HARRISBURG – State Rep. Camille “Bud” George, D-74 of Houtzdale, said his appointment as majority chairman of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee will produce action on a number of fronts.
“I’ve waited more than a decade to regain the majority on the committee and I’m not about to squander the opportunity,” said George, who has been a committee chairman since 1983. “I am going to push forcefully for progress on issues such as landfills, sludge spreading, First Amendment rights, recycling and heating assistance.”
Legislation George is introducing would:
? Freeze landfill and incinerator permits for three years unless need for additional capacity is proven.
? Broaden First Amendment protections against SLAPPS – Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation — so that good-faith communications on public issues would be immune from civil liability.
? Enable the governor to tap approximately $20 million in state funding for heating assistance during weather and energy emergencies.
? Protect vulnerable citizens from utility shut-offs by making doctor-issued medical certificates valid for up to 90 days.
? Enable landfill tipping fees to be collected by counties to support worthwhile recycling programs.
George credited the Rendell administration for making the waste industry toe the line on landfill applications but said citizens must be protected by statute.
“Pennsylvanians have seen a respite from the days when more out-of-state trash was dumped in the commonwealth than waste we created and landfill permits were approved willy-nilly,” George said. “However, no guarantees exist that those days won’t return, and reasonable safeguards are needed to protect communities.
“I’m sick of reintroducing the landfill-moratorium bill each session only to see it get lip service and die either in the House or Senate,” George said. “It should be a litmus test for voters in any community that has faced an unneeded and unwanted landfill.”
George, who was named an “environmental champion” by the Pa. League of Conservation Voters, said he hopes the mild winter will be viewed as an opportunity and not an excuse for inaction on energy and heating assistance.
“We still have miles to go before Pennsylvania is prepared to do more than just react to energy emergencies such as price spikes and shortages, foreign oil cartels and bad weather,” George said. “A compassionate plan to bolster heating assistance with state funds when it is needed is a start.”
George credited his Republican counterpart on the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, Rep. William Adolph of Delaware County, with successes.
“The House has made progress on issues such as Growing Greener II and alternative fuels,” George said. “We can build on those successes with legislation that establishes a Pennsylvania Energy Office, exempts from the state sales tax those farm items grown for fuel and a measure that would deny permits to a ‘bad actor’ whose previous actions forced state taxpayers to pay for environmental cleanups.”
George also returns to PENNVEST, the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority and the Environmental Quality Board.
