital Stock and Franchise Tax.
THE SENATE ALSO APPROVED
Senate Bill 1068, sponsored by Sen. White, to require
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.
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Other
Environment and Energy Initiatives |
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Act 35 of 2007 - This new law will
steadily increase the amount of solar energy used in
Pennsylvania through 2020.
(Summary
of Act 35/HB 1203)
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Act 20 of 2007 - This new law provides five-year sunset
extension for Underground Storage Tank Environmental
Cleanup Program and Underground Storage Tank Pollution
Prevention Program These initiatives were due to expire in
July 2007.
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House Bill 483 - Approved by the General Assembly, this
measure will establish a Mine Families First Program
to ensure two-way communication between those persons in
command of a mine emergency response operation and the
families of miners trapped, injured or awaiting rescue.
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Senate Bill 782 - The Senate Environmental Resources and
Energy Committee approved legislation providing for an
increase in nuclear fees to pay for safe transportation
of nuclear materials.
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Senate Bill 76 - Sponsored by Senate Consumer
Affairs and Professional Licensure Committee Chairman Tommy
Tomlinson (R-Bucks), this bill authorizes the Department of
Public Welfare to provide matching funds for low-income
home energy assistance programs
that are administered by utilities.
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Senate Bill 675 - Sponsored by Sen. Ted Erickson
(R-Delaware), this bill would create the Solar Energy
System Incentives Program to provide financial
incentives for the purchase and installation of photovoltaic
and solar thermal systems. Under this program, residents who
purchase and install certain new photovoltaic systems would
be eligible for a rebate on a portion of the purchase price.
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Senate Bill 266 - Introduced by Sen. Ted Erickson, this
legislation would establish the Pennsylvania Climate Change Act. The act would provide a framework for the
Commonwealth and citizens to understand the potential
impacts of climate change, develop an action plan to
respond, and take advantage of the economic opportunities
that may be created.
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Senate Bill 355 -
Requires 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 Commonwealth 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 1069 -
This legislation requires state agencies which receive funding under the
Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund (Key '93) to
submit annual reports to the governor and
General Assembly – including description of projects and amounts requested
-- and post the information online.
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Senate Bill 354 -
This measure would ensure that the state Environmental Quality Board accepts only those rulemaking
petitions addressing regulations necessary to achieve compliance with either a
state or federal environmental statute.
The bill recognizes the growing awareness that the current EQB petition process
can be manipulated to entertain public policy decisions that are more
appropriately reserved for the elected legislature and governor. (Letter
to DEP Citizens Advisory Council)
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Senate Bill 105 - This bill requires DEP to provide
legal counsel to the members of the Environmental Quality
Board. Counsel shall assist individual members in
reviewing regulations, drafting amendments and understanding
procedural matters. The measure aims to add some true
independence to the board.
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Trichloroethylene (TCE)
Sen. John
Rafferty (R-Montgomery) is leading an effort to
monitor and reduce the presence of trichloroethylene (TCE) in the Greater
Collegeville Area of his district.
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Senate Environmental Resources and Energy
Committee |
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Chaired by Sen.
Mary Jo White (R-Venango), this committee holds
hearings on a regular basis regarding issues
affecting Pennsylvania’s environment and natural
resources. During the 2007-2008 legislative
session, the committee had held confirmation
hearings for secretaries of Environmental
Protection and Conservation and Natural
Resources, coal bed methane issues, and joint
hearings with the Senate Consumer Protection and
Professional Licensure Committee on a
Pennsylvania energy policy.
Information on
committee meetings, including bill summaries,
roll call votes, amendments, as well as
testimony and video of public hearings, is
available on the
committee website.
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H2O PA Plan Would Fund Critical Infrastructure Needs
Senator Jane Earll (R-49), Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-9) and
Sen. Mike Folmer (R-48) today announced H2O PA, a plan to provide $750 million
in funding for critical water and sewer projects, storm water projects, flood
control projects, and high-hazard dam repairs.
(full
story)
Sen. Mary Jo White, Sen. Tomlinson Respond to Gov.
Rendell on Energy Policy (PDF)
Rhoades Co-Chairs General Assembly Coal
Conference
Realizing the need to shift focus back to Pennsylvania's most abundant natural
resource, State Senator James J. Rhoades (R-29) today joined Senate and House
members in the formation of a General Assembly Coal Conference, a bipartisan
committee emphasizing the continued importance of coal and coal-driven
technologies in the Commonwealth.
(full
story)
(running time 1 hour 13 minutes)
Measures to Resolve Disputes over Coal Bed
Methane Wells, Encourage Brownfield Redevelopment Agreements Approved by
Committee
Measures aimed at resolving disputes over coal bed methane wells, encouraging
brownfield redevelopment and protecting property rights were unanimously
approved by the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, chaired by
Sen. Mary Jo White (R-21).
(full
story)
Senate Game and Fisheries Committee Examines
Deer Management Issues
The Senate Game and Fisheries
Committee held hearings Tuesday to examine deer management issues and receive
the Pennsylvania Game Commission's annual report, according to Sen. Chuck
McIlhinney (R-Bucks).
(full
story)
Senate Policy Committee to Hold February 21st
Hearing on Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy
The Senate
Policy Committee will hold a public hearing on Thursday,
February 21st in Harrisburg, to hear testimony on the
state's Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy and its impact on
taxpayers across Pennsylvania, according to Committee
Chairman Senator Jake Corman (R-Bellefonte).
(full
story)
Senate Approves
Comprehensive Mine Safety Bill
The state Senate today approved a
sweeping mine safety bill that will provide for the first rewrite of
Pennsylvania’s mining laws in nearly half a century, according Sen. Mary Jo
White (R-21), who co-sponsored the measure.
(full
story)
Senate Approves Sen. Browne
"Anti-Idling" Legislation
The Senate unanimously approved
legislation introduced by Senator Pat Browne intended to
reduce the noise and noxious exhaust fumes of idling tractor
trailers. Senate Bill 295 would bar commercial diesel
vehicles from idling for more than five minutes during any
60-minute period.
(full
story)
 
A Sensible Plan on
Alternative Energy and Bio-Fuels
Last July, Senate Republicans agreed to take a close look
at a variety of alternative energy and bio-fuels proposals,
including those put forth by Governor Rendell. But we
insisted that any proposals be evaluated on their own merits
– not under threat of a government shutdown.
(full
story)
White: Historic Mine Safety
Legislation Approved by Committee - First Comprehensive Update
of Mine Safety Law in Nearly 50 Years
The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee,
chaired by Sen. Mary Jo White (R-21), approved the
first comprehensive rewrite of Pennsylvania's mine safety
laws in nearly 50 years.
"Mining has a long, proud tradition in Pennsylvania,
producing jobs for communities and energy for the nation.
Enactment of this legislation will represent the culmination
of a strenuous effort to make this inherently dangerous job
safer," said White.
(full
story)
Summary of SB 949 (PDF)
- Hearing Video
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Senator MJ White
- Senator
Rhoades
Rhoades Introduces the
Pennsylvania Home Heating Rebate Program for Senior Citizens
Encouraging
his colleagues to address an issue that hits home for
thousands of Pennsylvanians, Senator James J. Rhoades (R-29)
announced that he will introduce the Home Heating Rebate
Program so that seniors citizens can receive additional
state assistance to offset the skyrocketing costs of home
heating fuel.
(full
story)
Vance Proposes Third-Party
Study of Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy Costs
Continuing
her efforts to address the financial impact of implementing
the Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy (CBTS), Sen. Pat Vance
(R-Cumberland/York) announced plans to introduce a
Senate resolution that would require a third-party study of
the costs for sewage treatment facilities to execute the
strategy.
(full
story)
Rhoades Introduces Freeze on Home Heating Fuel
Cost
Acting to
provide home heating fuel relief to all Pennsylvanians,
Senator James J. Rhoades (R-29) introduced legislation that
would immediately freeze the rising costs of home heating
fuels.
(full
story)
Comprehensive Update of Mine Safety Laws Goes
Before Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee
The Senate
Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, chaired by Sen. Mary Jo White
(R-21), will consider the first comprehensive rewrite of
Pennsylvania’s mine safety laws in more than 45 years.
(full
story)
Senators Madigan, White Praise EPA Decision to
Deny California Vehicle Emissions Waiver
Senator Roger Madigan, Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, and
Senator Mary Jo White, Chairman of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy
Committee, issued the following statement regarding yesterday's decision by the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to deny California's vehicle emissions
waiver request: "We applaud the decision by the EPA to deny California's
waiver request. This is a first -- but very significant -- step in stopping a
potentially costly and unnecessary vehicle standard from being imposed upon
Pennsylvania motorists.
(full
story)
Senate Approves "Biodiesel
Study and Production Incentive Act"
Legislation
that would increase the in-state production of biodiesel and
study its impact on air quality was approved by the state
Senate, according to Sen. Mary Jo White (R-21),
who sponsored the measure.
(full
story)
Senate Passes White’s $650
Million Alternative Energy Investment Act
The state Senate passed with bipartisan support the
$650 million Alternative Energy Investment Act, a measure
sponsored by Sen. Mary Jo White (R-21) to boost renewable
energy development and reduce energy consumption without
imposing new taxes.
(full
story)
Senator Pileggi's Hazardous
Sites Cleanup Act Funding Legislation Sent to Governor
Legislation to provide funding for the Hazardous Sites
Cleanup Act Fund (HSCA), sponsored by Senate Majority Leader
Dominic Pileggi (R-9) and Senator Mary Jo White (R-21),
chairman of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy
Committee, passed the state House unanimously.
(full
story)
Tomlinson’s Alternative
Fuels Bill Approved by Senate During Special Session
During its
Special Session on Energy, the Senate approved legislation
sponsored by Senator Tommy Tomlinson (R-Bucks) that would
encourage the use of energy efficient alternative fuels.
(full
story)
Senate Passes Measure to Update Alternative
Energy Portfolio Standards
The state Senate approved legislation that updates
Pennsylvania's alternative energy law to include biomass and
low-impact hydropower energy resources, according to Sen.
Mary Jo White (R-21), who chairs the Senate Special Session
Committee on Energy Policies.
(full
story)
Committee Moves Eight Special
Session Energy Bills Forward
The Senate
Special Session Committee on Energy Policies approved eight
bills, advancing several energy issues in the Senate.
(full
story)
Sen. Erickson
Senate Special Session Committee Meeting
Senate Approves Erickson's "PA Climate Change
Act"
The state Senate approved the Pennsylvania Climate Change
Act, sponsored by Sen. Ted Erickson (R-26).
(full
story)
Pennsylvania Must Fund Hazardous Sites Cleanup
When the annual state budget was passed in mid-July, it did not include any
funding for the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund – one of the most important
programs in state government.
(full
story)
Hearing Held on Alternative Energy Investment
Act
The Senate Special Session Committee on Energy Policies, chaired
by Sen. Mary Jo White (R-Venango), held a public hearing on legislation
that would invest $530 million over the next seven years in consumer energy
programs, energy conservation, and the development of alternative and renewable
energy.
(full
story)
- Hearing
Part 1
Part 2
- Hearing
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Sen. White
Pileggi-White Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act
Funding Legislation Passes Senate
Legislation to provide funding for the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act Fund (HSCA),
sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-9) and Senator Mary Jo
White (R-21), chairman of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy
Committee, passed the Senate unanimously.
(full
story)
- Sen. Mary Jo White Floor Remarks
- Sen. Mary Jo White
Senate Committee Advances
Alternative Energy Investment Act in Special Session
The Senate Special Session Committee on
Energy Policies advanced legislation to invest $530
million over the next seven years in consumer energy
programs, energy conservation, and the development of
alternative and renewable energy.
(full
story)
- Sen. Tomlinson
- Sen. Mary Jo White
- Sen. Brubaker
- Sen. Erickson
- Sen. Scarnati
- Sen. Folmer
- Sen. Wonderling
- Sen. Don White
New Website Tracks Special
Session on Energy Information
Sen. Mary Jo White (R-21), chair of the Committee on Energy
Policies for Special Session No. 1, announced the creation of a website to
track legislative information on the special session. (full
story)
Senate
Republicans Respond to Energy Address
Senate Republicans commented on Gov. Rendell’s address to
lawmakers on his energy plan. The General Assembly began the Special Session on
Energy on Monday, September 17.
Sen. Corman
Sen. Robbins
Sen. Tomlinson
Sen. Mary Jo
White
Part 1
-Sen. Pileggi
Part 2 - Sen. Pileggi
Sen. Pileggi
Senator Wonderling Says Free Market Must Drive
Energy Policy
Pennsylvania Senator Rob Wonderling (R-24th) applauded the efforts of the
Administration and the General Assembly to address Pennsylvania’s long-term
energy policy and urged the Special Session on Energy to consider measures that
encourage free market entrepreneurship.
(full
story)
Senators
Pileggi, White Propose Funding for Hazardous Sites Cleanup
Act
Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Chester) and
Senator Mary Jo White (R-Venango), chairman of the Senate
Environmental Resources and
Energy Committee, announced that they are introducing
legislation to provide funding for the Hazardous Sites
Cleanup Act Fund (HSCA).
(full
story)
Senators Mary Jo White, Tomlinson to
Introduce "Alternative Energy Investment Act"
State Senators Mary Jo White (R-21) and Robert M. Tomlinson
(R-6) announced their intent to introduce the "Alternative
Energy Investment Act" when the Special Session on Energy
convenes next week.
Under the legislation, $60 million annually would be
allocated out of existing revenues to provide grants and
loans to projects geared at improving energy supply and
efficiency, improved conservation and reduced demand for
energy.
(full
story)
Erickson Announces Legislation to
Direct PA Response to Global Warming
State Sen. Ted Erickson (R-26) joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers to announce
legislation to direct Pennsylvania's response to
global warming and greenhouse gas emissions.
(full
story)
Senate Again Passes White Bill to Strengthen
Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education
Legislation reintroduced by state Sen. Mary Jo White (R-21)
to strengthen a successful statewide environmental education
program based at Slippery Rock University was approved today
by the Senate.
The Senate approved similar legislation sponsored
by White in the previous two legislative sessions, but the
House of Representatives did not vote on the measures.
(full
story)
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