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 and to advise the secretary on all matters
20pertaining to mining which shall include, but not be limited to

1experimental practices, alternate methods of backfilling,
2obligations for preexisting pollution liability, alteration of
3reclamation plans, reclamation fees and bonding rates and
4methods. The board shall function as follows:

5(1) The board shall be comprised of three (3) aggregate
6mining operators; four (4) public members from the Citizens
7Advisory Council, who shall be appointed by the council; one
8(1) member from the County Conservation Districts, who shall
9be appointed by the State Conservation District Commission;
10four (4) members of the General Assembly, two (2) from the
11Senate, one (1) member from the majority party and one (1)
12member from the minority party, who shall be appointed by the
13President pro tempore, and two (2) from the House of
14Representatives, one (1) from the majority party and one (1)
15from the minority party, who shall be appointed by the
16Speaker of the House of Representatives.

17(2) The secretary shall chair the Aggregate Advisory
18Board and appoint the members from the aggregate industry.

19(3) All members shall be appointed for a term of two (2)
20years, except that one-half of the initial members shall
21serve for three (3) years.

22(4) All actions of the board shall be by majority vote.
23The board shall meet upon the call of the secretary, but not
24less than quarterly, to carry out its duties under this act.
25The board shall select from among its members a chairperson
26and such other officers as it deems appropriate.

27(5) The board shall prepare and annual report on its
28activities and submit the report to the Senate Environmental
29Resources and Energy Committee and the House Conservation
30Committee.

1* * *

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