Bill > HB1187

This bill amends the Air Pollution Control Act to enhance environmental protection and industrial accountability by establishing new requirements for major facilities and updating civil penalty structures. Specifically, the bill requires all major facilities to develop and maintain a municipal notification plan that mandates rapid communication (within 12 hours) to local municipalities in the event of an industrial equipment breakdown or accident causing significant air pollution. The notification plan must outline the most expeditious communication methods, provide community risk mitigation measures, include yearly updates to contact procedures, and be coordinated with local air pollution control agencies. Additionally, the bill increases civil penalties for violations, progressively raising the maximum daily penalty from $10,000 in the first three years to $37,500 per violation thereafter. When assessing penalties, the Department of Environmental Protection will consider factors such as the willfulness of the violation, environmental damage, financial benefits gained, deterrence potential, facility size, compliance history, violation severity, and cooperation in resolving the issue. The bill will take effect 60 days after enactment.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1187