The Department of Environmental Protection this week announced the award of $27 million to help finance 153 projects to clean up streams and rivers, address serious environmental problems at abandoned mine sites and revitalize communities across the state.

Included in the $27 million, which represents the eighth round of funding awarded by DEP under the traditional Growing Greener program, are $7.9 million in traditional watershed grants and $13.1 million in grants under the voter-approved Growing Greener II bond initiative.

In addition, DEP is recommending $5.9 million in Nonpoint Source Implementation Program Grants, funded through Section 319(h) of the federal Clean Water Act.

Since 1999, DEP has supplied $181.7 million in watershed grants for 1,592 projects in all 67 counties of Pennsylvania through the traditional Growing Greener Program.

The grants are used to create or restore wetlands, restore stream buffer zones, eliminate causes of nonpoint source pollution, plug oil and gas wells, reclaim abandoned mine lands and restore aquatic life to streams that were lifeless due to acid mine drainage.

Since passage of the voter approved Growing Greener II bond issue last year, DEP has awarded $28.4 million for 106 watershed projects.

A complete list of grants awarded is available online.

NewsClip: Two Clearfield County Streams Win Funding for Cleanups

12/1/2006