Committee Approves Parks Bills
Harrisburg – The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, chaired by Sen. Mary Jo White (R-21), unanimously approved legislation today that would ensure funding for services at state parks is not reduced as a result of budget constraints.
The measures would permit the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to utilize funding from the Environmental Stewardship/Growing Greener Fund (Senate Bill 962) and Key '93 realty transfer tax revenue (Senate Bill 963) for the operation and maintenance of Pennsylvania's 117state parks.
"The money in the Key '93 and Environmental Stewardship funds belongs to the taxpayers," White said. "Over the past several weeks, citizens have expressed their strong support in ensuring that services at state parks are not reduced. While this legislation does not require any transfer of funding to state parks, it gives the Governor and the Secretary of DCNR added flexibility to ensure that our state park system remains open to visitors."
White also noted that non-profit and local government organizations which typically receive funding from these programs continue to benefit from the $625 million Growing Greener Bond approved by voters and the General Assembly in 2005.
The committee unanimously approved two additional bills today:
Senate Bill 235 authorizes the state Department of Environmental Protection to implement flood protection measures using nonstructural alternatives including acquisition of land and structures; demolition, removal, relocation, elevation and floodproofing of structures; and floodplain clearance and restoration. (Senator Wozniak)
Senate Bill 880 authorizes the Secretary of Environmental Protection to enter into redevelopment agreements with developers who remediate brownfield sites. Developers may be eligible to receive a reimbursement of up to 75 percent of the remediation costs. (Senator Wonderling)
The measures would permit the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to utilize funding from the Environmental Stewardship/Growing Greener Fund (Senate Bill 962) and Key '93 realty transfer tax revenue (Senate Bill 963) for the operation and maintenance of Pennsylvania's 117state parks.
"The money in the Key '93 and Environmental Stewardship funds belongs to the taxpayers," White said. "Over the past several weeks, citizens have expressed their strong support in ensuring that services at state parks are not reduced. While this legislation does not require any transfer of funding to state parks, it gives the Governor and the Secretary of DCNR added flexibility to ensure that our state park system remains open to visitors."
White also noted that non-profit and local government organizations which typically receive funding from these programs continue to benefit from the $625 million Growing Greener Bond approved by voters and the General Assembly in 2005.
The committee unanimously approved two additional bills today:
Senate Bill 235 authorizes the state Department of Environmental Protection to implement flood protection measures using nonstructural alternatives including acquisition of land and structures; demolition, removal, relocation, elevation and floodproofing of structures; and floodplain clearance and restoration. (Senator Wozniak)
Senate Bill 880 authorizes the Secretary of Environmental Protection to enter into redevelopment agreements with developers who remediate brownfield sites. Developers may be eligible to receive a reimbursement of up to 75 percent of the remediation costs. (Senator Wonderling)
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