Legislation to provide funding for the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Program passed the Senate unanimously this week, making it the third Hazardous Sites Cleanup Program funding plan the Senate has unanimously approved.

Senate Bill 1100 (Pileggi-R-Delaware) would transfer about $17 million to HSCA from legislative accounts for the current fiscal year. Recent estimates indicate that amount is enough to keep the program afloat through the end of June.

The other Senate proposals passed over the last two years include Senate Bill 913 (MJ White-R-Venango) and Senate Bill 149 (MJ White). The House has not passed a funding plan.

"By using money from legislative accounts, we ensure that no state program is cut to fund HSCA," said Sen. Pileggi. "And no taxes are increased."

Funding for HSCA, a vital program which finances cleanups at contaminated sites and the investigation of illegal hazardous waste disposals, was not included in the final state budget adopted by the General Assembly in July. The Department of Environmental Protection has indicated that the HSCA program will be shut down if a funding solution is not found.

"Senate Republicans have consistently supported funding for this critical program," said Sen. White. "Today's action will enable DEP to meet its obligation to protect our residents and ensure communities have access to the resources they need in times of an emergency."

Under Senate Bill 1100, $40 million in existing revenues from the Capital Stock and Franchise Tax will be earmarked for HSCA beginning in fiscal year 2008-2009 and continuing through 2010-11. This proposal will not change the scheduled phase-out of the Capital Stock and Franchise Tax.

In the House, Representatives Steil (R-Bucks) and Shapiro (D-Montgomery) introduced House Bill 1974 which would provide $35 million to fund HSCA through transfers from legislative accounts and Rep. Milne (R-Chester) proposed a new Hazardous Sites Cleanup Program funding alternative that would transfer funding from the State Stores Fund to HSCA.

11/2/2007