Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee
Approves Seven Bills, Extends Review of Marcellus Shale Permit Fee Increase
Harrisburg – The Senate
Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, chaired by Sen. Mary Jo White
(R-21), today approved seven bills, and an extended review of plans to hike
Marcellus Shale natural gas permits from $100 to an average of $2,600.
The committee approved the following bills:
-
Senate
Bill 85 (Musto) -- Providing for independent advice and counsel for
Environmental Quality Board members.
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Senate
Bill 86 (Musto) -- Amending Water & Sewer Systems Assistance Act to
provide for bonding authority omitted from Act 64 of 2008.
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Senate
Bill 115 (White, M.J.) -- Requires air quality plans to be posted
online.
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Senate
Bill 116 (White, M.J.) -- The Environmental Funds Reporting and
Disclosure Act.
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Senate
Bill 117 (White, M.J.) -- Requires annual reports under Key '93 program
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Senate
Bill 118 (White, M.J.) -- Requires deposit of certain fines into HSCA
Fund.
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Senate
Bill 156 (Tomlinson) -- The Home Energy Assistance Act.
- Environmental
Quality Board Regulation # 7-430 (Final Marcellus Shale Permit Fees) –
The committee approved a 14-day extended review of the state Department of
Environmental Protection’s to increase Marcellus Shale natural gas permits
from $100 to an average of $2,600. DEP circumvented the traditional public
and legislative comment period, and the 14-day extension will allow the
committee to review Independent Regulatory Review Commission actions and
comments on the matter before taking further action.
Senator White will be
introducing legislation in the coming days to transfer funds from the Oil
and Gas Lease Fund to provide additional resources to DEP, the Department of
Conservation and Natural Resources, the Fish and Boat Commission, and the
Game Commission to process Marcellus Shale natural gas permits.
Contact:
Patrick Henderson
(717) 787-9684
