State Budget

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:  June 27, 2014
Contacts:  Andrew Heath, Growing Greener Coalition, (717) 824-2281

 Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition Issues its Plan for Environmental
Funding Within Any Passed Severance Tax 

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

“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. Any severance tax must dedicate funds toward the protection of these public resources,” said Andrew Heath, executive director of the Coalition.

“Funding through a severance tax is essential to address the resources being most affected by natural gas extraction and should not take away from funding already being provided by other general and special fund programs.”

The Coalition has proposed $26 million be set aside from a severance tax in year one, growing to $70 million by year five, to address the Commonwealth’s open space and forest resources, rivers and streams, historic treasures, and heritage areas. Distribution would be as follows;

Year 1
$3 million for Heritage Areas
$3 million for Historic Preservation
$20 million for Growing Greener Environmental Stewardship Fund with a priority on conserving our sensitive lands and cleaning our rivers and streams (AMD, major basin watershed projects, etc.)

Year 2
$4 million for Heritage Areas
$4 million for Historic Preservation
$30 million for Growing Greener Environmental Stewardship Fund with a priority on conserving our sensitive lands and cleaning our rivers and streams

Year 3
$5 million for Heritage Areas
$5 million for Historic Preservation
$40 million for Growing Greener Environmental Stewardship Fund with a priority on conserving our sensitive lands and cleaning our rivers and streams

Year 4
$5 million for Heritage Areas
$5 million for Historic Preservation
$50 million for Growing Greener Environmental Stewardship Fund with a priority on conserving our sensitive lands and cleaning our rivers and streams

Year 5 and beyond
$5 million for Heritage Areas
$5 million for Historic Preservation
$60 million for Growing Greener Environmental Stewardship Fund with a priority on conserving our sensitive lands and cleaning our rivers and streams

The Coalition pointed to a new survey that found overwhelming bi-partisan public support for continuing existing dedicated state funding for conservation and for increasing state funding to protect land, water and historic sites.

Overall, the survey found that more than 97.4 percent of Pennsylvanians surveyed think that state funds dedicated to protecting rivers and streams; conserving open space, forests, natural areas and wildlife habitats; providing parks and trails, and preserving farmland should continue to be used for these purposes. This figure represented strong bi-partisan support, and is up by five percentage points since 2012.

The survey also found that more than three-quarters of respondents – 82.6 percent – would support increasing state funds to address these issues, even if it would cost the average household $10 more annually. This figure is up from 77.7 percent in 2012.

Despite the success of such programs like the Growing Greener Environmental Stewardship Fund, Keystone Recreation, Park & Conservation Fund, Agricultural Preservation, Marcellus Shale Legacy Fund, Heritage Areas Program and Historic Preservation, there is much more work that needs to be done.

“The Commonwealth has 19,000 miles of rivers and streams that do not meet basic water quality standards. Historic preservation funding is at a low and the Heritage Areas Program was zeroed out in the Governor’s proposed budget,” said Heath. “These issues must be addressed.”

In addition, conservation funding is an essential component for meeting federal Clean Water Act mandates associated with the Chesapeake Bay Blueprint and the need to reduce pollution in our local rivers and streams.

“Utilizing funds collected through a severance tax to address these issues is a step in the right direction, and would also negate the need to raise additional state revenues through more leasing of state lands,” said Heath.

 

 

Doug Wendell, Director
Abington Parks & Recreation

David Swope, President
Adams County Trout Unlimited Chapter 323

Christopher J. Beichner, President & CEO
Allegheny Land Trust

George Kutskel, President
Allegheny Mountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited

Jane Sheffield, President
Allegheny Ridge Corp.

Bill Weller, President
Allegheny Valley Trails Association

Jim Baird, Mid Atlantic Director
American Farmland Trust

Liz Deardorff, Director
American Rivers

Mark Zakutansky, Mid-Atlantic Policy Manager
Appalachian Mountain Club

Karen Lutz, Regional Director
Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Joseph Simon, Council President
Archbald Borough, Lackawanna County

Phil Wallis, Executive Director
Audubon Pennsylvania

 Jim Bonner, Executive Director
Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania

Timothy P. Ishman, Director
Beaver County Recreation & Tourism

John Spiegel, Secretary
Bedminster Regional Land Conservancy

Kristina M. DeSenze, Environmental Attorney
Berman & Asbel, LLP

Joe Stafford, Executive Director
Bicycle Access Council

Sarah Clark Stuart, Deputy Director & Chair
Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia & Circuit Coalition

Randy Bitting, President
Bitting Recreation, Inc.

Janis Long
Blacklick Creek Watershed Association

Christopher Clouser, President
BluAcres, LLC

Sherri Evans-Stanton, Director
Brandywine Conservancy

James E. Jordan, Jr., Executive Director
Brandywine Valley Association

Delores J. Columbus, Executive Director
Cambria County Conservation & Recreation Authority

Patrick Kelley, Manager
Carnegie Carbons Ltd.

Susan Moon, Secretary & Treasurer
Casselman River Watershed Association, Inc.

Anna N. Yelk, Executive Director
Central Pennsylvania Conservancy

Ernie Shumbat, President
Central PA Sleds and Treads

Pete Schempf, President
Centre County Farmland Trust

LeeAnn Murray, Assistant Director
Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Bryan Hutchinson, President
Chester Co. Citizens for Climate Protection

Aimee Erickson, Executive Director
Citizens Coal Council

Cindy Dunn, President & CEO
Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future

Ken Kulak, Councilman
City of Monongahela

Jennifer Shuey, Executive Director
ClearWater Conservancy

Clifford David, President & CEO
Conservation Economics

Christopher Clouser, Director of Technical Services
Conservation Lands, LLC

Scott Douglas, President
Cooks Creek Watershed Association

Debra Frawley, Coordinator
Council on Greenways & Trails

Robert Hopkins, Chair
Crawford County Agricultural Land Preservation Board

Christine Lauriello, President
Cumberland Valley Appalachian Trail Club

Elissa M. Garofalo, President & Executive Director
Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, Inc.

Brian Winslow, Executive Director
The Delaware Nature Society

Daniel Germain, President
DDP Minerals, Inc.

Paul Battaglini, President
East Bethlehem Township Board of Commissioners

Robert E. Hughes, Executive Director
Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation

Sara Jane Elk, President & CEO
Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site

B. Scott Fiegel, Director
Ecological Associates, LLC

W. Anthony Riley, M.D., President
Eden Hill Conservancy

Peter Haentjens
EMARR, Inc.

Frank Oliver, President
Endless Mountains Heritage Region, Inc.

Cindy Rogers, President
Evergreen Conservancy

Sean P. Kenny, Executive Director
Farm & Natural Lands Trust of York County

Heather D. Fowler, Watershed Coordinator
Fayette County Conservation District

Christine A. Buckelew, President
Fayette County Historical Society

Valerie Lambert, President
Five Star Trail

Dennis Stagle, President
Fredericktown Area Chamber of Commerce

Pam Brown, Conservation Director
French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust

Phillip Swank, President
French Azilum, Inc.

Beth Reseter, Treasurer
Friendship Hill Association

Dwight Washabaugh, President
Fulton County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism

Paul Garrett
Green-CAUSE

Bradley Eisiminger, Chairman
Greene County Conservation District

Terri Davin, President
Greene County Watershed Alliance

Barry Lewis, Executive Director
GreenTreks Network

Jason C. Robinson, President
Harrisburg River Rescue and Emergency Services

Andy Patterson, Director Manager
Huntingdon County Conservation District

Victoria E. Michaels, Executive Director
Independence Conservancy

Jeri E. Stumpf, President
Jeri E. Stumpf & Associates, Inc.

Laura Jackson, President
Stan Kotala, Conservation Chair
Juniata Valley Audubon Society

Fran Calpin, Sr. Director of College Relations
Keystone College

Alan Laick, Owner
Laick Design

Tom Fuhrman, President
Lake Erie Region Conservancy

Craig Lehman, Commissioner
Lancaster County

Gene Garber, Chair
Lancaster County Agricultural Preserve Board

Mike Burcin, CEO/COO
Lancaster County Conservancy

Karen Martynick, Executive Director
Lancaster Farmland Trust

Gwendolyn Lacy, Esq., Executive Director
Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County

Norma L. Calhoun, President
Land Conservancy of Adams County

Ronald W. Virag, President & CEO
Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau

Natalie Gelb, Executive Director
Lackawanna Heritage Valley National & State Heritage Areas

Jo Ellen Litz, Commissioner
Lebanon County

Angie Foltz, Program Specialist
Lebanon County Agricultural Land Preservation Board

Stephanie Harmon, Water Specialist
Lebanon County Conservation District

Pat Krebs, President
Lebanon Valley Bicycle Coalition

Sheila Wartluft, Board President
The Lebanon Valley Conservancy, Inc.

Christine Tomsey, Board Member
Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor

Olga Herbert, Executive Director
Christine Tomsey, Board Member
Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor

Bill Anderson, President
Little Juniata River Association

Susan Huba, Executive Director
Loyalhanna Watershed Association 

Robert W. Genter, Director
Mackin Engineering Company

Sally Zaino, Director of Preservation
The Manada Conservancy

Heather Cuyler Jerry, Director
Marshall Township Parks & Recreation

Pat McInerney, President
Martins-Jacoby Watershed Association

Cathy McCollom, Principal
McCollom Development Strategies LLC 

Michele Adams, PE President
Meliora Design

Geoff Goodenow, Coordinator
Merrill Linn Land & Waterways Conservancy

Jay Salyers, Senior V.P.
Miles

Dulcie Flaharty, Executive Director
Montgomery County Lands Trust

Trevor S. Finn, Commissioner
John J. Gerst, Commissioner
Jerry R. Ward, Commissioner
Montour County

Evelyn Koppel
The Mount Gretna Bird Club

John Hook, President
Mount Nittany Conservancy

Cassandra Vivian
Mount Pleasant Glass Museum

Beverly Braverman, Executive Director
Mountain Watershed Association

Donna Holdorf, Executive Director
National Road Heritage Corridor

Molly Morrison, President
Natural Lands Trust

Melinda Hughes-Wert, President
Nature Abounds

Margaret McCarvill, Board President
Neighborhood Gardens Trust

Bill Moul, President
North Area Environmental Council

Joy Knapp, Co-Chair
Steve Porter, Co-Chair
Northwest Pennsylvania Green Economy Task Force

John R. Phillips, II, President and CEO
Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry & Tourism

Molly Duffy, Esq.
Open Land Conservancy of Chester County

Christina Voorhees, President
PA Chapter of the Wildlife Society

David Masur, Director
PennEnvironment

Andrea Ferich, Executive Director
Penns Valley Conservation Association

Edward J, McCrea, President
Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Educators

Rev. Sandra Strauss, Director of Public Advocacy
Pennsylvania Council of Churches

Brian Wagner, President
Pennsylvania Council Trout Unlimited 

Davitt Woodwell, Executive Vice President
Pennsylvania Environmental Council

Matt Knepper, President
Pennsylvania Farmland Preservation Association

Larry Williamson, Chairman
Andrew Heath, Executive Director
Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition

Andy Loza, Executive Director
Pennsylvania Land Trust Association

Stan Stubbe, President
Pennsylvania Outdoor Lighting Council

Marci Mowery, President
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation

Karen Burke, Executive Director
Doug Knauss, Government Affairs Chair
Pennsylvania Recreation & Park Society 

Elizabeth Krug, Board President
Pennsylvania State Snowmobile Association

Scott R. Becker, Executive Director
Pennsylvania Trolley Museum

David J. Robertson, Ph.D., Executive Director
Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust

Norene Halvonik, Treasurer
The Perryopolis Parks & Recreation Authority

Lauren Bornfriend, Executive Director
Philadelphia Parks Alliance

Ingrid E. Morning, President
Pine Creek Valley Watershed Association, Inc.

Meg Cheever, President & CEO
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy

Dawn Gorham, Executive Director
Pocono Heritage Land Trust

Carl Ables, Mayor
Patrick Kelley, Borough Council
Point Marion Borough

Victoria Evans, Chairwoman
Point Marion Parks Commission

Larry Reseter, Treasurer
Point Marion Rotary

Caroline E. Boyce, Executive Director
Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia

Mindy Crawford, Executive Director
Preservation Pennsylvania

Sharon Martin, Executive Director
Radnor Conservancy

Deb McNamara, Program Manager
Rail-Trail Council of NEPA

Daniel T. Visnauskas, President
Real Estate Recovery Services, Inc.

James E. Jordan, Jr., Executive Director
Red Clay Valley Association

Leslie Pierce, Manager
Regional Trail Corporation

Patrick Kelley, Manager
Resource Land Group, LLC

Barb Jarmoska, Treasurer
Responsible Drilling Alliance

Augie Carlino, President & CEO
Rivers of Steel Heritage Corporation

Emily Buka, Executive Director
Riverside Center for Innovation

John Makosky, President
Scagburners Snowmobile Club in Central Pa

Linda Stephens, Secretary & Treasurer
Schuylkill County Conservancy

Kurt D. Zwikl, Executive Director
Schuylkill River National & State Heritage Area

Linda S. Sieber, Chair
Shermans Creek Conservation Association, Inc.

Todd A. Zeigler, Manager
Shrewsbury Township, York County

Kristy A. Owens, Manager
Silver Spring Township Parks & Recreation

Robert Merrill, Chair
Society of American Foresters, PA Division

James Moses, President
Somerset County Conservancy

Ellie Hyde, Chair
The South Branch Tunkhannock Creek Watershed Coalition

Richard Terry, President
Southeast Montgomery County Trout Unlimited

Ed Lawver, Secretary & Treasurer
Southern Potter Snowmobile Club

Lisa Minardi, President
The Speaker’s House

Judi Sittler, Chair
Spring Creek Watershed Association

Mark N. Platts, President
Susquehanna Gateway Heritage Area

Trish Carothers, Executive Director
Susquehanna Greenway Partnership

Court Gould, Executive Director
Sustainable Pittsburgh

Ron Ramsey, Sr. Policy Advisor
The Nature Conservancy, PA Chapter

Karen Budd, Trustee
Jim Engel, Executive Director
Tinicum Conservancy

Ed Camelli, President
Trail Creek Outfitters

Mary Schorse, Managing Director
The Tropical Re-Leaf Foundation

Anthony Cucchi, PA/NJ State Director
The Trust for Public Land

April L. Temple, Executive Director
The Trust for Tomorrow

Thomas D. Saunders, President & CEO
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy

Ron Rohall, Board of Directors Chairman
Westmoreland Conservation District

Ted Kopas, Commissioner
Westmoreland County

Christopher Kocher, President
Wildlands Conservancy

Jeanne B. Van Alen, Executive Director
Willistown Conservation Trust

Christopher Reilly, Commissioner
York County

Carl Knoch, Chairman
York County Rail Trail Authority

For Immediate Release:  February 4, 2014

Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition Expresses Cautious 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 Corbett’s 2014-15 budget proposal:

“The Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition is grateful that the Governor recognizes the importance of maintaining the 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 appears to leave intact funding for critical programs such as Growing Greener, Keystone ’93 and Historic and Agriculture Preservation.

“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.

“The Legislature rightly rescued this important program last year, and we are surprised and disappointed that it is slated for the chopping block again this year.

“The Coalition looks forward to working with the Corbett Administration and members of the House and Senate to restore funding for the Heritage Areas Program, which creates jobs and brings business to the region, generating hundreds of millions of dollars in state revenues.”

 

Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition to Governor Corbett:
Protect Funding for Conservation, Recreation and Preservation

 (HARRISBURG, PA) The Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition, the largest coalition of conservation, recreation and preservation organizations in the Commonwealth, today issued the following letter to Governor Corbett urging him to protect funding for critical programs that help, protect our open space, preserve our family farms, support parks and recreation, and safeguard our historic treasures.

The text of the letter is as follows:

The Hon. Tom Corbett
Pennsylvania Governor
225 Main Capitol Bldg.
Harrisburg, PA 17120 

Dear Governor Corbett,

On behalf of the Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition, thank you for your recent announcement of more than $20 million in grants for watershed protection projects across the Commonwealth.

These grants from the Growing Greener Environmental Stewardship Fund are important investments in our communities and play a significant role in combating pollution and keeping our drinking water clean.

As you prepare to deliver your budget address next week, the Coalition strongly urges you to protect funding for the Environmental Stewardship Fund as well as for other critical conservation and recreation programs.

In addition to the Growing Greener Environmental Stewardship Fund, these programs include Farmland Preservation, Historic Preservation, the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund and the Heritage Areas program.

The Coalition is firmly opposed to any cuts or freezes to these programs, especially at a time when Pennsylvania needs to be investing more money to protect our open space, preserve our family farms, support parks and recreation, and safeguard our historic treasures – not less.

Consider that:

• The Commonwealth still has 19,000 miles of streams that are unsafe for fishing and swimming.

• More than 2,000 family farms remain on the statewide list for preservation.

• Pennsylvania continues to lose three times as much forest, wildlife habitat, farmland and other open spaces to overdevelopment than we are able to preserve.

• Abandoned mines still scar almost 190,000 acres in 44 counties and are the cause of more than 5,000 miles of dead streams.

Also, consider that investments in conservation, recreation, and preservation bolster the economy. A Trust for Public Land study found that for every $ 1 invested in land and water conservation, $7 in natural goods and services is returned to the state of Pennsylvania.

Moreover, investments in parks and open space add billions of dollars to property values and help support Pennsylvania’s tourism and recreation industry.  A report by the Outdoor Industry Association indicates that outdoor recreation in Pennsylvania generates $1.6 billion in state and local tax revenue and supports 219,000 direct Pennsylvania jobs.

In addition, conservation funding is an essential component for meeting federal Clean Water Act mandates associated with the Chesapeake Bay Blueprint and the need to reduce pollution in our local rivers and streams.  Failure to meet the requirements to reduce nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment according to the Bay Blueprints timeline opens the Commonwealth up to backstops from the federal Environmental Protection Agency.  Growing Greener grants are needed for on-the- ground efforts to help meet these mandates.

Lastly, polls show strong, consistent public support for programs that improve our quality of life, boost the economy and protect the environment throughout Pennsylvania. The Growing Greener Environment Stewardship Fund – which celebrates its 15^th anniversary this year – has enjoyed strong, bipartisan support from voters, legislators and governors since the beginning.

Please do not change that now.

We recognize the challenges ahead and look forward to working with you and the Legislature to ensure that funding for programs that protect our open space, preserve our family farms, support our parks and trails, and safeguard our historic treasures remains intact.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Andrew Heath

Executive Director

 

 

For Immediate Release:  June 30, 2013

 Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition Praises Corbett Administration and General Assembly for Restoring Critical Funding Programs in State Budget
Budget Restores $2.25 Million for Heritage Areas Program  

(HARRISBURG, PA) The Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition, the largest coalition of conservation, recreation and preservation organizations in the Commonwealth, today praised the Corbett Administration and the House and Senate for including critical conservation programs in the 2013-2014 state budget.

Specifically, the general fund budget includes $2.25 million for the state’s Heritage Areas Program and $3.3 million in restored funding for conservation districts, which is in addition to the $5 million the districts will receive from the Act 13 Impact Fee. The budget also includes increased support for the Department of Environmental Protection.

“The Growing Greener Coalition applauds Governor Corbett and members of the General Assembly for showing strong support for critical protection of land, water and heritage conservation programs that are essential to the health of the state’s economy and quality of life for Pennsylvania residents,” said Andrew Heath, executive director of the Growing Greener Coalition.  “The Coalition thanks the leaders of the House and Senate for restoring funding to the Heritage Areas Program, a program that had been zeroed out for many years.  We cannot emphasize enough that this restoration is a victory for Pennsylvania’s communities and the special places throughout the state that attract hundreds of tourists each year.”

Heritage areas create jobs and bring businesses to the region, which generates hundreds of millions of dollars of added value in personal income, profits, community revitalization and government taxes.  For every $1 of state funding received, Pennsylvania Heritage Areas leveraged an average of $5 of federal, local and private investment.

“Pennsylvania’s Heritage Areas Program has successfully conserved and enhanced the state’s natural and recreational resources and promoted tourism development for nearly 25 years,” said Jane Sheffield, executive director of the Allegheny Ridge Heritage Area.  “Legislators were right to support this important program which creates jobs and bring businesses to the region, generating hundreds of millions of dollars in added revenue to the state.”

For Immediate Release:  June 17, 2013

Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition Opposes Reported
Suggestion of Diverting Keystone Funds

(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 a June 16, 2013, Associated Press article in which Budget Secretary Charles Zogby suggested diverting dedicated funding for open space and parks projects under the Keystone Fund to balance the budget:

“While we do not know the full context of Budget Secretary Zogby’s conversation with the reporter from the Associated Press, the Coalition is concerned that the Keystone Fund may once again be targeted for diversion of funds to plug budget holes.

“Cutting the Keystone Program, that has a 20-year proven track record of success, would be counterproductive to what our state leaders have been trying to achieve by focusing on programs that provide economic growth.

“The Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition opposes any raid on conservation, recreation and preservation funds and urges the Administration and legislators to keep funding for Keystone and other similar programs intact.”

For more than two decades, the Keystone Fund has been helping communities protect open space, develop community parks and recreation areas, support libraries, preserve historic sites, and protect and improve state game, forest, and park lands.

Investments in programs such as Keystone generate billions of dollars in economic benefits. A recent study conducted by The Trust of Public Land found that every $1 invested by the Keystone Fund in land and water conservation returns $7 in economic value of natural goods and services.

Moreover, in addition to creating jobs and generating revenue, these programs increase the value of nearby properties, boost spending at local businesses, make communities more attractive places to live, influence business location and relocation decisions, reduce medical costs by encouraging exercise and other healthy outdoor activities, provide low or no-cost recreation to families, stabilize local taxes in the communities in which they are located and help revitalize depressed areas.

About Keystone: The Keystone Recreation, Park & Conservation Fund is a critical dedicated funding source for recreation and conservation projects, libraries, historic preservation initiatives and higher education. Established in 1993 with an overwhelmingly approved voter referendum, a 48-0 vote in the Pennsylvania Senate and a 196-3 vote in the House, the Keystone Fund automatically receives 15 percent of the state’s realty transfer tax.  Since its establishment, the fund has helped conserve more than 130,000 acres of green space, supported more than 1,900 park projects, and funded 570 historic preservation projects and more than 200 library projects.

About the Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition The mission of the Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition is to enhance the health and economic well-being of communities across the Commonwealth by advocating for funding 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.

For more information on the Coalition, visit www.PaGrowingGreener.org.

For Immediate Release:  June 13, 2013 

Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition Praises House for
Restoring Critical Funding Programs

Urges Senate to Increase and Protect Funding for Heritage Areas Program 

(HARRISBURG, PA) The Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition, the largest coalition of conservation, recreation and preservation organizations in the Commonwealth, today praised the House for passing its version of the 2013-2014 state budget which restores funding for critical conservation programs.

Specifically, the House budget includes $3.8 million in restored funding for conservation districts and $2 million for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Heritage Areas Program.  The budget also includes increased support for the Department of Environmental Protection.

“The Growing Greener Coalition praises House members for passing a budget that supports conservation and stewardship of critical open space, farmland, water resources and historic sites throughout Pennsylvania,” said Andrew Heath, executive director of the Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition.  “We are especially grateful to House Leadership, with special recognition to Appropriations Committee Chairman Bill Adolph for his role in drafting this legislation.  The Leadership’s support for Conservation Districts and the Heritage Areas Program is greatly appreciated.”

Heritage Areas create jobs and bring small businesses to the region, which generates hundreds of millions of dollars of added value in personal income, profits, community revitalization and government taxes.  For every $1 of state funding received, Pennsylvania’s Heritage Areas leveraged an average of $5 of federal, local and private investment.

“Pennsylvania has some of the most significant historic, cultural and recreational sites in the country, making it a must-see destination for travelers from all over the world,” said Jane Sheffield, executive director of the Allegheny Ridge Heritage Area.  “Although restoring funding for these programs is significant, it falls short of the need currently facing the Commonwealth and we are calling on Senate leaders to increase support for the Heritage Areas Program to $3 million, the bare minimum needed to operate.”

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.

“Pennsylvanians understand that conserving and protecting open space, farmland and waterways is key to improving not only the overall quality of life but also economic vitality throughout the Commonwealth,” said Robert Maiden, executive director of the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts.  “With this vote, House leaders demonstrated that they too understand the need for critical conservation and preservation efforts across the state.”

In addition, the survey 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.