AN ACT

 

1Amending the act of May 31, 1945 (P.L.1198, No.418), entitled,
2as amended, "An Act providing for the conservation and
3improvement of land affected in connection with surface
4mining; regulating such mining; providing for the
5establishment of an Emergency Bond Fund for anthracite deep
6mine operators; and providing penalties," establishing the
7Aggregate Advisory Board.

8The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
9hereby enacts as follows:

10Section 1. Section 18 of the act of May 31, 1945 (P.L.1198,
11No.418), known as the Surface Mining Conservation and
12Reclamation Act, is amended by adding a subsection to read:

13Section 18. Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation
14Fund; Remining Environmental Enhancement Fund; Remining
15Financial Assurance Fund; Department Authority for Awarding of
16Grants.--* * *

17(g.1) There is hereby created an Aggregate Advisory Board to
18assist the secretary to expend the funds for the purposes
19provided by <-this act section 17 of the act of December 19, 1984
20(P.L.1093, No.219), known as the "Noncoal Surface Mining

1Conservation and Reclamation Act," and to advise the secretary
2on all matters pertaining to surface mining<-, as defined in
3section 3 of the "Noncoal Surface Mining Conservation and
4Reclamation Act," which shall include, but not be limited to
5experimental practices, alternate methods of backfilling,
6obligations for preexisting pollution liability, alteration of
7reclamation plans, reclamation fees and bonding rates and
8methods. The board shall function as follows:

9(1) The board shall be comprised of <-the secretary; three
10(3) aggregate <-surface mining operators; four (4) public
11members from the Citizens Advisory Council, who shall be
12appointed by the council; one (1) member from the County
13Conservation Districts, who shall be appointed by the State
14Conservation <-District Commission; four (4) members of the
15General Assembly, two (2) from the Senate, one (1) member
16from the majority party and one (1) member from the minority
17party, who shall be appointed by the President pro tempore,
18and two (2) from the House of Representatives, one (1) from
19the majority party and one (1) from the minority party, who
20shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of
21Representatives.

22(2) The secretary shall chair the Aggregate Advisory
23Board and appoint the members from the aggregate industry.

24(3) All members shall be appointed for a term of two (2)
25years, except that one-half of the initial members shall
26serve for three (3) years.

27(4) All actions of the board shall be by majority vote.
28The board shall meet upon the call of the secretary, but not
29less than quarterly, to carry out its duties under this act.
30The board shall select from among its members a chairperson

1and such other officers as it deems appropriate.

2(5) The board shall prepare <-and an annual report on its
3activities and submit the report to the Senate Environmental
4Resources and Energy Committee and the House <-Conservation
<-5Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

6* * *

7Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.