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Pennsylvania State Senate
04/27/2024 07:58 AM
Pennsylvania State Senate
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20230&cosponId=41633
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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2023 - 2024 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: October 20, 2023 02:18 PM
From: Senator Maria Collett and Sen. Steven J. Santarsiero
To: All Senate members
Subject: Citizen Suits
 
In the near future, we will be introducing legislation that would allow citizens to take civil actions against those who violate the Pennsylvania’s environmental laws or those who fail to enforce those laws.  As highlighted in the Attorney General’s 43rd Statewide Investigative Grand Jury Report, the public is far too often left without an advocate when irresponsible or bad actors harm the environment. 
 
Modeled after several federal environmental protection laws, including the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Endangered Species Act, a citizen suit provision allows private citizens to take civil legal action against business, companies, or corporations that violate the law. 
  
In addition, a citizen suit provision would allow private citizens to take civil legal action against state agencies that fail to enforce the provisions of the law. 
 
The citizen suit provision would be added to the following: 
  • Oil and Gas Act 
  • Solid Waste Management Act 
  • Clean Streams Act 
  • Safe Drinking Water Act 
 
Please join us in co-sponsoring this important legislation which creates additional mechanisms for Pennsylvanians to guarantee their Article 1 Section 27 constitutional rights to clean air and pure water.