Gov. Edward G. Rendell today fulfilled his pledge to improve the economic and environmental health of Pennsylvania by signing into law Growing Greener II, a voter-approved plan that invests $625 million to clean up rivers and streams; protects natural areas, open spaces and working farms; and shores up key programs to improve quality of life and revitalize communities across the Commonwealth.
“Securing this investment today will keep Pennsylvania ‘growing greener’ well into the future,” Rendell said. “We are entrusted as the stewards of our environment, and have a moral obligation to leave our soil, water and air in better condition than we found it for future generations. Growing Greener II embraces the priorities that all of us share in Pennsylvania.
The new law brings to fruition more than a year of aggressive efforts by the governor to address some of the state’s most pressing environmental problems and help the state win the race for new development and job creation — and it accomplishes the feat without increasing fees or imposing new taxes. The measure passed the House of Representatives, 180-18, and Senate, 48-2.
The plan is financed by permanently extending the $4.25 already paid in current Growing Greener tipping fees on each ton of waste deposited in Pennsylvania landfills. An additional $2 tipping fee to finance recycling programs remains in place through 2008.
The $625 million will be spread out over six years. A provision in the new law sets up an Environmental Block Grant Program that allows counties to address local priorities. Counties can designate up to $90 million over the life of the bond program by picking from approved projects within the DEP, DCNR, PDA and DCED appropriations to target specific needs. Each county will be guaranteed a minimum level of funding. Funding will be distributed among the state’s 67 counties according to their class.
Growing Greener II also restores funding in the short term for the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act (HSCA) Fund, the state’s most important tool to respond immediately and eliminate any threat to public health and safety when toxic chemicals or hazardous substances are spilled or leaked, or otherwise found in the environment. HSCA was heading toward fiscal ruin. DEP stopped new public protection projects and triaged ongoing cleanups. Growing Greener II provides $50 million over the next two fiscal years to shore up the program.
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