Scrapbook Photo 03/25/24 - 93 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA: http://tinyurl.com/3729bhvv
Growing Greener Coalition To Wolf, Legislature: Funding Needed For Green Infrastructure
Photo

The PA Growing Greener Coalition Thursday called on Gov. Tom Wolf and the Legislature to provide more funding to protect Pennsylvania’s water, land and other natural resources, not less.

“As Gov. Wolf prepares to present his budget next week, we want to remind him and the Legislature that Pennsylvania needs more funding to protect our water, land and other natural resources, not less,” said Andrew Heath, executive director of the Coalition. “While we recognize the current fiscal challenges facing the state, this budget must not and cannot be balanced at the expense of the environment.”

“Cuts to state programs like Growing Greener, Keystone and Farmland Preservation are unacceptable,” Heath continued. “Further, any new revenue proposals must include funding for Growing Greener to ensure that Pennsylvanians continue to have access to clean water, green open spaces, parks and outdoor recreational opportunities, and nutritious, locally grown food.”

Funding for Growing Greener has decreased from an estimated average of $200 million in the mid-2000s to $57 million this year. This represents a 75 percent cut and an all-time low for the program.

Established in 1999, the state’s Growing Greener program has funded hundreds of local parks and trail projects, conserved more than 80,000 acres of threatened open space, and restored hundreds of miles of streams and waterways.

The program has also protected more than 78,000 acres of farmland, restored more than 1,600 acres of abandoned mine land, and helped reduce flooding and water pollution through 400 watershed protection projects and more than 100 drinking and wastewater treatment improvements.

Since its inception, the state’s Growing Greener program has enjoyed widespread, bipartisan public support. A 2015 Penn State poll found that 90.7 percent of Pennsylvanians surveyed would support increasing state funds to conserve and protect open space, clean water, natural areas, wildlife habitats, parks, historic sites, forests, and farms.

For more information on funding needs and proposals, visit the PA Growing Greener Coalition website.  The Coalition is the largest coalition of conservation, recreation and preservation organizations in Pennsylvania.

NewsClips:

PA Lacks Resources To Enforce Safe Water Standards EPA Says

EPA: DEP Doesn’t Have Resources To Properly Oversee Drinking Water Systems

AP: Feds Warn Pennsylvania Over Safe Drinking Water Violations

Wolf Looking Into Safe Drinking Water Program Warning Issue

McKelvey: How Worried Should You Be About Your Drinking Water, Given DEP’s Lack Of Resources

Editorial: Pruitt’s Tepid Commitment To Clean Up The Chesapeake Bay

Report: Act 13 Drilling Fee Revenue Will Hit Record Low This Year

Trump Transition Leader’s Goal Is ⅔ Cut In EPA Employees

AP: Merging 4 Agencies Seen As Way To Cut Red Tape, Not Programs

Swift: New Agency Would Run Crucial Programs

Esack: Wolf Wants Merger Of 4 Health/Human Service Agencies

Murphy: Agency Consolidations Are Not About Service Cuts

Related Stories:

Welcome To 1994! Tools For Evaluating Gov. Wolf’s 2017-18 Environmental Funding Request

Updated Regulatory Agenda: DEP To Consider At Least 5 Fee Increase Regs This Year

EPA: DEP Lacks Resources To Enforce Minimum Federal Safe Drinking Water Regs

Growing Greener Coalition Urges More State Investment In Green Infrastructure

Natural Gas Impact Fee Revenue Shrinks Another $13.1 Million  For 2016

Drilling Impact Fees Will Be The Same In 2016, Revenue Down Another $13.1M

Severance Tax Proposals So Far Offer Nothing For The Environment

PA Chesapeake Bay Commission Members Spotlight Need For Clean Water Fund In PA

Sen. Alloway: Finding Funding For PA Chesapeake Bay Cleanup A Priority

CBF-PA Supports Equitable Water Use Fee To Help Cleanup PA’s Rivers & Streams

Pivot Points 2017: Facts Will Lead Us To Better Decisions On Protecting The Environment

Analysis: Wolf Will Cut His Way To A Balanced Budget Proposal For Next Year

Wolf Locks Staff Levels At Dec. 2 Numbers Affecting Over 400 Positions At DEP, DCNR

[Posted: Feb. 2, 2017]


2/6/2017

Go To Preceding Article     Go To Next Article

Return to This PA Environment Digest's Main Page