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Environmental Funds & Investments

Coalition Celebrates Marcellus Shale Legacy Grants

For Immediate Release:  November 26, 2013

Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition Celebrates Approval of Marcellus Legacy Fund Grants for Recreation and Critical Land and Water Conservation Projects

(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 $28 million in Marcellus Legacy Fund grants to support recreation and critical land and water protection efforts throughout the state.

“These grants will have a lasting impact on the Commonwealth by supporting vital projects that will protect watersheds, preserve open space, mitigate flooding, build and improve recreational trails and treat contaminated water at former mining sites, said Andrew Heath, executive director of the Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition.

Impact fees on natural gas drilling have generated more than $400 million to date.  Forty percent of the fees collected is allocated to the Marcellus Shale Legacy Fund and a portion of that is distributed in the form of grants from the Commonwealth Financing Authority [CFA] to support statewide conservation and recreation efforts.  This initial round of grants distributed more than $28 million in grants.

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

A breakdown of the grants distributed by the CFA is as follows:

  • $5.6 million to restore streams impaired by polluted runoff in 18 counties.
  • $16 million to support 116 greenway, trail and recreation projects throughout the state.
  • $5.2 million to support 12 abandoned mine drainage abatement and treatment projects statewide.
  • $700,000 to support flood mitigation projects in Blair, Bucks, Lackawanna and Northumberland counties.
  • $225,000 to plug orphaned and abandoned wells in Allegheny and Washington counties.

“The Marcellus Legacy Fund was created to help support important environmental protection efforts statewide and in local communities, and we’re glad to see that its impact is starting to be felt,” Heath said.  “This first round of grant awards will go a long way to improving environmental outcomes and upholding Pennsylvania’s status as a great place to live and work.”

Newly Announced Growing Greener Grants

For Immediate Release:  June 21, 2013 

Growing Greener Coalition Encourages Submission of Applications for Newly Announced Grant Funding

(HARRISBURG, PA) Pennsylvania’s Growing Greener Coalition encouraged eligible applicants today to apply for $23 million in grant funding that the Corbett Administration and the Department of Environmental Protection announced would be made available for environmental protection efforts.

“The Growing Greener Coalition applauds the Commonwealth for recognizing the critical need to protect Pennsylvania’s water and land resources and natural environment,” said Andrew Heath, executive director of the Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition.  “These funds will be put to good use restoring watersheds and removing hazardous materials from ground soil, ensuring clean, safe drinking water and an improved quality of life for Commonwealth residents.”

The funds will be made available through the Department of Environmental Protection to be distributed to local agencies through a competitive grant process.  According to the Administration, funds will support watershed restoration, acid mine drainage and water quality improvement projects throughout the state.

For more information about the grants, and to download a copy of the application, visit the Department of Environmental Protection’s website (www.dep.state.pa.us) and select “Growing Greener.”  The grant application period will run through August 16th.

Support for the program will come from a combination of Act 13 impact fee revenues, Growing Greener Environmental Stewardship Funds and Growing Greener II bonds.

Growing Greener Environmental Stewardship Fund (ESF) receives its revenue through a 1999 increase in the state’s tipping fee, along with revenue transfers from the Oil & Gas Lease Fund made possible through the enactment of Act 13.

The Coalition was instrumental in ensuring that the state dedicated a portion of the impact fees from natural gas drilling to conservation, recreation and preservation projects.  This dedicated revenue is now being distributed across the Commonwealth via the Growing Greener Environmental Stewardship Fund, the Commonwealth Financing Authority and the County Conservation and Recreation Initiative all established under Act 13.

According to a recent survey from the Center for Survey Research at Penn State Harrisburg, 92 percent of Pennsylvanians surveyed think that state funds dedicated to preserving farmland and open space, providing parks and trails and protecting rivers and streams should continue to be used for these purposes.

The Penn State Harrisburg survey also found that nearly 78 percent of respondents support increasing state funds to conserve and protect open space, clean water, natural areas, wildlife habitats, parks, historic sites, forests and farms even if that would cost the average household $10 more annually. These high levels of support are consistent across every geographic region, gender, ethnic, educational and economic demographic throughout the state.

GGC: Strong Suport for State Funding

For Immediate Release: December 20, 2012 

PA Growing Greener Coalition Points to Newly Released Survey as Clear Evidence of Strong Public Support for State Conservation and Recreation Funding 

(HARRISBURG, PA) The Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition today pointed to a newly released statewide survey as clear evidence of strong public support for state funding to preserve farmland and open space, provide parks and trails and protect rivers and streams.

The survey, conducted between Oct. 1 and Nov. 4 by the Center for Survey Research at Penn State Harrisburg, showed overwhelming public support for both continuing existing dedicated state funding for conservation and recreation, as well as increasing state funding to protect land, water and wildlife.   The survey questions were commissioned by The Nature Conservancy and The Trust for Public Land. …

Coalition Applauds Restoration of Recreation and Conservation Funding

For Immediate Release:  June 29, 2012

Renew Growing Greener Coalition Applauds Restoration of Recreation and Conservation Funding

(HARRISBURG, PA) The Renew Growing Greener Coalition, the largest coalition of conservation, recreation and preservation organizations in the Commonwealth, today applauded the restoration of funding for two key programs in the 2012-13 state budget.

Andrew Heath, executive director of the Coalition, issued the following statement:

“The Coalition applauds the decision to restore funding for our parks, trails, open space, waterways and family farms and thanks our lawmakers for recognizing the importance of investing in recreation, conservation and preservation. …

Save Our Farms Coalition

For Immediate Release: May 11, 2012

Group Rallies to Save Pennsylvania Farms

(Lancaster, PA) Conservation groups concerned about the Governor’s proposed budget cuts to farmland preservation have pulled together to form the Coalition to Save Farms. Members of the group include Lancaster Farmland Trust, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, American Farmland Trust, Renew Growing Greener Coalition, Pennsylvania Association of Land Trusts, Brandywine Conservancy, and the Pennsylvania Farmland Preservation Association.

Pennsylvania’s award winning farmland preservation program is funded through a dedicated tax on the sale of cigarettes. The Governor wants to permanently redirect this funding to the general fund. With no source of funds to replace the cigarette tax, the program will not survive. For more than 20 years, the Commonwealth has made an investment in protecting the land that grows our food, supports our economy, and provides jobs for our citizens.

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Schuylkill County Calls for Renewal of Growing Greener

For Immediate Release: March 29, 2012

Schuylkill County Calls for Renewal of Growing Greener

(HARRISBURG, PA) The Renew Growing Greener Coalition, the largest coalition of conservation, recreation and environmental organizations in the Commonwealth, today announced

that Schuylkill County has passed a resolution calling for the renewal of the Growing Greener Environmental Stewardship Fund.

Schuylkill County is the 37th county to  adopt a resolution in support of Growing Greener (Click of Map). In addition, at least 115 municipalities have also passed resolutions in favor of the program.

“Funding for the Environmental Stewardship Fund is at its lowest point in history,” said Andrew Heath, executive director of the Renew Growing Greener Coalition. “Counties throughout the state realize that without this program they will be hard-pressed to make critical investments in keeping our drinking water clean, protecting our land, and ensuring our children and families have parks and green open spaces where they can play.” …

Proposed Budget Cuts Cast Cloud Over Agriculture Week

For Immediate Release:  March 7, 2012

Proposed Budget Cuts Cast Cloud Over Agriculture Week

(HARRISBURG, PA) The Renew Growing Greener Coalition, the largest coalition of conservation, recreation and environmental organizations in the Commonwealth, today said that proposed budget cuts to conservation funding are casting a cloud over Pennsylvania’s Agriculture Week.

“The Governor is encouraging all citizens to pay tribute to our farmers, but at the same time his administration recommends the future elimination of funding for farmland preservation, which helps support our agriculture industry,” said Andrew Heath, executive director of the Coalition.  “We urge the legislature to restore funding for this and other conservation programs, otherwise these cuts will chip away at the cornerstone of Pennsylvania’s economy until it crumbles.” …

Support for Environmental Funding in Marcellus Shale Proposal

For Immediate Release:  February 6, 2012

Renew Growing Greener Coalition Expresses Support for Environmental Funding in Marcellus Shale Proposal

(HARRISBURG, PA) The Renew Growing Greener Coalition, the largest coalition of conservation, recreation and environmental organizations in the Commonwealth, today issued the following statement from Executive Director Andrew Heath, expressing support for the environmental funding outlined in the current Marcellus Shale impact fee proposal:

“At first glance, this proposal appears to be a good first step toward restoring funding for the Environmental Stewardship Fund and supporting Growing Greener programs and projects that protect our drinking water, conserve our open space, enhance recreational opportunities and stimulate economic recovery across the Commonwealth. …

Renew Growing Greener Coalition Hits Milestone

For Immediate Release:  January 26, 2012 

Support for Growing Greener Reaches Significant Milestone

Thirty-Five Counties – More Than Half the State – Call for Renewal of Critical Environmental Program 

(HARRISBURG, PA) The Renew Growing Greener Coalition today announced that 35 counties – more than half the state – have passed resolutions calling for the renewal of the Growing Greener Environmental Stewardship Fund, Pennsylvania’s primary source of funding to help local communities protect water quality, preserve open space and farmland, and enhance parks, trails and other recreational opportunities.

Berks County today adopted a resolution in support of the Growing Greener initiative, marking a significant milestone in the efforts to save the critical program. In addition, Bedford County adopted a resolution this week.

“The Growing Greener program has made a tremendous impact in counties throughout the Commonwealth,” said Chairman of the Berks County Board of Commissioners Christian Leinbach. “In Berks County, the program has helped us enhance our heritage areas, conserve our open space and protect our water quality.  We could not achieve this without Growing Greener.” …

Support for Growing Greener Funding Grows

For Immediate Release: December 2, 2011

Eight More Organizations Join Coalition in Calling for Growing Greener Funding

 (HARRISBURG, PA) The Renew Growing Greener Coalition today announced that eight more organizations have joined in supporting the effort to restore state funding for Growing Greener.

The Tulpehocken Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Bike Pittsburgh, and the Rail Trail Council of Northeastern PA have signed the Coalition’s Statement of Support, which calls for the establishment of a dedicated and sustainable source of revenue to support the renewal of Growing Greener.

In addition, Beaver County as well as Lower Merion Township in Montgomery County, Lower Saucon Township in Northampton County, Bucks County Recreation Council and the Centre Regional Recreation Authority all have adopted resolutions in support of the program.

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