Post by melody on Jun 9, 2014 20:27:20 GMT -5
House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee
6/9/14, 12:00 p.m., 205 Ryan Office Building
By Kimberly Hess, PLS
The committee met to consider bills.
HB 402 Pickett, Tina - (PN 412) The Recording of Release from Oil and Natural Gas Lease Act provides that by no less than
30 days prior to the termination or cancellation of an oil or natural gas lease, a lessee shall deliver to the owner, without cost
to the owner, a release in recordable form. The bill details the contents of a release, rights of the owner if the lessee fails to
provide a release, and other stipulations governing the transaction. Effective in 60 days. - The bill was passed over.
A07414 by Miller, was distributed
HB 2177 James, Lee - (PN 3372) The Heritage Area Program Act establishes the Heritage Area Program within the
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to indentify, protect, develop, enhance, and promote the historic,
recreational, natural, cultural, and scenic resources of the Commonwealth. The department will adopt guidelines and
policies for the implementation of the program. The department will also allocate appropriate funds to run the program. The
bill provides for the use and eligibility of the heritage area and requires the establishment of a Heritage Partnership Advisory
Committee. Effective immediately. - The bill was unanimously reported as amended.
Rep. Lee James (R-Venango) explained the program was established in 1989 but it does not have a dedicated source of
funding and its funding has been zeroed out in recent years. He said his bill will make the program an established program
in the department. He remarked on the economic importance of the state’s 12 heritage areas.
A07386 by Miller, at the request of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, reformats the bill to match
SB 1256 by removing language that pertains to loans, establishing guidelines for the allocation of funds, and removing
provisions regarding the Heritage Partnership Advisory Committee. The amendment was unanimously adopted.
HB 2278 Pickett, Tina - (PN 3593) The Unconventional Well Report Act provides for operators of unconventional wells
to make certain reports to the Department of Environmental Protection; imposes duties on the department; and repeals
provisions in Title 58. The operator of an unconventional well shall file with the department, on a form provided by the
department, a monthly report specifying the amount of production on the most well-specific basis available. The initial report
shall be filed by February 15, 2015, and specify the status of each well. In subsequent reports, only changes in status must
be reported. Subsequent monthly reports shall be filed with the department on or before the 15th day of each month and
shall include production data from the preceding reporting period. The Commonwealth may utilize information contained
in reports in enforcement proceedings, in making designations or determinations under The Administrative Code, or in
aggregate form for statistical purposes. The department shall make the reports available on its website. Costs incurred by
the department to comply with the requirements shall be paid out of the fees collected under 58 Pa.C.S. 3211(d) (relating
to well permits). Section 4, regarding repeals, is effective February 15, 2015; the remainder is effective immediately. - The
bill was passed over.
A07396 by Miller, was distributed
HR 815 Snyder, Pam - (PN 3445) Resolution urging the Environmental Protection Agency, in developing guidelines for
regulating carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants, to respect the primacy of this Commonwealth and other
states and to rely on state regulators to develop performance standards for carbon dioxide emissions that take into account
the unique policies, energy needs, resource mix and economic priorities of this Commonwealth and other states. - The bill
was passed over.
Chairman Ron Miller (R-York) noted the bill is being passed over at the request of Minority Chairman Greg Vitali (D-Delaware),
who would like to work on the language with the prime sponsor, who has also agreed to the hold.
Chairman Vitali opined the resolution would be more palatable to members if the phrasing was worked on a bit.
SB 1236 Yaw, Gene - (PN 1807) Amends the Oil and Gas Lease Act defining “lessee,” “lessor,” and “joint venture”; further
providing for payment information to interest owners by requiring a unique property identification; providing for accumulation
of proceeds from production by adding that proceeds shall be paid within 60 days, but proceeds from oil and gas may be
remitted quarterly for accumulation of proceeds totaling less than $100; further providing for conflicts; adding language
providing for joint ventures; and providing for a lessor to inspect the records of a lessee. The bill outlines the procedure
for inspections for records and provides for confidentiality. Effective in 60 days. (Prior Printer Number: 1723) - The bill
waspassed over.
A07126 by Carroll, was distributed
SB 1237 Yaw, Gene - (PN 1808) The Natural Gas Lease Anti-Retaliation Act provides protection for a lessor of natural gas
rights who reports a violation or suspected violation of a contractual agreement and for remedies and penalties. The bill
states no lessee may retaliate by ceasing development or production or take other reprisals against a lessor because the
lessor takes a good faith action. The bill provides for remedies and enforcement. Effective in 60 days. (Prior Printer Number:
1724) - The bill waspassed over.
6/9/14, 12:00 p.m., 205 Ryan Office Building
By Kimberly Hess, PLS
The committee met to consider bills.
HB 402 Pickett, Tina - (PN 412) The Recording of Release from Oil and Natural Gas Lease Act provides that by no less than
30 days prior to the termination or cancellation of an oil or natural gas lease, a lessee shall deliver to the owner, without cost
to the owner, a release in recordable form. The bill details the contents of a release, rights of the owner if the lessee fails to
provide a release, and other stipulations governing the transaction. Effective in 60 days. - The bill was passed over.
A07414 by Miller, was distributed
HB 2177 James, Lee - (PN 3372) The Heritage Area Program Act establishes the Heritage Area Program within the
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to indentify, protect, develop, enhance, and promote the historic,
recreational, natural, cultural, and scenic resources of the Commonwealth. The department will adopt guidelines and
policies for the implementation of the program. The department will also allocate appropriate funds to run the program. The
bill provides for the use and eligibility of the heritage area and requires the establishment of a Heritage Partnership Advisory
Committee. Effective immediately. - The bill was unanimously reported as amended.
Rep. Lee James (R-Venango) explained the program was established in 1989 but it does not have a dedicated source of
funding and its funding has been zeroed out in recent years. He said his bill will make the program an established program
in the department. He remarked on the economic importance of the state’s 12 heritage areas.
A07386 by Miller, at the request of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, reformats the bill to match
SB 1256 by removing language that pertains to loans, establishing guidelines for the allocation of funds, and removing
provisions regarding the Heritage Partnership Advisory Committee. The amendment was unanimously adopted.
HB 2278 Pickett, Tina - (PN 3593) The Unconventional Well Report Act provides for operators of unconventional wells
to make certain reports to the Department of Environmental Protection; imposes duties on the department; and repeals
provisions in Title 58. The operator of an unconventional well shall file with the department, on a form provided by the
department, a monthly report specifying the amount of production on the most well-specific basis available. The initial report
shall be filed by February 15, 2015, and specify the status of each well. In subsequent reports, only changes in status must
be reported. Subsequent monthly reports shall be filed with the department on or before the 15th day of each month and
shall include production data from the preceding reporting period. The Commonwealth may utilize information contained
in reports in enforcement proceedings, in making designations or determinations under The Administrative Code, or in
aggregate form for statistical purposes. The department shall make the reports available on its website. Costs incurred by
the department to comply with the requirements shall be paid out of the fees collected under 58 Pa.C.S. 3211(d) (relating
to well permits). Section 4, regarding repeals, is effective February 15, 2015; the remainder is effective immediately. - The
bill was passed over.
A07396 by Miller, was distributed
HR 815 Snyder, Pam - (PN 3445) Resolution urging the Environmental Protection Agency, in developing guidelines for
regulating carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants, to respect the primacy of this Commonwealth and other
states and to rely on state regulators to develop performance standards for carbon dioxide emissions that take into account
the unique policies, energy needs, resource mix and economic priorities of this Commonwealth and other states. - The bill
was passed over.
Chairman Ron Miller (R-York) noted the bill is being passed over at the request of Minority Chairman Greg Vitali (D-Delaware),
who would like to work on the language with the prime sponsor, who has also agreed to the hold.
Chairman Vitali opined the resolution would be more palatable to members if the phrasing was worked on a bit.
SB 1236 Yaw, Gene - (PN 1807) Amends the Oil and Gas Lease Act defining “lessee,” “lessor,” and “joint venture”; further
providing for payment information to interest owners by requiring a unique property identification; providing for accumulation
of proceeds from production by adding that proceeds shall be paid within 60 days, but proceeds from oil and gas may be
remitted quarterly for accumulation of proceeds totaling less than $100; further providing for conflicts; adding language
providing for joint ventures; and providing for a lessor to inspect the records of a lessee. The bill outlines the procedure
for inspections for records and provides for confidentiality. Effective in 60 days. (Prior Printer Number: 1723) - The bill
waspassed over.
A07126 by Carroll, was distributed
SB 1237 Yaw, Gene - (PN 1808) The Natural Gas Lease Anti-Retaliation Act provides protection for a lessor of natural gas
rights who reports a violation or suspected violation of a contractual agreement and for remedies and penalties. The bill
states no lessee may retaliate by ceasing development or production or take other reprisals against a lessor because the
lessor takes a good faith action. The bill provides for remedies and enforcement. Effective in 60 days. (Prior Printer Number:
1724) - The bill waspassed over.