For Immediate Release
6/3/09

Senate Approves White Bill Extending Deadline for PA Climate Change Action Plan

Three-month extension ensures public input, credibility of plan.

Harrisburg – The state Senate today unanimously approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Mary Jo White (R-21) to extend the deadline faced by the state Department of Environmental Protection for submitting a Pennsylvania Climate Change Action Plan.

Act 70 of 2008 requires DEP to submit a plan by October 9. The department has acknowledged it will miss the deadline, but it cannot do so without a statutory extension. Senate Bill 829 extends the deadline by three months, said White, who chairs the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

White said the measure ensures that the public has a 60-day public comment period before the plan is finalized, and ensures an opportunity for the public's comments and recommendations to be incorporated into the final plan.

"The Senate takes the issue of climate change seriously," said White. "To ensure the credibility of any recommendations put forth by the Governor on climate change, it is imperative that the final plan be the product of a robust public input and review process as envisioned by the Act 70, the Pennsylvania Climate Change Act."

Act 70 was sponsored by Sen. Ted Erickson (R-26) and was amended by Senator White to create the Climate Change Advisory Committee within DEP.  The committee voted last week to endorse passage of Senate Bill 829.

For more information on this and other environmental legislation, visit senatormjwhite.com and click on "Environmental Resources and Energy."

CONTACT: 

Pat Henderson
(717) 787-9684

Additional Information:
Environment and Energy
 

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