At the Pennsylvania Environmental Council dinner in Philadelphia this week, Gov. Rendell reacted to comments in the press from some legislators that his Growing Greener II spending proposal is “dead” by saying, “If this is dead in Harrisburg, a lot of the life of this state goes with it; the future of this state dies with it.”

He again defended his proposed fees on manufacturers and households as “reasonable.” Putting fees on people who cause pollution is reasonable, noting past governors did the same thing. He also said the proposal exempts small businesses and limits the impact on big companies.

“We’re running out of money for key programs… hazardous sites cleanup, open space and farmland preservation,” Rendell said. “This is a vote for the future.” He encouraged the audience to contact their legislators and voice their support for his plan.

Rendell also thanked the Bush Administration for their commitment to cleaning up abandoned mine lands in Pennsylvania. He noted he shared the podium with Interior Secretary Gale Norton just a few months ago when she announced the Administration’s proposal to direct more Abandoned Mine Reclamation funding to states like Pennsylvania with large numbers of abandoned mines.

Interior Secretary Gale Norton praised Pennsylvania’s efforts to promote “cooperative conservation” by involving watershed and local groups in the restoration of polluted streams.

“People must take conservation into their own hands, we need to empower groups to build strong local partnerships,” Norton said. “We’ve given over $4 million in grants to 60 projects in Pennsylvania to help support local restoration efforts.”

Norton called again for Congressional action on reauthorizing the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund and the fees that support reclamation programs. Without action by September 30, the authority to collect fees on coal production sunsets and so does funding for reclamation efforts.

Norton praised the leadership of Pennsylvania’s Congressional Delegation, in particular Sen. Arlen Specter and Congressman John Peterson for their sponsorship of the Bush Administration’s reclamation proposals.

She also recognized the Pennsylvania Environmental Council for its many efforts on land conservation and watershed restoration. Just recently the Department of the Interior partnered with PEC on a restoration project in French Creek.

For more information on the Pennsylvania Environmental Council visit: www.pecpa.org .

6/1/2004