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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | November 1, 2013 11:47 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Ron Miller |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Creation of Aggregate Advisory Board to advise DEP of the mining industry |
| In the near future, I plan on introducing legislation to create an Aggregate Advisory Board to advise the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regarding the Pennsylvania aggregate mining industry. This legislation will be a companion bill to Senate Bill 1155, introduced by Senator Scarnati. The board will advise the Pennsylvania Department Environmental Protection Secretary and staff on all matters pertaining to the aggregate mining industry in Pennsylvania. In addition, the board will make recommendations to the department in the development of experimental practices, methods of backfilling, solutions for preexisting pollution liability, alteration of reclamation plans, the aggregate mining permitting process, fee structure and bonding rates. The Aggregate Advisory Board will be composed of experts from the Pennsylvania aggregate mining industry, citizen advisory groups, county conservation agencies, environmental consultants, and representatives from the four caucuses of the General Assembly. The board will be modeled after the successful Mining and Reclamation Advisory Board which advises the Secretary of DEP on matters related to surface coal mining and reclamation. The creation of this advisory board will assure that the policy decisions and changes from the DEP regarding aggregate mining will be made with input from stakeholders, both from the aggregate mining industry and Pennsylvania citizens, to assure that these issues are properly vetted and the decisions are made in a thorough and comprehensive manner. |