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Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection: Senate Republican Budget Will Hurt Environment, Threaten Communities' Well-Being

Posted on: Tuesday, 12 May 2009, 11:22 CDT

$50 Million in Additional Cuts Puts at Risk DEP's Ability to Keep Air, Land, Water Clean; Protect Citizens from Floods, Diseases

HARRISBURG, Pa., May 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania's communities face the prospect of dirtier water, higher electricity bills, weakened flood protection, and swarms of biting insects that could potentially carry the deadly West Nile virus under a budget bill proposed and adopted by the Senate Republicans.

Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger said the caucus' planned $50 million in additional cuts to his department's budget would have long-term, negative consequences for the state's natural resources, public health, and economic viability.

"The Senate Republican plan removes funds that help keep sewage out of the land and water, that help our river basin commissions monitor potentially dangerous activities throughout the state, and that fight potentially deadly mosquitoes that could carry the West Nile virus and the bothersome black flies that are such a nuisance each summer," said Hanger. "They also cut much-needed funds that help communities protect themselves against floods and that will make it easier for consumers to avoid higher energy costs by installing insulation and windows or by purchasing more energy efficient appliances."

In this difficult economy, Hanger noted that Governor Edward G. Rendell already proposed $19 million in difficult, but necessary, cuts to the department's budget. Those reductions, however, would minimize the risk to Pennsylvania's prosperity and progress.

"The Governor's plan puts people to work rebuilding the state's deteriorating water and wastewater infrastructure, revitalizing communities, and reducing our dependence on foreign oil," said Hanger. "The Senate's proposal serves only to impede that effort and roll back the progress our state has made to clean the air and water, reclaim brownfields and dangerous mine sites, and deploy more clean energy resources like windmills, solar panels and conservation measures."

Compared to the Governor's proposal, the Senate Republican plan would:

• Eliminate the $15 million Keystone HELP program that helps households avoid higher energy prices by insulating their homes or installing ENERGY STAR-qualified windows and doors. Nearly 1,700 people have already applied for grants and rebates through the Keystone HELP program.
• Imperil the public health by cutting $1.9 million from the West Nile virus program, which would make DEP unable to maintain the level of surveillance and treatment it has in previous years. Last year, 14 people were confirmed to have acquired the virus and one died. Although the virus was confirmed in only 37 counties last year, the disease could be found in any of Pennsylvania's 67 counties--each of which was served last year through the program.
• Cut $1.7 million from the popular Black Fly suppression program that now serves 33 counties. The reduced funding means that fewer counties will likely benefit this year or the number of treatments that are applied will have to be reduced, which could undermine their effectiveness.
• Cut nearly $1.4 million from the state's Flood Control Program, which helps keep communities safe by responding quickly to emergency situations where permanent structures are threatened or supporting maintenance, reconstruction and post-flood repair work on levees. Without these important resources to fight floods all of the planned levee closure projects DEP had planned for 2009 are in jeopardy.
• Reduce funding to the Ohio, Delaware and Susquehanna river basin commissions by an additional $180,000.

"After the Governor released his budget proposal in February, he was roundly criticized by senators for cutting this program or cutting that program despite the difficult financial situation we find ourselves in because of the national recession," said Hanger. "Now, the Senate is pushing a budget that cuts $2 billion more out of the budget--much of which comes from programs for which senators had previously advocated for more funding.

"The Senate's budget proposal, in short, is bad for Pennsylvania's economy, its citizens, and its future."

CONTACT: Teresa Candori, (717) 787-1323

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

Source: PR Newswire

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