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Natural Resources - Energy Policy
LWVAL Action Priority Level I (Highest) - Monitoring and action of highest priority. Major area for resource expenditures.Click a bill to see sponsor(s), summary (including link to full text), League action and justification for that action, and progress of the bill through the legislative process.
Legend:
= LWVAL's support for the legislation. 
= LWVAL's opposition to the legislation.
= new bill activity; change from previous week's report such as new progress in the legislature and/or League action. Bill may be one newly added to the report. These updates are in green font.LWVAL has taken a position on these bills:
HB301/SB341 - Public Service Commission, regulation of pipelines for gas and hazardous liquids, penalties for violation of safety standards increased, Secs. 37-4-87, 37-4-96 am'd.
Sponsor(s) SB341: Senator Reed
Sponsor(s) HB301: Representative Greer
Summary/Synopsis: This bill would increase the penalties for violations of gas pipeline systems and hazardous liquid pipeline facilities to bring the fine amounts in conformity with federal penalties for violations. Existing state law allows the Public Service Commission to inspect these systems and facilities and assess penalties for violations of safety standards. In addition, federal regulations provide standards and penalties for violations of these standards.
League Action and Justification: Support
Our Natural Resources position states: “LWV of Alabama supports measures to promote an environment beneficial to life through the protection of natural resources in the public interest. In agreement with the position of the LWVUS, the LWVAL believes that natural resources should be managed as interrelated parts of healthy ecosystems.” And, the LWVUS position states which LW supports states: “The League supports the preservation of the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of the ecosystem and maximum protection of public health and the environment……..The League supports….vigorous enforcement mechanisms, including sanctions for states and localities that do not comply with federal standards and substantial fines for noncompliance.”
Bill Progress in Legislature:
HB301:
01/21/2014: First reading and assigned to the
02/11/2014: 2nd Read and placed on the calendar; pending 3rd Read and favorable from TU&I
02/13/2014: 3rd Reading passed; Motion to Read a 3rd Time and Pass adopted
Senate:
02/13/2014: Read for the first time and referred to the
02/20/2014: 2nd Read and placed on the calendar; pending 3rd Read and Favorable from CCFE&E
04/01/2014: Indefinitely Postponed
SB341:
02/11/2014: First Reading and referred to the
02/20/2014: 2nd Read and placed on the calendar; pending 3rd Reading and Favorable from CT&U
Sponsor(s) HB301: Representative Greer
Summary/Synopsis: This bill would increase the penalties for violations of gas pipeline systems and hazardous liquid pipeline facilities to bring the fine amounts in conformity with federal penalties for violations. Existing state law allows the Public Service Commission to inspect these systems and facilities and assess penalties for violations of safety standards. In addition, federal regulations provide standards and penalties for violations of these standards.
League Action and Justification: Support
Our Natural Resources position states: “LWV of Alabama supports measures to promote an environment beneficial to life through the protection of natural resources in the public interest. In agreement with the position of the LWVUS, the LWVAL believes that natural resources should be managed as interrelated parts of healthy ecosystems.” And, the LWVUS position states which LW supports states: “The League supports the preservation of the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of the ecosystem and maximum protection of public health and the environment……..The League supports….vigorous enforcement mechanisms, including sanctions for states and localities that do not comply with federal standards and substantial fines for noncompliance.”
Bill Progress in Legislature:
HB301:
01/21/2014: First reading and assigned to the
02/11/2014: 2nd Read and placed on the calendar; pending 3rd Read and favorable from TU&I
02/13/2014: 3rd Reading passed; Motion to Read a 3rd Time and Pass adopted
Senate:
02/13/2014: Read for the first time and referred to the
02/20/2014: 2nd Read and placed on the calendar; pending 3rd Read and Favorable from CCFE&E
04/01/2014: Indefinitely Postponed
SB341:
02/11/2014: First Reading and referred to the
02/20/2014: 2nd Read and placed on the calendar; pending 3rd Reading and Favorable from CT&U
LWVAL is monitoring these bills:
HB467/SB366 - Oil and Gas Board, oil and gas wells, drainage or production units, regulation of horizontal wells in oil reservoirs and offshore wells in gas reservoirs, Secs. 9-17-1, 9-17-12 am'd.
HB467 Sponsor(s): Representatives Gaston, Beech, Baker, Buskey, Sessions,Wilcox, Baughn, Collins, Nordgren, Carns, Poole, Chesteen,Roberts, Harper, Fincher, McMillan, Davis, Shedd, Boothe,Brown, Faust, Holmes (M), England, Melton, Forte, Moore (B),Polizos, Jones, Clarke, Millican, Johnson (R), Scott, Bridges, Drake, Williams (J), Sanderford, Williams (D), Treadaway, Rich, Laird, Wood, Black, Weaver, Bracy, Lee, Merrill, Ball, Burdine, Hammon, Vance, Patterson, Hubbard (M), Colston, McClammy, Standridge, Wallace and Wren
SB366 Sponsor(s): Senators Keahey, Marsh, Waggoner, Beason, Allen, Dunn, Reed, Scofield and Ward
Summary/Synopsis: Under existing law, the State Oil and Gas Board regulates drilling units and drainage or production units for oil and gas reservoirs and for wells drilled in search of oil and gas.
This bill would define the term horizontal well, would change the statutory acreage limitations for the units for horizontal wells, and would move and reword a provision in the existing statute specifying that certain limitations on the units would not apply to offshore wells.
League Action and Justification: Monitor
Bill Progress in Legislature:
HB467
02/12/2014: Read for the first time and referred to the
02/20/2014: 2nd Read and placed on the calendar; pending 3rd read and Favorable from BA&C
03/05/2014: 3rd Read Passed; Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass adopted by Roll Call Vote
Senate:
03/06/2014: Read for the first time in the Senate and referred to the Senate committee on Energy and Natural Resources (E&NR)
03/18/2014: 2nd Read and placed on the calendar; pending 3rd Read and Favorable fro E&NR
SB366
02/13/2014: Read for the first time and referred to the
02/20/2014: 2nd Read and placed on the calendar; pending 3rd reading and Favorable from E&NR
03/04/2014: Read for the first time in the House and referred to the Senate Committee on Boards, Agencies and Commissions
03/13/2014: Read for the 2nd time and placed on the Calendar; pending 3rd Read and Favorable from BA&C
03/20/2014: 3rd Reading Passed; Motion to Read a 3rd Time and Pass adopted by Roll Call (97-0-0)
Signature Requested; Delivered to the Governor at 1:45 p.m. on March 20, 2014
Senate:
03/20/2014: Passed 2nd House; Enrolled
SB366 Sponsor(s): Senators Keahey, Marsh, Waggoner, Beason, Allen, Dunn, Reed, Scofield and Ward
Summary/Synopsis: Under existing law, the State Oil and Gas Board regulates drilling units and drainage or production units for oil and gas reservoirs and for wells drilled in search of oil and gas.
This bill would define the term horizontal well, would change the statutory acreage limitations for the units for horizontal wells, and would move and reword a provision in the existing statute specifying that certain limitations on the units would not apply to offshore wells.
League Action and Justification: Monitor
Bill Progress in Legislature:
HB467
02/12/2014: Read for the first time and referred to the
02/20/2014: 2nd Read and placed on the calendar; pending 3rd read and Favorable from BA&C
03/05/2014: 3rd Read Passed; Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass adopted by Roll Call Vote
Senate:
03/06/2014: Read for the first time in the Senate and referred to the Senate committee on Energy and Natural Resources (E&NR)
03/18/2014: 2nd Read and placed on the calendar; pending 3rd Read and Favorable fro E&NR
SB366
02/13/2014: Read for the first time and referred to the
02/20/2014: 2nd Read and placed on the calendar; pending 3rd reading and Favorable from E&NR
03/04/2014: Read for the first time in the House and referred to the Senate Committee on Boards, Agencies and Commissions
03/13/2014: Read for the 2nd time and placed on the Calendar; pending 3rd Read and Favorable from BA&C
03/20/2014: 3rd Reading Passed; Motion to Read a 3rd Time and Pass adopted by Roll Call (97-0-0)
Signature Requested; Delivered to the Governor at 1:45 p.m. on March 20, 2014
Senate:
03/20/2014: Passed 2nd House; Enrolled
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