POLITICAL NOTEBOOK
The state Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, chaired by Sen.
Mary Jo White, R-21st, this week approved six bills, including legislation to extend the deadline for submitting a Pennsylvania Climate Change Action Plan.Senate Bill 829, sponsored by White, extends the time for submittal of the plan to address climate change in the state, and restores a 60-day public comment period.S.B. 297, sponsored by Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Williamsport, meanwhile, would require Marcellus Shale gas well operators to submit a semiannual report in addition to the existing annual report, and would require the Department of Environmental Protection to post well production information online.The legislation, White said, is intended to encourage interest and investment in the Marcellus Shale region in Pennsylvania.The committee also approved:S.B. 617 sponsored by Sen.
Jane Orie, R-40th, that would establish the Heritage Area Program to identify, protect, and promote the historic, recreational and scenic resources of Pennsylvania.S.B. 783, sponsored by White, to amend the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Funding Act to change the date the annual report on the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund is due from Aug. 31 to Dec. 31. The bill was amended to require any fines imposed under the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act to be deposited into the HSCA Fund.H.B. 262 seeks to encourage the continued use of prescribed burning for fuel reduction, ecological, forest, wildlife and grassland management purposes.H.B. 263 would require zoning ordinances to protect the Appalachian Trail.The measures now move to the full Senate.——-—
Seeking to reform Pennsylvania's gaming laws, state Sen. <B>Jane Orie</B>, R-40th, has introduced legislation to reinstate the state's ban on political contributions by gaming interests.Orie's legislation comes in response to a recent state Supreme Court decision overturning the ban.The court ruled that the law violated free speech and was too broad in its application. Orie's legislation would change the law to address those concerns.She said that banning contributions by casino owners and others associated with the gaming industry will help to stop corruption and the appearance of impropriety.
