House Committee Meets June 19 To Roll Back Environmental Standards For Mining

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet on June 19 to consider two bills rolling back environmental protection measures from surface and deep coal mining and legislation on certifying mine emergency responders.

The bills include--

-- Senate Bill 2624 (Scarnati-R-Jefferson) retroactively rolling back protections for streams from deep coal mining that passed the Senate last week on a party-line vote with Republicans supporting. (Click Here for more)

-- House Bill 1333 (Gabler-R-Clearfield) eliminating the current DEP limit on how long surface mine operators can temporarily cease mining operations from 180 days to the federal standard of what could be years (Click Here for more); and

-- House Bill 1341 (Pyle-R-Armstrong) providing for the certification of bituminous coal mine emergency medical responders (sponsor summary).

The meeting will be held in Room 205 of the Ryan Building.  There is no specific time for the meeting. It will be called Off the Floor by the Speaker at some point after the House convenes.

Rep. John Maher (R-Allegheny) serves as Majority Chair of the House Environmental Committee and can be contacted by sending email to: jmaher@pahousegop.com.  Rep. Mike Carroll serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by sending email to: mcarroll@pahouse.net.