2015 Releases

For Immediate Release:  July 2, 2015

Growing Greener Coalition: Commonwealth Should Enact a Severance Tax on Natural Gas Extraction in Pennsylvania
Urges Increased Investments in Conservation, Recreation, and Preservation Funding

 

(HARRISBURG, PA) The Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition today issued the following statement from Executive Director Andrew Heath in response to recent discussions concerning the enactment of a severance tax on natural gas extraction in Pennsylvania:

“Now that the deadline of June 30 has passed and Governor Wolf has opted to veto the state budget, the Coalition calls on the General Assembly and Administration to enact a fair and reasonable severance tax on natural gas extraction for generating additional state revenues to support various Commonwealth programs and initiatives, as well as investing in the state’s Growing Greener Environmental Stewardship Fund.

“Using revenues from a severance tax to address Commonwealth needs, like education and environmental initiatives makes sense.  Given the impact of natural gas development on local communities and the environment, a portion of this revenue should be earmarked to conserve, protect, and restore land, water and wildlife, to preserve farms and historic places, and to provide well-managed parks and recreational areas throughout the state.

“The Governor’s proposed budget contains many elements our Coalition supports; including increasing investments in renewable energy, increased funding for state agencies, such as the Department of Environmental Protection, whose responsibility is to protect and enhance the environment, and reducing the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources dependence on revenue from the Oil and Gas Lease Fund.

“Increasing investments to the Growing Greener program will ensure that these positive steps towards ensuring Pennsylvania’s air, water, land, wildlife, farmland, recreational opportunities, historic preservation, and heritage continue to prosper and grow for generations to come.”

Growing Greener is a bipartisan program established in 1999 under Governor Tom Ridge and later expanded by Governors Schweiker and Rendell.  Since its establishment, Growing Greener has created a legacy of success, preserving more than 33,700 acres of Pennsylvania’s family farmland, conserving more than 42,300 acres of threatened open space, adding 26,000 acres to state parks and forests, restoring over 16,000 acres of abandoned mine lands, and thousands of community recreation areas, trails, and greenways.

Moreover, Growing Greener has contributed and leveraged billions of dollars to the Pennsylvania economy by helping to boost tourism, create jobs and generate revenue.

Pennsylvania’s state parks, which are supported in part by Growing Greener funds, generate more than $928 million in local spending and support more than 12,000 local jobs.

In addition, Growing Greener has been a powerful funding source for Pennsylvania’s Heritage Areas. Spending by visitors to these areas generates more than $400 million in sales and contributes at least 6,000 jobs to the Pennsylvania economy.

Other examples of how Growing Greener benefits the economy include:

• Supporting Agriculture – By funding farmland preservation projects, Growing Greener helps sustain Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry. Agriculture produces more than $45 billion annually and provides about one in seven jobs in the state, making it Pennsylvania’s leading industry.

• Increasing Property Values – In Southeastern Pennsylvania alone, preserved open space, which is often supported with Growing Greener funds, increases homeowners’ property values by an average of $10,000 per household.

• Reducing Costs – Growing Greener has funded the clean up of more than 16,000 acres of abandoned mines and in doing so has reduced water treatment costs locally and in downstream communities. Studies show that open space saves local governments and utilities millions of dollars in costs associated with drinking water filtration, air pollution removal and flood control.

• Supporting Forest Products Industry – Growing Greener funds support forest conservation, which in turn helps sustain the resources on which the forest industry depends. This industry has sales in excess of $16 billion annually, a total impact of $27 billion and employs more than 80,000 people.

• Bolstering Tourism Industry – Growing Greener funds have preserved more than 42,300 acres of natural areas and open spaces, many of which provide outdoor recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike. Outdoor enthusiasts spend more than $5.4 billion in the Commonwealth annually.

For Immediate Release: March 3, 2015 

Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition Expresses Optimism
Over Governor’s Proposed Budget
Organization Calls for Restoration of Heritage Areas Program Funding 

(HARRISBURG, PA) The Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition, the largest coalition of conservation, recreation and preservation organizations in the Commonwealth, today issued the following statement from Executive Director Andrew Heath in response to Governor Tom Wolf’s 2015-16 budget proposal:

“The Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition is grateful that the Governor recognizes the importance of maintaining the state programs that protect and restore our drinking water, preserve our farms and open spaces, and provide recreational opportunities.

“We appreciate that the Governor’s proposed budget leaves intact, and in many cases increases, funding for critical investments such as the state’s award winning Growing Greener program, the Keystone Recreation, Park, and Conservation Fund, and Historic and Agriculture Preservation.

“The Governor also made strong positive steps forward in regards to increasing funding for the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), while beginning to rollback DCNR’s dependency on Oil and Gas Lease Fund revenues for operational expenses.

“However, the Coalition has grave concerns about the elimination of funding for the Heritage Areas Program, which has successfully conserved and enhanced the state’s natural resources and promoted tourism development for nearly 25 years.

“There is strong public support for this important program, as demonstrated by the Legislature’s reauthorization of funding for it last year. The Coalition looks forward to working with the Wolf Administration and members of the House and Senate to restore this important funding.”

For Immediate Release:  February 13, 2015

Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition Issues Statement Concerning Recently Announced Severance Tax Proposals

(HARRISBURG, PA) The Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition, the largest coalition of conservation, recreation, and preservation organizations in the Commonwealth, today reiterated its case for why environmental funding must be contained in any severance tax package passed by the Commonwealth.

Andrew Heath, executive director for the Coalition, issued the following statement;

“Since the Coalition first came into existence in 2008, our position concerning a severance tax on natural gas extraction has been consistent – it must include conservation, restoration, and preservation funding for programs such as the Growing Greener Environmental Stewardship Fund. This position stems from the fact that when natural resources are used and/or degraded in one region of the Commonwealth, there must be a reinvestment in resources in another.

“On Wednesday, the Governor announced his plans to enact a 5 percent drilling tax plus a fee on gas production. These taxes would generate hundreds of millions of dollars for the Commonwealth each year. The Coalition urges the Administration and General Assembly to reinvest a portion of these revenues for conservation, recreation, and preservation programs.

“The impacts of drilling in Pennsylvania are evident throughout the Commonwealth. Our parks, forests, scenic and cultural areas, and waterways are at risk of being disturbed and degraded. Funding through a severance tax is essential to addressing these issues and is a step in the right direction to increasing funds available for the Growing Greener and other environmental programs.”

For Immediate Release: January 19, 2015

Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition Celebrates Announcement of Department of Environmental Protection Growing Greener Grants

(HARRISBURG, PA) The Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition — the largest coalition of conservation, recreation and preservation organizations in the Commonwealth — today celebrated the approval of more than $23 million in Growing Greener Environmental Stewardship Funds through the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to support 109 watershed protection efforts throughout the state.

“These grants will have a lasting impact on the state by supporting vital projects that protect the Commonwealth’s most precious resource – water,” said Andrew Heath, executive director of the Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition.

The Growing Greener Environmental Stewardship Fund (ESF) derives its revenue from the state’s “tipping fee,” the cost disposing trash in the Commonwealth. Each year the fee generates about $60 million for the ESF fund, but due to legislation passed with the Growing Greener II program in 2005, about $40 million of that revenue is used to pay the yearly Growing Greener II bond debt service.

On the other hand, Act 13, the impact fees on natural gas drilling, generates new funds for the ESF. Revenues from 10 percent of the Marcellus Shale Legacy Fund, along with a $35 million yearly transfer from the state’s Oil and Gas Lease Fund, help to ensure that water protection, conservation and recreation efforts continue across the Commonwealth.

The Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition was instrumental in ensuring that funds collected through the Marcellus Legacy Fund be made available for statewide environmental, conservation, and recreation projects.

The recently announced DEP grants will be used to protect our water resources by improving watersheds, reducing stormwater runoff and acid mine drainage, and supporting public outreach efforts.

A recent report issued by the DEP stated that Pennsylvania has nearly 20,000 miles of waterways that are considered impaired.

“This is more evidence that cleaning our rivers and streams must be a higher priority to our elected officials in Harrisburg,” Heath said. “More investments are needed to address this growing concern.”

For Immediate Release: January 16, 2015

Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition Applauds Governor-elect
Wolf’s Selection of Agency Leaders

(HARRISBURG, PA) The Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition — the largest coalition of conservation, recreation, and preservation organizations in the Commonwealth — today applauded Governor-elect Tom Wolf’s choices for the leadership jobs in the state’s environmental, conservation, and agriculture agencies. Governor-elect Wolf recently announced the appointments of Cindy Dunn to head the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Russell Redding to lead the Department of Agriculture, and John Quigley to head the Department of Environmental Protection.

“These are excellent selections,” said Andrew Heath, executive director of the Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition. “With decades of experience collectively, these three individuals will apply their experience and skills to the challenges facing the Commonwealth over the next four years. The Coalition looks forward to working with these state agency leaders in tackling the challenges head on.”

On January 20^th, Tom Wolf will be inaugurated as the 47^th governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Numerous celebratory events are scheduled throughout the day across Central Pennsylvania.

“This is a time to honor the service of Governor Tom Corbett and to respect the transition to new leadership under Governor-elect Wolf,” Heath said. “As we celebrate our democratic system and pass the baton from one leader to another, this day deserves to be respected and honored.

“The next four years will be critical to the future of the Commonwealth and the Coalition looks forward to working with the Wolf Administration on addressing the conservation, recreation, and preservation funding needs facing the state. There is much work to be done, and the Coalition is prepared to get started on day one.”

January 8, 2015
For Immediate Release
Contact John Surrick (443) 482-2045

 

 

CLEAN WATER COUNTS! IN WASHINGTON COUNTY:
APPLAUDS COMMISSIONERS FOR ADOPTING CLEAN WATER RESOLUTION
10^th County Stands Up for Cleaner Water in the Keystone State

 

(HARRISBURG) – The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) applauds the Washington County Commissioners for adopting a Clean Water Counts resolution, calling on state officials to make clean water a top priority for the Keystone State.

“Healthy families, strong communities, and a thriving Pennsylvania economy depend on clean water,” said Harry Campbell, CBF’s Pennsylvania Executive Director. “We applaud and thank the Washington County Commissioners for publicly standing up for clean water in the Keystone State. Having such an important region of the Commonwealth voice their support for this initiative is a testament to how important this issue is.”

CBF embarked on the Clean Water Counts campaign in response to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) most recent statewide surface waters assessment. The results show that of the 86,000 miles of waterways flowing through the Commonwealth, nearly 20,000 miles are polluted. DEP also reported that the top pollution sources are agricultural and urban/suburban runoff, and abandoned mine drainage.

More than 1400 miles of waterways flow through Washington County, but unfortunately more than 700 of those miles are polluted. Overall, urban and suburban runoff is the greatest source in the county, polluting nearly 200 miles. Other pollution sources in the County include agriculture, which accounts for 171 miles of polluted waterways, abandoned mine drainage, which pollutes 178 miles, and ‘other’ pollution sources impair 155 miles of local creeks and streams.

Through public education and engagement, CBF is hoping to increase awareness of water pollution issues, like those in Washington County and elsewhere in the Keystone State. The goal is to urge state officials to make clean water a priority and commit the needed funding and programs to ensure that the waters that we rely on for drinking and household uses, recreation, and to grow our food, all meet clean water standards.

To date, ten counties have decided to stand up for cleaner water in Pennsylvania. They include Berks, Cumberland, Fayette, Luzerne, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Westmoreland, Wyoming, York, and now Washington counties.

In addition to calling on local officials to pass resolutions, CBF is asking residents to show their support by signing the Clean Water Counts online petition. It takes only a few minutes, but signatures will go a long way toward demonstrating the importance of clean water to our elected officials.

To learn more about the campaign go to cbf.org/PAForCleanWater