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The Pennsylvania Office of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) urged state legislators to continue vital conservation funding programs in their upcoming 2006-2007 budget deliberations. CBF encourages legislators to continue support for agricultural conservation, conservation district support, and environmental restoration and protection, particularly related to water quality protection.

“As currently proposed, the 2006-2007 state budget reduces funding for agriculture and key environmental programs,” said Matt Ehrhart, PA CBF Executive Director. “The proposal does not meet the needs of the Commonwealth’s water resources, its agricultural sector, Pennsylvania’s commitment to the Chesapeake 2000 Agreement, or to our obligation to repair almost 11,000 miles of impaired waterways.”

CBF asks that decision-makers commit to continued and increased support for a variety of conservation programs. The letter provides a detailed list of CBF’s funding suggestions.

In summary, CBF asks that legislators consider the following:

· Increase funding for the Conservation District funding, restoring the agricultural research funding, and restoring crop insurance support funding.

· Increase funding for agricultural best management practices (BMP)

· Developing a dedicated funding source for the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Program and restore the Environmental Stewardship Fund

· Stabilize funding for the Keystone Recreation and Parks Fund

· Develop a dedicated funding source for the Nutrient Management Fund

CBF, with its professional staff, over 11,000 members throughout Pennsylvania, and the ability and resources to bring a variety of partners and stakeholders together, is ready to assist the Senate, the House, and the Governor in addressing these challenges.

The text of the CBF letter follows:

Dear Senate/House Member:

Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) is very concerned about proposed 2006-2007 funding levels for agricultural conservation, conservation district support, and environmental restoration and protection, particularly related to water quality protection. The proposed funding, which reduces dollars to agriculture and key environmental programs, does not begin to meet the needs of the Commonwealth’s water resources, Pennsylvania’s commitment to the Chesapeake 2000 Agreement (C2K), or the obligation to remove existing impairments in over 10,762 miles of Pennsylvania waters. Proposed reductions in federal funding for the upcoming year for Farm Bill programs, the State Revolving Fund, and several EPA grant programs further exacerbate the problem.

Last year, CBF partnered with many other groups to support the $625 million Growing Greener II bond, which was overwhelmingly approved by 61 percent of voters. Pennsylvanians sent a very clear message of support for increased funding to restore our watersheds, reduce polluted runoff from agricultural lands, preserve farms, and upgrade our wastewater treatment facilities.

Equally important, the insufficient funding in the 2006-07 budget for agriculture and the environment jeopardizes the success of an exciting, constructive, and unprecedented partnership between the agricultural and environmental communities, one that has us working together to expand agricultural conservation practices while improving the economic viability of agriculture.

The following programs are of critical concern to CBF:

Agricultural Funding

County conservation districts are the epicenters for conservation work in the agricultural community. The proposed budget cuts $900,000 from county conservation districts, perhaps the most cost effective place we spend money on agricultural conservation. The proposed budget also cuts agricultural research and crop insurance support, key components in keeping Pennsylvania agriculture economically viable and environmentally sound. In addition, we must also identify a permanent or long term funding stream for the Nutrient Management Fund, which projections show will be depleted by June, 2007.

CBF recently released the Voices of Agriculture report that summarizes the issues and concerns of over 1,400 members of Pennsylvania’s agricultural community. It is clear that Pennsylvania producers are looking for reasonable support to do key conservation work while remaining economically viable.

Given the demands on the State’s agricultural industry, and the commitments to conservation voiced by the Administration and echoed by the voters, Pennsylvania should be significantly increasing the funding for county conservation districts. CBF appreciates the General Assembly’s stalwart support of these priorities and is committed to working with all parties to restore and increase this critical funding. In order to meet Pennsylvania’s obligations to remove local stream impairments and improve the Chesapeake Bay, we must dramatically increase our commitments to agricultural conservation practices and evaluate the programs and implementation framework available to get the work done.

Hazardous Sites Cleanup Program

The proposed budget diverts $30 million from the Environmental Stewardship Fund for the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Program, following a $20 million diversion last year. While these temporary shifts were authorized by the Growing Greener II legislation, they do not provide a sustainable solution. We must identify a stable, long-term funding stream for this program and not cut into the base funding for specific programs endorsed by the voters.

Keystone Recreation, Parks and Conservation Fund

A one-time diversion of $63 million in dedicated Realty Transfer Tax funds from the Keystone Recreation, Parks and Conservation Fund is also proposed in this budget. While we understand that, due to changes in program accounting, there will not be a shortfall in 2006-2007 spending on this program, we are opposed to the diversion of the funding away from critical environmental programs voters support. There is an enormous unmet need for environmental funding that should be the focus of any diversion enabled by accounting changes.

In Summary

As you consider the 2006-2007 budget, we ask that you support the following agricultural and environmental funding priorities.

1. Restore and increase critical agricultural conservation funding, in particular increase Conservation District funding to $3 million, restore $3 million in agricultural research funding, and restore $2 million in crop insurance support funding.

2. Increase funding for agricultural best management practices (BMPs) to a level consistent with Pennsylvania’s water quality goals and commitments.

3. Develop a dedicated funding source for the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Program and restore $30 Million to the Environmental Stewardship Fund for core environmental programs.

4. Take action to prevent diversions of funding from the Keystone Recreation and Parks Fund. (If the proposed one-time diversion will have no adverse impact on the program funding, utilize the diverted funds for other agricultural and environmental programs, rather than to balance the budget.)

5. Develop a dedicated or long term funding source for the Nutrient Management Fund.

We recognize that very real budget challenges face the General Assembly and the Administration on many fronts; however, projections estimate Pennsylvania revenues will increase by $946 million in the coming fiscal year. With Pennsylvania voters overwhelming support for clean water and a stronger agricultural base, we urge you to not only allocate a reasonable portion of that revenue to agriculture and the environment, but to ensure long-term sustainability of programs designed to achieve clean water and agricultural viability.

Finally, it is clear that in order meet Pennsylvania’s obligations to restore our polluted streams and improve the Chesapeake Bay, we must significantly increase the resources focused on that task. In addition, we must insure that we have a delivery program that addresses the needs at the scale they occur on the landscape. We offer our time and skills to work with you to develop the tools, delivery mechanisms, and funding sources necessary to remove impairment to Pennsylvania streams and the Chesapeake Bay.

Chesapeake Bay Foundation, with its professional staff, over 11,000 members throughout Pennsylvania, and the ability and resources to bring a variety of partners and stakeholders together, is ready to assist the Senate, the House, and the Governor in addressing these challenges. CBF appreciates all the dedication and hard work that has brought us to this point, and looks forward to meeting these challenges and continuing Pennsylvania’s leadership on agricultural and environmental issues.

Sincerely,

Matthew J. Ehrhart

Pennsylvania Director

Chesapeake Bay Foundation

For more information, visit the Pennsylvania Office of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation webpage.

Session Schedule

The Senate and House return to session on June 5

On the Hill

· On the Senate, House Agenda

· Bills Introduced

· May Environmental Synopsis Now Available from Joint Conservation Committee

Other News

· Tom Ridge Environmental Center Now Open at Presque Isle in Erie

· Western Pennsylvania Environmental Award Winners Recognized

· John Dawes, Wild Resource Program Receive PAEP 2006 Karl Mason Awards

· Delaware, Greene, York High Schools Take State Envirothon Honors

· Finalists Named for 2006 Commonwealth Design Awards by 10,000 Friends

· TreeVitalize Sweeps Montgomery County Environmental Awards

· Nearly $17 Million Awarded to Protect PA’s Natural Resources, Open Space

· Over 325 Attend Land Conservation Conference, Materials Available Online

· Over 600 Attend 2nd Annual Wild Resource Festival May 20

· $52 Million in Wastewater, Drinking Water, Brownfields Projects Funded

· Electric Generation Retirements, Environmental Rules Forcing Electric Costs Up

· PPL Joins FutureGen Alliance to Advance Clean Coal Power Plants

· Metal Recovery Firm Uses Pollution Prevention Loan to Reduce Waste/Energy Costs

· Colleges, Universities Can Still Sign Up for June 8 Energy Efficiency Workshop

· Automobile Makers Launch “Discover Alternative Fuel Autos” Campaign in PA

· Property Management for Cleaner Streams Workshops set for June 8, 21

· Volunteers Sought for Annual June 17 Ohio River Sweep

· POWR’s Watershed Listservs a Good Source for Information

· Recycling Program Grant Applications Due October 20

· Santorum, Casey to Speak at PA Environmental Council Dinner June 6

· DEP Citizens Advisory Council to Hold Regional Meeting in Indiana

· Breinich Elected to American Planning Association’s Professional Institute

· Michael Pyles Receives National Award for Radon Work

· AASHTO Looking for Transportation/Environmental Experts

· Whole Foods, PA Resources Council, Pittsburgh Partner on Paper Recycling June 9

· Help Wanted: Penn State Opening for PA No-Till Coordinator

See & Hear

· A Day in the Life of Energy – Getting from Generator to Your Home

Feature

· 2010: An Electricity Odyssey, By John Hanger, Former Commissioner, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission

Go To the Watershed Awareness Month Events Section

Go To: PA Environment Digest Calendar Page

5/26/2006