PRINTER'S NO. 252
No. 20 Session of 1995
INTRODUCED BY GEORGE, SURRA, BOSCOLA, ROONEY, JAROLIN, CAWLEY,
STABACK, PESCI, D. R. WRIGHT, TRELLO, JOSEPHS, RUBLEY,
ROBERTS, MILLER, MELIO, GIGLIOTTI AND BELARDI,
JANUARY 25, 1995
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS,
JANUARY 25, 1995
A RESOLUTION
1 Directing the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee of
2 the House of Representatives to investigate the ramifications
3 of the United States Environmental Protection Agency's
4 suspended enforcement of the reformulated gasoline mandate in
5 28 moderate and marginal nonattainment counties in this
6 Commonwealth.
7 Whereas, The Federal Clean Air Act (Public Law 95-95, 42
8 U.S.C. § 7545 (K)(6) mandates reformulated gasoline
9 nonattainment areas in this Commonwealth; and
10 Whereas, The Clean Air Act gives states the option of
11 mandating reformulated gasoline in other nonattainment areas to
12 comply with clean air standards; and
13 Whereas, On September 25, 1991, Governor Casey submitted a
14 letter of application to extend the Federal Reformulated Fuels
15 Program to an additional 28 counties listed as moderate and
16 marginal nonattainment counties; and
17 Whereas, By December 1, 1994, petroleum companies delivered
18 reformulated gasoline to their distribution centers pursuant to
1 the Clean Air Act; and
2 Whereas, The distribution centers delivered reformulated
3 gasoline to retail outlets in those 28 counties to prepare for
4 an effective date of January 1, 1995; and
5 Whereas, Data showed reformulated gasoline would cost
6 consumers 5¢ to 10¢ more per gallon of gasoline; and
7 Whereas, In response to public outcry, the General Assembly
8 passed House Bill 666, which rescinds the application for the
9 Reformulated Fuels Progam for the moderate and marginal
10 nonattainment counties; and
11 Whereas, On December 7, 1994, Governor Casey signed House
12 Bill 666 as Act No. 101 of 1994; and
13 Whereas, On December 12, 1994, the United States
14 Environmental Protection Agency announced in a letter to
15 Governor Casey that the Environmental Protection Agency
16 suspended enforcement of the reformulated gasoline mandate in
17 those 28 moderate and marginal nonattainment counties; and
18 Whereas, Members of the regulated community and the consumers
19 are still confused as to the uncertainty of reformulated
20 gasoline; therefore be it
21 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the
22 Environmental Resources and Energy Committee to conduct hearings
23 across this Commonwealth to investigate the ramifications of
24 suspended enforcement of the Reformulated Fuels Program; and be
25 it further
26 Resolved, That the Environmental Resources and Energy
27 Committee may take appropriate testimony and make its inquiries
28 and investigations at such places and at such times as it deems
29 necessary within this Commonwealth; and be it further
30 Resolved, That the Chairman of the Environmental Resources
19950H0020R0252 - 2 -
1 and Energy Committee shall have the power to administer oaths
2 and affirmations to witnesses appearing before the committee;
3 and be it further
4 Resolved, That the Environmental Resources and Energy
5 Committee shall report to the House of Representatives on its
6 activities, findings and recommendations within six months of
7 the passage of this resolution.
A20L82PJP/19950H0020R0252 - 3 -