|
|
|||
|
The Senate Appropriations Committee this morning held a budget hearing with DEP Secretary Mike Krancer. Members asked questions to ascertain the adequacy of the proposed budget and particularly discussed the need to protect the environment as natural gas drilling increases. Several members also asked about flood control funding, pointing out prevention is less expensive than recovery. Look for the complete story in the Capitol Toolbox later today. Posted by Kim | Tags: environment, flood control, marcellus shale, natural gas | Category: Budget Hearing, Senate Appropriations | Comments are closed | Share:
PennFuture this morning announced the release of a report on Act 129 of 2008, which provided for reductions in energy consumption. Courtney Lane, senior energy policy analyst for PennFuture, stated the report found that “The energy savings law is an unqualified success.” She reviewed the economic and environmental benefits of decreased energy consumption and pointed out that every dollar spent on Act 129 has yielded $8 in savings. Look for the complete story and a link to the full report in the “Around the Capital” section of the Capitol Toolbox early this afternoon. Posted by Kim | Tags: Economy, Energy, environment | Category: Press Conference | Comments are closed | Share:
PennEnvironment, an environmental advocacy group based out of Philadelphia, held a Capitol news conference today to release the report “Danger in the Air: Unhealthy Air Days in 2010 and 2011.” Clean Energy Associate Charley Dorsaneo noted the report ranks Pennsylvania the sixth smoggiest state in the nation with two cities ranking in the top 20 of the smoggiest cities in the nation. Dorsaneo argued the report shows it is imperative to “make every day a safe day to breath.” Other speakers at the news conference urging state and federal lawmakers to adopt stricter air quality regulations were two health professionals treating vulnerable constituencies and Jeff Schmidt of the Sierra Club. More will be available in the Press Conferences section of the Capitol Toolbox later today. PennEnvironment and Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware) held a press conference today to release a comprehensive report outlining a plan for Pennsylvania to significantly reduce its dependence on oil. Rep. Vitali stated “this report brings needed attention to a very important issue.” Policies recommended in the report would set fuel efficiency standards, making 60-mpg cars the norm by the year 2025. Check the Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story. Posted by intern | Tags: environment, fuel efficiency, oil, oil dependence | Category: Press Conference | Comments are closed | Share:
George calls for Shale tax & protection legislation House Environmental Resources Committee Minority Chairman Bud George (D-Clearfield), along with a number of other Democratic legislators, today called for Republicans and Gov. Tom Corbett to enact a severance tax on Marcellus Shale gas extraction as well as further measures to increase state oversight of drilling in the Commonwealth. “Pennsylvania is our priority,” Rep. George said. “It’s Pennsylvania and not the gas industry profits, not revenues, but Pennsylvania, and certainly not the politics of greed and gain.” In addition to calling for a severance tax, Rep. George unveiled two pieces of environmental protection legislation – HB 971 and HB 1410. The first bill, known as the Land and Water Protection Act, would institute a series of protections including an increased setback from water supply requirement, greater fines and bonding requirements, and a new presumption of pollution rule. HB 1410, the Lessor’s Royalty Protection Act, would increase the minimum royalty amount from 12.5% to 15% and prevents post-production costs from being used to decrease royalty payments. Democratic Leader Frank Dermody (D-Allegheny) said “we need a reasonable Marcellus Shale tax to raise the revenues so that DEP, DCNR, all the groups, all Continue reading George: “Put Pennsylvania first” with Marcellus Shale tax, laws Posted by Mike | Tags: environment, marcellus shale | Category: Press Conference | Comments are closed | Share:
Rep. Marguerite Quinn (R-Bucks) held a press conference today to unveil legislation that creates an impact fee to address the environmental and infrastructure impact the Marcellus Shale natural gas industry is bringing to the Commonwealth. The legislation will be known as the Shale Impact Mitigation Policy for Local, Environment and Roads (SIMPLER). Rep. Quinn assured this legislation is a “fair and balanced approach” to address the impacts brought on by this new industry. Check the Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story. Posted by intern | Tags: drilling, environment, marcellus shale, roads | Category: Press Conference | Comments are closed | Share:
Advocacy group PennEnvironment today released a new report on the impact of Marcellus Shale drilling in the Commonwealth, entitled “In the Shadow of the Marcellus Boom.” Clean Water Advocate Erika Staaf said the study focuses on the health risk PennEnvironment believes the drilling process poses for children and other vulnerable populations. “Whether it’s air or water pollution, accidents or explosions, we’ve seen that the effects of Marcellus Shale gas extraction don’t necessarily end at the drilling pad’s borders,” Staaf said in a conference call accompanying the release. “We cannot put our most vulnerable populations at risk of these problems any longer.” The report finds permitted well sites exist within two miles of more than 320 day care facilities, 67 schools and nine hospitals statewide. Staaf said PennEnvironment recommends, among other things, that the Commonwealth designate “pristine places and locations” that are off-limits to drilling near where people live or work, including near day care facilities, schools, hospitals and other vulnerable populations. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story. Posted by Mike | Tags: environment, fracking, marcellus shale | Category: Press Conference | Comments are closed | Share:
The Committee met to receive an update on the waste tire cleanup and recycling status from a variety of sources including the DEP, Recycling Markets Center, Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Rubber Manufacturers Association, and Liberty Tire Recycling. The purpose of this meeting was to learn the impact of Act 190, passed in 1996, and ways to improve this legislation in the future. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the complete story. Posted by intern | Tags: environment, Recycling, tires, waste management | Category: Public/Informational Committee Hearing | Comments are closed | Share:
The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau held a press conference this morning to publicize the achievements and importance of the agriculture industry in the state. PFB President Carl Shaffer, himself a Columbia county farmer, spoke to the importance of farmers as environmental stewards, maintaining land and water resources for future generations. Shaffer stated “farmers are committed to conservation improvements” and noted a recent study showed 96% of farmers in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed have implemented erosion control practices. He remarked the Bureau does not believe enough is being done to publicize the work of farms in environmental efforts. On hand to support the PFB were Senate Ag Committee Chairman Elder Vogel (R-Beaver) and House Ag Committee Chairman John Maher (R-Allegheny). Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story. Posted by Mike | Tags: agriculture, Chesapeake Bay, environment, farms, nutrient runoff, PFB | Category: Press Conference | Comments are closed | Share:
Representatives of PennFuture and the Coalition for Philadelphia’s Riverfronts held a conference call today to discuss the release of a report detailing the economic and health benefits of a continuous waterfront greenway on both of Philadelphia’s rivers. Check the Capitol Toolbox for the full story. Posted by Jason | Tags: delaware river, environment, pennfuture, schuylkill | Category: Press Conference | Comments are closed | Share:
|
 |
|
|
Copyright © 2012 FYI by PLS - All Rights Reserved |
|||