(a) Establishment.--The Environmental Hearing Board is established as an independent quasi-judicial agency.

(b) Membership.--The board shall consist of five members. The members shall be full-time administrative law judges. Members shall devote full time to their official duties. No member or hearing examiner shall hold any office or position, the duties of which are incompatible with the duties of his office, or be engaged in any business, employment or vocation for which he shall receive any remuneration, except that members may speak, write or lecture if any reimbursed expenses, honorariums, royalties or other moneys received in connection with these activities are disclosed. Members shall be appointed by the Governor with the consent of a majority of the members elected to the Senate. Members of the board on the effective date of this act may complete their terms and continue in office until their successors are appointed and qualified.

(c) Chairperson.--The Governor shall designate one member of the board to serve as chairperson.

(d) Terms.--A member of the board shall serve for a term of six years or until a successor is appointed and qualified. One of the additional members appointed under this act shall serve an initial term of four years. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

(e) Qualifications.--A member of the board must:

(f) Staff and facilities.--The board shall appoint a secretary to the board. The board shall provide facilities at each seat under the provisions of section 6.¹ The board may employ hearing examiners and such additional personnel necessary to exercise its functions. Hearing examiners shall be attorneys in good standing before the Bar of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and shall have three years of practice before administrative agencies or equivalent experience. All employees of the board shall be subject to the act of August 5, 1941 (P.L. 752, No. 286),² known as the Civil Service Act.

(g) Salary.--Members of the board and the chairperson shall receive the same salaries, respectively, as the commissioners and the chairman of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.