Gov. Rendell proposed a 2006-07 budget that includes shifts and reductions in over $100 million in environmental funding for the Keystone Recreation, Parks and Conservation Fund, abandoned mine reclamation, oil and gas well plugging, watershed restoration, recycling grants, environmental education and support for county conservation districts.

The proposed reductions this year are on top of cuts proposed by Gov. Rendell over the last three years that Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen McGinty said “run deep” at budget hearings in 2005.

The largest change was a diversion of over $63 million from the Realty Transfer Tax away from the Keystone Recreation, Parks and Conservation Fund allocated to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to the General Fund to help balance the budget in 2006-07.

This change is proposed as a one time diversion that parallels a proposed change in the way grants are awarded from the Keystone Fund. Grants would be awarded based on anticipated revenues to the Fund, rather than cash on hand as was done in the past.

The budget request also takes the maximum amount authorized-- $30 million-- from the Environmental Stewardship Fund to finance the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund.

This transfer means a corresponding decrease in funding for farmland preservation ($1 million), abandoned mine reclamation ($3.4 million), oil and gas well plugging ($1 million), watershed restoration ($1.3 million) and sewer and water system projects ($1.6 million) from the Fund.

Funding for county conservation districts would be reduced by $900,000, nutrient management program support for farmers was reduced by $986,000, the Chesapeake Bay Education Program was reduced to $0 from $300,000.

Grants to start up municipal recycling programs were cut $8.5 million (in anticipation of the sunset of the Recycling Fee) and Small Business Pollution Prevention Grants were cut $767,000.

The Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority expects to award only about $303 million in funding for drinking water, wastewater, stormwater and other projects this coming year. This year it funded $353 million in projects. This decrease is in part due to cuts in federal funding and in funding from the state Environmental Stewardship Fund.

As is usually the case, the Governor’s budget eliminated certain “legislative budget initiatives” in environmental agency budgets, including funding for scrap tire cleanup, safe water projects, however, the line item for black fly spraying that proved so controversial last year was not touched.

Gov. Rendell did include a new $508,000 Deep Mine Safety initiative in DEP’s budget to support more frequent safety inspections in underground coal and mineral mines.

Just last year voters approved an environmental bond issue to provide $625 million over six years in additional funding for farmland preservation, abandoned mine reclamation, watershed restoration, State Park improvement and sewer and water projects.

Here’s a quick summary of the proposed environmental budget changes—

Links: Budget Includes Funding to Speed Water Quality Permits

Governor’s Budget in Brief- PDF

Text of Budget Address

Table of Contents of “Big Budget Book”

Governor’s 2006-07 Budget Request Webpage

Senate Democratic Appropriations Committee Budget Summary

Session Schedule

The House and Senate return to session February 13 and will then break until March for budget hearings.

On the Hill

· On the Senate, House Agenda

· Senate/House Bills Moving

· Game Commission May Not Make It Past July 1 Without License Increase

· Joint Committee Releases Report on Oil and Gas Leasing Operations

· House Committee Holds Hearing on California Car Standards

· Environmental Issues Forum Set for February 13

· Bills Introduced

Other News

· Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Launches 2006 Great PA Cleanup!

· Applications Now Being Accepted for Compost Infrastructure Development Grants

· Rendell Orders Re-Inspection of PA Underground Mines

· Holmes Safety Association Offering Students Mine Safety Scholarships

· Ignore the Groundhog, Think Spring! Attend a Tree Tender Workshop

· Game Commission Offers Seedlings to Property Owners for Habitat Improvement

· Westmoreland County Smart Growth Partnership Accepting Award Nominations

· DCNR Adds New Watersheds to State Rivers Conservation Registry

· Pennsylvania American Water Accepting Entries for Watershed Art Contest

· Senior Volunteers Seek New Members to Help Track Health of French Creek

· Trout Unlimited Abandoned Mine Cleanups Featured in WPSU Documentary

· POWR Takes Watersheds Data System On the Road

· PA Environmental Council Sponsors Stormwater Retrofit Workshops in Southeast

· Codorus Creek Water Research Forum Set for March 2

· POWR Arranges For Legal Serves for Watershed Group Members

· DEP Increases Incentives for Remining Abandoned Mine Lands

· EPA Releases Clean Energy-Environment Guide to Action

· EPA Recognizes Landfill Methane Partners For Greenhouse Gas Reductions

· PA Center for Environmental Ed Newsletter Online, New Contact

· Pennsylvania State Park Visitors Can Now Make Reservations Online

· Join the Great Backyard Bird Count February 17-20, Everybirdy Counts!

· Making Environmental Connections, Society of Women Environmental Professionals

· Farmers Invited to Cove Area Regional Digester Meetings

· Help Wanted: PA Environmental Council Seeks President-CEO

· Help Wanted: PA Resources Council Seeks Litter Education, Writer

Feature

· Teaming Up for the Environment – Part II - Townships Collaborate with Conservation Districts, By Jennifer L. Hawbaker, PA Township News

Go To: PA Environment Digest Calendar Page

2/10/2006