New Jersey Environmental Legislation – Feb 16, 2011

The following environmental and energy bills are scheduled for floor votes tomorrow in the New Jersey Assembly and Senate: 

ASSEMBLY VOTING SESSION – 2/17/11 –  1 PM

A-763  DiMaio, J. (R-23); Riley, C.M. (D-3)
Establishes program authorizing lease of historic buildings and structures in State parks, forests, and wildlife management areas.
Related Bill: S-2570    
A-2721  Burzichelli, J.J. (D-3); Rumana, S.T. (R-40); Quijano, A. (D-20)
Changes five year chapter expiration date for rules to seven years; changes procedures for readoption of rules. Related Bill: S-2013
       
A-3444  Chivukula, U.J. (D-17); Coutinho, A. (D-29)
Provides certain exemptions from disclosure requirements for licensing of solid waste and hazardous waste operations.  Related Bill: S-2295
    
 A-3650  Wagner, C. (D-38); Coughlin, C.J. (D-19); Fuentes, A. (D-5)
Provides corporation business tax credit and gross income tax credits for purchase and installation of certain electric vehicle charging stations.  Related Bill: S-2612
     
A-3651  Benson, D.R. (D-14); Ryan, K.J. (D-36); Wilson, G.L. (D-5)
Provides corporation business tax credits and gross income tax credits for purchase of certain electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.  Related Bill: S-2611
       
A-3769  Burzichelli, J.J. (D-3); Quijano, A. (D-20)
Requires DEP to conduct analysis of “Pollution Prevention Act.”
    
S-2295  Lesniak, R.J. (D-20)
Provides certain exemptions from disclosure requirements for licensing of solid waste and hazardous waste operations.  Related Bill: A-3444
SENATE VOTING SESSION – 2/17/11 – 2 PM
S-2433  Van Drew, J. (D-1); Addiego, D.M. (R-8)
Allows municipalities to reexamine municipal master plan every 10 years.
Related Bill: A-3272 

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New Jersey Environmental Legislation – Feb 16, 2011 Read More »

Pennsylvania Environmental Legislation – Feb 16 2011

The following environmental bills have seen recent action in the Pennsylvania General Assembly:

HB 569 (Benninghoff) An Act prohibiting the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources from promulgating certain rules and regulations.
Referred to ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, Feb. 9, 2011 [House]


HB 603
(Hutchinson) Amends the Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act to allow the use of premium fees to pay the costs associated with treating certain post-mining pollution discharges at ABS legacy sites.
Referred to ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, Feb. 10, 2011 [House]



HB 632
(Gillespie) Amends the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act, further providing for penalties and for fines, civil penalties and fees; and making editorial changes.
Referred to ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, Feb. 14, 2011


HB 690
(Hanna) Amends the Oil and Gas Act to provide property owners with a process for securing compensation for surface damage caused by oil or natural gas drilling.
Referred to ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, Feb. 15, 2011 [House]

Senate Bills


SB 447
(M. White ) Amends Ttle 58 (Oil and Gas) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, consolidating the Oil and Gas Conservation Law with modifications relating to definitions, standard unit order, process, administration, standard of review, hearings and appeals, establishment of units, integration of various interests, lease extension and scope; providing for gas and hazardous liquids pipelines; and making a related repeal.
Referred to ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, Feb. 11, 2011 [Senate]

SB 452
(Erickson) An Act updating and expanding the storm water planning requirements to be undertaken by counties; authorizing counties to regulate storm water within a watershed-based planning area; authorizing the formation of water resources management authorities; enabling counties, municipalities and water resources management authorities to develop integrated water resources management plans; imposing duties and conferring powers on the Department of Environmental Protection, the Environmental Quality Board, counties, municipalities and water resources management authorities; providing for financing and for waiver of use for certain grant or loan funds; and making related repeals.
Referred to ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, Feb. 7, 2011


SB 454
(Erickson) An Act establishing a program for the purchase of certain types of environmental liability insurance and for subsidies for the costs of premiums; and providing for powers and duties of the Department of Environmental Protection.

Referred to ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, Feb. 7, 2011 [Senate]


SB 460 (Yaw) An Act amending the act of July 20, 1979 (P.L.183, No.60), entitled “An act regulating the terms and conditions of certain leases regarding natural gas and oil,” adding definitions; providing for payment information to interest owners for accumulation of proceeds from production, for nonpayment of royalties and for effects of nonpayment; and making editorial changes.
Referred to ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, Feb. 11, 2011 [Senate]

SB 531 (Rafferty) An Act amending the act of July 7, 1980 (P.L.380, No.97), known as the Solid Waste Management Act, further providing for criminal penalties.

Referred to ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, Feb. 14, 2011 [Senate]
SB 532 (Rafferty) An Act amending the act of July 7, 1980 (P.L.380, No.97), known as the Solid Waste Management Act, further providing for permit and license application requirements and for enforcement orders; and providing for repeat violations.
Referred to ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, Feb. 14, 2011 [Senate]
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Our most recent posts:

Bills today in PA Senate Environment Committee

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Pennsylvania Environmental Legislation – Feb 16 2011 Read More »

Bills today in PA Senate Environment Committee

The  Pennsylvania  Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meets today
(Feb 14, 2011) to consider:

SB 151 (Pileggi) Provides for the sharing of Air Pollution Control Act fines and penalties.
|

SB 265  (M. White) Amends the Coal and Gas Resource Coordination Act to further provide for drilling through coal reserves.

SB 302 (M. White)  Requires reporting t he use of monies from the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund


 
SB 303  (M. White)  Providing for reports under the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act,

 
SB 304  (M.White) Providing for review of Air Pollution State Implementation Plans.

 
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Bills today in PA Senate Environment Committee Read More »

Former PADEP chief sits down for a frank, fracking chat

John Hanger became secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection during the last two and a half year’s of Governor Ed Rendell’s term in office–roughly the same time that natural gas companies were snapping up drilling leases, boring hundreds of wells, and pumping millions of gallons of fracking fluids into sections of the Marcellus Shale that runs beneath Pennsylvania and New York.

Hanger had to play catchup with an industry that found virtually no environmental or political barriers to entry to the Keystone State, despite a few highly publicized events, including exploding wells and a contaminated community water supply.    

By most accounts, the DEP under Hanger, responded admirably, overseeing the development and  adoption of tough new rules on well placements and security and on the storage and treatment of wastewater from the controversial hydraulic fracturing technique–more commonly known as hydrofracking or ‘fracking.’

Hanger sat for an interview, published today, with ProPublica, the prize-winning organization that published a series of  investigative reports that spurred wider media attention to the potential dangers associated with natural drilling methods and fluids.

In the interview, Hanger reviews the challenges the department faced and what it did to overcome them, and he answers the question: Is hydraulic fracturing safe?

He also expresses his view on the developing national regulation of natural gas drilling. 
His opinion might surprise you.

Overall, it’s a piece worth your time. You’ll find it at:
PA’s Former Environmental Chief, Talks About Challenges of Keeping Gas Drilling Safe

Related:
Former PADEP Secretary joins Eckert Seamans law firm

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Green (and blue) roofs top NJ enviro panel’s agenda

The New Jersey Assembly’s Environment and Solid Waste Committee will consider five bills tomorrow (Feb 10) that encourage, regulate–and in some cases, require–the use of blue roofs or green roofs in new building construction.

What is a blue roof?  It is defined in the legislative package as one ““constructed with mechanical controls that drain stormwater, including but not limited to gravel beds, perforated pipes, rooftop detention systems, or weirs, designed to improve stormwater management.”

What is a green roof It’s one that “includes, among other things, a growth medium and a vegetation layer of drought resistant and hardy plant species, designed to improve stormwater management.”

The green and blue roofing bills up for a committee vote tomorrow are:

A-3678  Ramos Jr., R.J. (D-33); McKeon, J.F. (D-27); DeAngelo, W.P. (D-14)
Requires NJ Environmental Infrastructure Financing Program to give additional weight in ranking system to projects including green or blue roofs.
   
A-3679  Ramos Jr., R.J. (D-33); McKeon, J.F. (D-27); DeAngelo, W.P. (D-14)
Requires construction of certain new State buildings, facilities, and structures to include green or blue roofs.
   
A-3680 Ramos Jr., R.J. (D-33); McKeon, J.F. (D-27); DeAngelo, W.P. (D-14)
Requires DEP to adopt rules concerning blue roofs and green roofs and provides priority consideration for related permits and other authorizations.
   
A-3681  Ramos Jr., R.J. (D-33); McKeon, J.F. (D-27); DeAngelo, W.P. (D-14)
Requires construction of new buildings, facilities, and structures using State, EDA, or NJ Schools Development Authority funds to include green or blue roofs.
   
 A-3682  Ramos Jr., R.J. (D-33); McKeon, J.F. (D-27); DeAngelo, W.P. (D-14)
Establishes program to provide financial assistance towards installation of blue roofs and green roofs, authorizes use of Global Warming Solutions Fund for certain such purposes.

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First-ever national standard for perchlorate in the works


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Green (and blue) roofs top NJ enviro panel’s agenda Read More »

EPA’s fracking study plan open for public comment


Making environmental news today is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announcement that its draft study plan on hydraulic fracturing has been submitted for review to the agency’s Science Advisory Board (SAB), a group of independent scientists. 

Hydraulic fracturing is a process in which large volumes of water, sand and chemicals are injected at high pressures to extract oil and natural gas from underground rock formations. The process creates fractures in formations such as shale rock, allowing natural gas or oil to escape into the well and be recovered. Over the past few years, the use of hydraulic fracturing for gas extraction has increased and has expanded over a wider diversity of geographic regions and geologic formations.

EPA scientists are undertaking a study of the process, also know as hydrofracturing or fracking, to better understand any potential impacts it may have, including on groundwater. EPA announced its intention to conduct the study in March 2010 and use the best available science, independent sources of information, a transparent, peer-reviewed process and with consultation from others. Since then, the agency has held a series of public meetings across the country and has developed a draft plan for moving forward with the study.

The EPA says that the proposed research “includes the full lifespan of water in hydraulic fracturing, from acquisition of the water, through the mixing of chemicals and actual fracturing, to the post-fracturing stage, including the management of flowback and produced or used water and its ultimate treatment and disposal. “

The SAB plans to review the draft plan March 7-8, 2011. Stakeholders and the public will have an opportunity to provide comments to the SAB during their review. The agency will revise the study plan in response to the SAB’s comments and then begin the study. Initial research results and study findings are expected to be made public by the end of 2012, with the goal of an additional report following further research in 2014. More information on hydraulic fracturing

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