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Bill > HB871
PA HB871
PA HB871In other pollutions and potential pollution, providing for notice of discharge endangering public health or environment.
summary
Introduced
03/11/2025
03/11/2025
In Committee
03/11/2025
03/11/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Amending the act of June 22, 1937 (P.L.1987, No.394), entitled "An act to preserve and improve the purity of the waters of the Commonwealth for the protection of public health, animal and aquatic life, and for industrial consumption, and recreation; empowering and directing the creation of indebtedness or the issuing of non-debt revenue bonds by political subdivisions to provide works to abate pollution; providing protection of water supply and water quality; providing for the jurisdiction of courts in the enforcement thereof; providing additional remedies for abating pollution of waters; imposing certain penalties; repealing certain acts; regulating discharges of sewage and industrial wastes; regulating the operation of mines and regulating the impact of mining upon water quality, supply and quantity; placing responsibilities upon landowners and land occupiers and to maintain primary jurisdiction over surface coal mining in Pennsylvania," in other pollutions and potential pollution, providing for notice of discharge endangering public health or environment.
AI Summary
This bill amends The Clean Streams Law to require individuals or entities who spill, discharge, or release potentially harmful substances into Pennsylvania's waters to notify the state environmental department if the discharge is not permitted and could potentially harm public health or the environment. Specifically, the bill requires that within 180 days, the Environmental Quality Board must publish proposed regulations defining "reportable quantities" or standards that help determine when a discharge is harmful, and within 365 days, finalize those regulations. The new section mandates that when a substance is released into waters (or in a location likely to enter waters) that could be dangerous, the responsible party must alert the department, even if the release was not intentionally permitted. The bill provides a framework for defining what constitutes a harmful discharge by requiring the Environmental Quality Board to establish clear, measurable standards for reporting such incidents. The new provisions will take effect 60 days after the bill's passage, giving the Environmental Quality Board time to develop the necessary regulatory guidelines.
Committee Categories
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Sponsors (7)
Dave Zimmerman (R)*,
Wendy Fink (R),
Keith Greiner (R),
Charity Grimm Krupa (R),
Seth Grove (R),
Joe Hamm (R),
Tina Pickett (R),
Last Action
Referred to Environmental & Natural Resource Protection (on 03/11/2025)
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