Growing Greener II Passed

Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell recently signed into law Growing Greener II, a voter-approved plan that invests $625 million in improving the environment and revitalizing communities across the commonwealth.

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.

Of this funding, $230 million will go to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for projects including brownfield cleanup. The DEP estimates there are 12,000 brownfields located throughout the commonwealth - totaling 100,000 to 120,000 acres of derelict land that could be used to attract businesses.

Another $50 million will go to the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) to revitalize communities through investments in housing and mixed-use redevelopment projects.

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 appropriations to target specific needs.

Growing Greener II also restores $50 million funding over the next two fiscal years for the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act (HSCA) Fund, the state’s most important tool for responding to toxic chemical or hazardous substance problems. HSCA was heading toward fiscal ruin. DEP had stopped new public protection projects and triaged ongoing cleanups. BFN

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