The Department of Environmental Protection this week announced $18.7 million in watershed restoration grants funded by Growing Greener and other programs.

They included: $5.5 million in Growing Greener grants; $3.7 million in Nonpoint Source Implementation Program Grants, funded through Section 319(h) of the Federal Clean Water Act; $5.9 million from the federal Office of Surface Mining; $2.6 million from the Orphan Oil and Gas Well Plugging Fund and the Abandoned Well Plugging Fund; and $1 million in Watershed Contracts.

The grants will result in environmental improvements that include the plugging of 344 wells; reclamation of 250 acres of abandoned mines; creation or restoration of 21 acres of wetlands; improvement of 15 miles of streams impacted by nonpoint source pollution; planting of 12 miles of riparian buffer; enhancements to 15 miles of stream banks; and formation of three new watershed groups.

As of September 30, the Comptroller reported DEP had Executive Authorization to spend a total of $34.6 million from the Environmental Stewardship Fund for FY 2004-05 Growing Greener Projects.

A total of $18.8 million in Growing Greener dollars have been announced by DEP so far this year in addition to this week’s $5.5 million: $3.9 million to support watershed specialists in county conservation districts and $5 million for the Crop Reserve Enhancement Program. About $4.4 million (10 percent minimum) is reserved to fund innovative sewer and water projects, but DEP has not yet announced these projects.

About $15.8 million remains to be allocated from Growing Greener funding by DEP for its own mine reclamation and well plugging projects and for the Administration’s plan to accelerate the payback of previous Growing Greener grants. A portion of the Energy Harvest Program grants also came from this year’s Growing Greener allocation.

For FY 2004-05, DEP earmarked the $34.6 million in Growing Greener funding this way: $21.232 million for Watershed Protection and Remediation; $2.1 million for Oil and Gas Well Plugging; $ 6.9 million Abandoned Mine Reclamation and Remediation; and $4.465 million for Sewage and Drinking Water Grants.

Funding for the original Growing Greener Program continues from the $4 per ton fee on municipal waste through 2012.

DEP received nearly 450 applications for watershed restoration and protection projects this year.

“DEP has repeatedly testified and the Governor has warned that failing to support Growing Greener II would mean devastating cuts for watershed groups throughout the Commonwealth,” said DEP Secretary Kathleen McGinty. “The fact of the matter is that without additional resources, prospects for the future are grim: DEP’s Growing Greener is a program in trouble. This recent and very disappointing grant award is proof. It is simply imperative that the Governor’s initiative be taken up and passed as quickly as possible.”

11/8/2004