In various forums last week leadership from the Senate and House, as well as the Rendell Administration agreed there must be a long –term funding fix for DEP’s Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund, but as leaders from both the Senate and House shared, the Administration rejected a budget fix for this year.

Legislative leaders also emphasized that funding for watershed grants under the original Growing Greener Program continues as planned.

Hazardous Sites Cleanup

DEP took the unusual step of publishing a letter from Senate Majority Leader David J. Brightbill (R-Lebanon) in its July 16 Update newsletter this week that took DEP to task for “attacking” the Governor’s final budget settlement in the July 9 Update.

“The commentary regarding the status of the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund (HSCF) is particularly disturbing. Recognizing that future funding must be identified, $10 million in short-term funding was included in the Senate-passed version of the state budget.

“However, in final negotiations the Administration opposed efforts to provide this critical short-term funding out of existing revenue in the General Fund -- money that would have held off the “grave threat” DEP says we now face.

“Truly we need a long-term fix. Time to study HSCF is needed to determine the Fund’s actual financial state, if for no other reason than to determine why the Administration has given the General Assembly no fewer than four different balances for HSCF for the coming year.”

Having General Fund money used for the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Program was part of the funding formula ever since the program was enacted in 1988. However, a General Fund contribution was not made after the 1991 budget crisis.

Language giving the governor authority to transfer General Fund monies to the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund to make up for shortfalls was also included in legislative changes made in 2002.

Growing Greener Watershed Grants

On funding for watershed grants under the original Growing Greener Program, Sen. Brightbill and Rep. Sam Smith (R-Jefferson) House Majority Leader both pointed out that funding will continue for watershed groups as planned for this fiscal year.

For fiscal year 2004-05, DEP will have a total of $31.5 million to spend from the Environmental Stewardship Fund, there was no cut in funding for this share.

DEP announced Friday it would spend an initial $3.9 million to support watershed specialists in county conservation districts. About $3.1 million (10 percent) is reserved to fund innovative sewer and water projects, but DEP has not said how the remainder of its $24.5 million will be spent for this year.

In the past DEP has used Growing Greener dollars to fund a portion of its Energy Harvest Grant program, the local share of the Crop Reserve Enhancement Program and DEP’s own mine reclamation and oil and gas well plugging projects.

In last year’s watershed grant announcements, DEP combined funds from a variety of state and federal programs to support watershed activities.

Commenting on both programs, Sen. Brightbill concluded his letter by saying he is, “…absolutely committed to improving Pennsylvania’s environment. It was a Republican Governor and Republican General Assembly that enacted the Land Recycling and Growing Greener Acts. Our members have demonstrated their commitment to protecting our environment, and we look forward to the recommendations of the Green Ribbon Commission. We also hope that the departmental rhetoric will soon begin to align with the facts.”

Both Sen. Brightbill and Rep. Smith committed to form a “Green Ribbon Commission” to develop environmental spending initiatives for later this year and next spring.

7/16/2004