(a) Appointment, composition, etc.--A storage tank advisory committee shall be appointed by the secretary within 30 days after the effective date of this act. The committee shall consist of no more than 17 members. Four members shall be representatives of local government, six members shall be representatives of the regulated community, one member shall be a registered professional engineer with three years of experience in this Commonwealth, one member shall be a hydrogeologist, four members shall be representatives of the public and one member shall be an active commercial farm owner or operator nominated by Statewide general farm organizations. Members shall serve without compensation other than reimbursement for reasonable and necessary expenses in accordance with Commonwealth policy or regulations and shall serve for terms fixed by the secretary. The six representatives from the regulated community shall be appointed by the secretary, one each from a list of three nominees provided by the following:

(b) Review of regulations.--The department shall consult with the advisory committee in the formulation, drafting and presentation of all regulations promulgated under this act. The advisory committee shall be given a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on all regulations prior to their submission to the Environmental Quality Board for consideration. The written report of the committee shall be presented to the Environmental Quality Board with any regulatory proposal. The chairman of the committee shall be invited to participate in the presentation of all regulations before the Environmental Quality Board. Nothing herein shall preclude any member of the committee from filing a petition for rulemaking with the Environmental Quality Board in accordance with procedures established by the Environmental Quality Board.