PRINTER'S NO. 2251
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
257
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY RIGBY, OBERLANDER AND CAUSER, NOVEMBER 2, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY,
NOVEMBER 2, 2023
A RESOLUTION
Urging the Department of Environmental Protection, as a result
of the findings of the Legislative Budget and Finance
Committee's report, Proposed Revisions to Biosolids General
Permits PAG-07, PAG-08, and PAG-09, not to implement the
proposed revisions.
WHEREAS, In 2021, the Department of Environmental Protection
released proposed revisions to the General Permit for the
Beneficial Use of Exceptional Quality Biosolids by Land
Application (PAG-07), General Permit for the Beneficial Use of
Biosolids by Land Application (PAG-08) and General Permit for
the Beneficial Use of Residential Septage by Land Application
(PAG-09); and
WHEREAS, Last session, the General Assembly adopted House
Resolution 149, Printer's No. 2542, which directs the
Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study the impact of
the Department of Environmental Protection's proposed revisions;
and
WHEREAS, The resulting report shares significant concerns
related to implementation of the Department of Environmental
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Protection's proposed revisions and the increased cost to
ratepayers, municipalities and the agricultural industry; and
WHEREAS, The Legislative Budget and Finance Committee also
uncovered the following unintended consequences with the
Department of Environmental Protection's proposed revisions:
(1) Issues with landfilling biosolids.
(2) Issues with incineration of biosolids.
(3) The availability of land application sites;
and
WHEREAS, The Department of Environmental Protection has not
estimated the significant cost of permit holder compliance and
the need for new municipal infrastructure to comply with the
proposed revisions; and
WHEREAS, The Department of Environmental Protection has not
addressed how waste management facilities, communities and the
agricultural industry would, in practice, comply with the
proposed revisions; and
WHEREAS, The Department of Environmental Protection has not
demonstrated any potential environmental benefits as a result of
the proposed revisions; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge the
Department of Environmental Protection, as a result of the
findings of the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee's
report, Proposed Revisions to Biosolids General Permits PAG-07,
PAG-08, and PAG-09, not to implement the proposed revisions; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
the Governor and the Secretary of Environmental Protection.
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