Governor Markell signed HB 32 into law on Thursday, June 6, which lifts the 32-year financial liability cap for oil spills in Delaware.
Our recent activities in the Delaware Legislature
June 6, 2013: Representative Longhurst, and Senators Poore and McBride introduced a House Concurrent Resolution HCR 27, "expressing concerns and making recommendations and requests to PBF Energy and Norfolk Southern Corporation regarding increased 'crude by rail' shipments to the Delaware City Refinery.
HB 5, which would require the Delaware Legislature to approve DNREC regulations to reduce pollution from vehicles, was tabled on June 6, 2013 at the request of the House Natural Resources Committee Chair and the DNREC Secretary. The Sierra Club opposed this bill, because it would have politicized the regulatory process that DNREC has been given the authority to develop by Delaware law. Vehicle emissions are a leading source of pollution in Delaware. Low-emissions and zero-emissions vehicle programs will protect public health from air toxins and Criteria Air Pollutants regulated under the Clean Air Act.
On May 15, 2013 Governor Markell signed the shark fin bill, which forbids the possession, sale, offer for sale, and distribution of shark fins in Delaware. This bill removes Delaware from the global market for shark fins, protecting threatened and endangered shark species worldwide.
On March 20, 2013 State Representative John Kowalko held a press conference to announce legislation he introduced that would place restrictions on the distance of Liquified Natural Gas terminals from residential communities.
Our Energy and Climate Lobby Day was a tremendous success. We had more than 30 people participate and lobby 4 Senators and 5 Representatives from the House and Senate Energy Committees about the need to improve the renewable portfolio standard.
The Delaware Chapter of the Sierra Club is proud to join Common Cause, the League of Women Voters, the Delaware Coalition for Open Government, and the Progressive Democrats in opposition to the 2010 Supreme Court decision in the case of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.
The Delaware Chapter took positions on several bills in the legislative session that ended on June 30, 2012. Our legislative summary describes our victories, disappointments, and the work that still needs to be done.
The Delaware Chapter of the Sierra Club supports a prohibition of the possession, sale, and transport of shark fins within the State of Delaware.
Shark finning is a cruel and wasteful fishing practice, in which the fins of sharks are removed and the remainder of the shark is discarded back into the water. Without their fins, sharks die of blood loss or drown.
The Delaware Chapter also attempted to have legislative measures in place to protect Delaware from the dangers of fracking in the Marcellus Shale. We were unable to find a sponsor for these measures in the recent legislative session. However, Representative John Kowalko has indicated that he will support them in the next session. His support is subject to the outcome of the upcoming election in November.
