Fwd: article; Growing Greener HB passes 49 to 1

[Ken Medlin <dev-plan@moscow.com>]

Subject:     article; Growing Greener HB passes 49 to 1
Sent:        12/11/19 9:05 AM
Received:    12/17/99 8:02 AM
From:        DPlum65@aol.com
To:          smartgrowth@onenw.org  [Forwarded as general interest item, 
and worthy of a newspaper feature focusing the light on positive govt'l 
initiatives for community and regional development. Such info. is 
essential to community education about the options we as citizens have a 
privilege to exercise when well informed. Ken Medlin] 


=====  A message from the 'smartgro' discussion list  =====


Pennsylvania Gov. Ridge Signs `Growing Greener' on Open Space That Now 
Will 
Be Protected from Development in Chester County

Gov. Ridge Signs into Law His No. 1 Legislative Priority `Growing 
Greener';   
Makes Largest Environmental Investment in PA History - Nearly $650 Million

 TREDYFFRIN TOWNSHIP, Chester County, Pa., Dec. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- 
Overlooking open space that now will be preserved, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom 
Ridge today signed into law his "Growing Greener" plan to invest nearly 
$650 
million in Pennsylvania's environment.

"Today, I sign a law that will make the largest environmental investment 
in 
modern Pennsylvania history - nearly $650 million!" Gov. Ridge said. 
"`Growing Greener' was my top priority this fall -- and, standing here, 
it's 
easy to see why.

"`Growing Greener' is about preserving open space -- protecting our lands 
and 
waters for fishing, hiking and farming.  For all of us and for our 
children.

"It's about slashing the state's backlog of farmland-preservation 
projects.  
It's about making the best state parks in the country even better and 
creating even more recreational trails.  And it's about honoring our 
proud 
industrial heritage by reclaiming abandoned mines.

"Our Constitution gives Pennsylvanians the right to clean air, to pure 
water, 
and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic 
values 
of the environment.  We have a constitutional obligation to leave 'Penn's 
Woods' better than we found them -- and today we act decisively to 
fulfill 
it."

Gov. Ridge signed House Bill 868 on a hill overlooking Cedar Hollow -- 60 
acres of undeveloped land in one of Pennsylvania's busiest commercial 
corridors that now will be protected as open space through a $100,000 
Land 
Trust Grant to the Open Land Conservancy of Chester County.  This grant 
would 
not have been possible without the influx of funds through "Growing 
Greener." 
Also on the land is an `exceptional value' trout stream that will be 
enhanced 
through a $75,000 watershed grant enabled by "Growing Greener."

"The vista we're enjoying today represents what 'Growing Greener' will do 
statewide," Gov. Ridge said.  "We're in one of the fastest growing areas 
of 
the state, 20 miles from Philadelphia, six miles from King of Prussia, 
one- 
half mile from corporate centers and subdivisions.  Without 'Growing 
Greener,' development might have gobbled up this land.  Instead, thanks 
to 
'Growing Greener,' Pennsylvanians will have trails for hiking and 
cross-country skiing with their families; a clean, clear stream for trout 
fishing; and pristine woods and fields to experience just as the first 
settlers did.

"We fought for `Growing Greener' because we must protect these special 
open 
areas today, or they will be lost tomorrow. And once developed, they are 
gone 
forever."

Gov. Ridge today was joined by Environmental Protection Secretary James 
Seif; 
Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary John Oliver; Agriculture 
Secretary Samuel Hayes; Walter Pomeroy of the state Organization for 
Watersheds and Rivers; Michael Wilson and Marian Toland of the Open Land 
Conservancy of Chester County; the Chester County Commissioners; members 
of 
the Valley Creak Coalition; members of Chester County Agricultural Land 
Preservation Board; and lawmakers.

Gov. Ridge thanked the many members of the General Assembly who helped to 
enact his No. 1 legislative priority, particularly:  Rep. Art Hershey (R- 
Chester); Rep. David Argall (R-Schuylkill); the bill's sponsor, Rep. Sam 
Smith (R-Jefferson); Sen. Mary Jo White (R-Butler); Sen. Raphael Musto 
(D-Luzerne); and Senate Minority Leader Robert Mellow (D-Lackawanna).

House Bill 868 last week overwhelmingly passed the Senate by a vote of 49 
to 
1, and the House, 166 to 28.

The bill also enacts the Environmental Good Samaritan Act, which provides 
legal immunity for people who volunteer to clean up polluted lands in 
cooperation with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). First 
introduced by Gov. Ridge in January, "Growing Greener" will slash the 
backlog 
of farmland-preservation projects statewide; protect open space; 
eliminate 
the maintenance backlog in state parks; clean up abandoned mines and 
restore 
watersheds; provide funds for recreational trails and local parks; help 
communities address land use; and provide new and upgraded water and 
sewer 
systems.

"Growing Greener" will spend $645.9 million over five years, $105.9 
million 
the first year and $135 million a year for the next four.  It will come 
from 
about $473.4 million in new money from the General Fund and $172.5 
million in 
funds redirected from the Recycling and Hazardous Sites Cleanup funds, 
and 
the Landfill Closure Accounts.

"Growing Greener" is Pennsylvania's third major environmental achievement 
since Gov. Ridge took office in 1995.  Gov. Ridge signed legislation 
creating 
the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of 
Conservation 
and Natural Resources.  He also signed the nationally acclaimed Land 
Recycling Program, which so far has cleaned up more than 600 abandoned 
industrial sites. In November, Gov. Ridge was honored by the Pennsylvania 
Alliance for Environmental Education with the 1999 Green Leadership 
Award.  
In October, Gov. Ridge received an Environmental Partnership Award for 
his 
leadership in forming collaborative efforts that affect the environment 
of 
Northeastern Pennsylvania, such as the 21st Century Environment 
Commission, 
"Growing Greener," land-use forums, industrial sites reuse and river 
conservation.  And in September, Gov. Ridge received this year's 
Interstate 
Council on Water Policy Distinguished Leadership Award for establishing 
the 
21st Century Environment Commission and for Pennsylvania's leadership on 
interstate environmental issues.

Cedar Hollow is 60 acres of wetlands, woods and open fields slated for 
protection by the Open Land Conservancy of Chester County.  The 
conservancy 
will receive a $100,000 grant through the Department of Conservation and 
Natural Resources' (DCNR) Land Trust Grant Program, which now receives 
additional funding from "Growing Greener."

In addition to DCNR's Land Trust Grant, the Open Land Conservancy will 
use 
funds from the Chester County Preservation Partnership Program to 
purchase 
the property.  Preservation of Cedar Hollow will protect water resources 
and 
wildlife habitat, provide recreational opportunities, and offer vital 
flood 
control for downstream properties, including Valley Forge National 
Historic 
Park.

Acquisition of the tract also will significantly enhance the protection 
of 
Valley Creek, a Class A trout stream that is a cold-water fishery and 
that 
has the Commonwealth's highest stream designation -- "Exceptional Value."

The Valley Creek Coalition will use its $75,000 grant from DEP to 
retrofit 
existing stormwater management facilities, improve water quality in the 
creek 
and demonstrate effective stormwater management practices for new 
development 
in the watershed.

For more information, access the Pennsylvania homepage at 
www.state.pa.us, or 
Tom Charles, Deputy Press Secretary Pennsylvania Office of the Governor, 
717-783-1116, or PAGER, 888-305-5214.

SOURCE  Pennsylvania Office of the Governor  

CO:  Pennsylvania Office of the Governor



------------------------
William K. Medlin
Dev-plan associates
930 Kenneth Street
Moscow ID 83843
208/892-0148
dev-plan@moscow.com