Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Michael DiBerardinis was questioned closely in the Senate and House budget hearings this week on plans for dealing with the surging gypsy moth populations, lifeguards at State Parks and the PA MAP Program.

Here’s a quick summary of key items—

Gypsy Moths: Deputy Secretary James Grace told the House Appropriations Committee the level of funding for gypsy moth spraying this year should be adequate to spray over 200,000 acres around the state. He also said the formula for the Bti spray used in the program would be strengthened to make it more effective.

Floodplain Mapping: Secretary DiBerardinis said the requested $2.4 million for the PA MAP program should be enough funding to finish digital maps for the entire state and help update floodplain maps that are used in the Federal Flood Insurance Program.

Keystone Fund: Declining home sales may have an impact on revenues on the Keystone Recreation, Parks and Conservation Fund, said Secretary DiBerardinis since it depends on the realty transfer tax. His statement prompted Sen. Mary Jo White (R-Venango) to observe the Rendell Administration projected growing revenues in the realty transfer tax over the next five years from $75.2 million this year to $101.2 million in 2012-13.

Natural Diversity Inventory Reviews: Secretary DiBerardinis noted that an additional position is being assigned to Natural Diversity Inventory reviews required to identify threatened and endangered species in construction projects to help speed up reviews and eliminate the current backlog.

Lifeguards: A number of legislators expressed concerns about the reduction or elimination of lifeguards at State Park swimming facilities. Secretary DiBerardinis said eliminating the lifeguards had saved $800,000 and said he was not concerned about questions of increasing the Commonwealth’s liability, noting the program was started before he became Secretary.

A copy of Secretary Michael DiBerardinis’ testimony is available online.

The Senate and House have now completed their initial schedule of agency budget hearings. Several additional hearings will be held, including the Department of Transportation, so watch Calendar of Events as they are scheduled.

Link: Senate Republican Budget Hearing Summaries/Hearing Videos

3/7/2008