PA Senate Environmental Committee Approves Mine Water Use Bill
The Pennsylvania Senate Committee on Environmental Resources and Energy unanimously approved Senate Bill 411 on Tuesday. The Herald-Standard reports that the bill would provide liability protection from the perpetual treatment of mine water at its source when the end use is for hydraulic fracturing or industrial use. The bill would provide offer liability protection through a Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection process developed in the Environmental Good Samaritan Act. The issue was among the policy recommendations made by the Governor’s Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission in a 2011 report. The bill was previously approved by the Senate, but failed to get House approval during the last legislative session. The DEP also recently issued a white paper regarding the use of acid mine drainage in drilling operations.