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Governor Rendell Says PA Investing in the Future with
Environmental Grants; Safeguarding Communities, Attracting Business Investment 140
Critical Projects in 50 Counties First to Receive Funding The Governor announced
an investment of $65 million in environmental projects that will help scores
of Additionally, Governor
Rendell said all 67 counties will now be able to apply for $90 million,
allocated on a county-by-county basis, for eligible environmental
projects. Information on how to apply
is going directly to counties today, the Governor added. “With these projects we
deliver on our promise to voters, who approved a $625 million bond issue in
May, to make “ The Governor added that
the first installment of $65 million in grants under Growing Greener II
brings to fruition more than a year of aggressive efforts to address some of
the state’s most pressing environmental problems and help the state win the
race for revitalized communities, new business and job creation. Governor Rendell said
the projects fall into various categories including: · $31.5 million to upgrade state parks and improve
state forests · $14 million to clean up acid mine drainage and
other water quality improvements (watershed grants) · $9.7 million to clean former industrial sites (brownfields) · $3 million to upgrade our water and sewer
infrastructure · $3.7 million for open space protection · $2.2 million to use mine water as an economic
resource · $700,000 to remove impacts from dams Nearly one-quarter of
the grants will be used to clean up the state’s rivers and streams, the
Governor said. The largest investment,
$7.7 million, is going to conservation districts that administer the
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, which pays farmers to take land along
streams out of production to help decrease agricultural related run-off into
major waterways that feed into the “With these resources
we can move faster to clear polluted and abandoned industrial sites so we can
attract new businesses and new jobs,” Governor Rendell said. The Governor noted that
this is not the only planned announcement of environmental grants. He said additional Open Space grants,
administered by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will be
announced this winter. The Department
of Environmental Protection also will soon open its round of Growing Greener
I and Growing Greener II grants. And the Department of
Agriculture is working with counties to identify state funds needed to match
county funds for farmland preservation grants. That announcement is expected in the
spring, the Governor said. Voters in May approved a $625 million bond
issue to clean up rivers and streams; protect natural areas, open spaces and
working farms; and shore up key programs to improve quality of life and
revitalize communities across the commonwealth. The
Rendell Administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education
system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic
investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell's
initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit his Web site at: www.governor.state.pa.us. GROWING GREENER II PROJECT LIST COUNTY LISTING, FUNDING, PROJECT NAME AND DESCRIPTION Allegheny Allegheny
County Department of Parks - $270,027 to construct a treatment facility to
treat three acid mine drainage discharges. This Phase II project will
decrease loading to Piersons Run, which is a tributary to Turtle Creek. Big River
Development - $759,066 for the former Armstrong Cork factory in Lincoln/Larimer - $100,000 for Lincoln/Larimer
neighborhood redevelopment in Montour
Run Watershed Association - $146,984 to design and construct a passive
treatment system to treat the Progress Street Partners - $251,250 to convert the
former Heinz plant to lofts in Urban Redevelopment Authority of Urban Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny/Washington Property Manager James Wilharm
of Armstrong Roaring
Run Watershed Association - $5,260 to repair 200 feet of riparian buffer on
both sides of Roaring Run. Replacing the limestone rip-rap will protect the
stream banks from further damage, as well as repair the damage caused by
major storms to the original 2004 Growing Greener project. Berks Greater Berks Development - $131,250 to remediate
Goggle Works, site of a former manufacturing plant in Project Development Inc. - $500,000 to remove the
deteriorating Felix Dam and restore the river channel in Blair Blair County Conservation District - $97,021 to design and install
contour ditches and rock channels to repair a 29-acre bond forfeiture site
that is poorly reclaimed and eroding acid sediment into Sugar Run. The main
benefit will be to eliminate the severe erosion of acid spoil into Sugar Run,
which was estimated to be 57 tons of acidity per year. Lexington Mall Partners - $750,000 to rehabilitate Altoona Works, a
former railroad plant site in Canton Township - $47,000 to stabilize approximately 1,500 feet of
eroding stream bank by cutting back banks and revegetating;
complete a Triage Environmental Assessment of second through fourth order
streams in the Main Stem and South Branch subwatersheds. Wysox Creek
Watershed Association - $101,800 for construction of approximately 8,800 feet
of a designed and permitted NSCD project on Johnson Creek. This is a
continuation of a previously funded project and construction will aid in
maintaining stability. The project also includes funding for design and
permitting of a second stream restoration project on Trout Stream, which is
on the federal impaired waterways list. Both projects were identified as
priorities in the Wysox Creek Watershed Assessment
and Restoration Plan. Bucks Bucks County Conservation District - $20,639 to stabilize and restore
eroded 800 feet of stream bank on Curl's Run, a tributary to Pidcock Creek, using bioengineering techniques and best
management practices; and $19,300 for a four-part project: stabilize 200 feet
of eroding stream bank; retrofit two detention basins; evaluate storm water
catch basin inserts; and obtain supplemental stream data for oil and grease. Milford Township - $100,000 for acquisition of a
conservation easement on approximately 16 acres within Unami
Forest, off Wright Road, for open space and critical habitat protection. West Rockhill Township - $100,000 for
acquisition of a conservation easement on approximately 12 acres along Twin
Lows Road for open space and watershed protection; $45,000 for acquisition of
a conservation easement on approximately five acres off Esten
Road for open space and watershed protection; and $195,000 for acquisition of
a conservation easement on approximately 48 acres off Thousand Acre Road for
open space and watershed protection. CDC Environmental Chemcial
- $138,750 for work on Shearer Roadat a former
chemical plant site in Stream Restoration Inc. - $5,801 for the Cambria County Conservation District - $77,906 to improve fish and
wildlife habitat within a diked flood control
project. Terraces and rock barbs will be installed along approximately 2,400
feet of stream channel to narrow a shallow, over-wide channel and create a
meandering pattern within the flood control project area. This is the second
phase of a two-phase project. Cameron Carbon Centre Phoenixville Borough - $467,500 for acquisition of
approximately 7 acres at the southeast corner of Fillmore and Franklin
Streets for expansion of existing Reservoir Park to provide additional
athletic fields and open space. Clarion Forest District 8 - $1.5 million to rehabilitate
and add on to an existing district office in Forest District 8. Clearfield County Conservation District - $49,977 to clean up Long Run,
a tributary to Clearfield Creek, which is a major tributary to the West
Branch of the Susquehanna River. Most of the Long Run watershed is affected
by acid mine drainage. This grant funds the design, permitting and
construction of four diversion wells to raise alkalinity to restore the four
miles of stream; $395,880 for the construction of a passive treatment system
involving a combination of a vertical flow pond, settling basin and aerobic
wetland. This is the first acid mine drainage construction project in the
overall restoration plan for Morgan Run; and $267,500 for the construction of
a passive treatment system called “Mr. Frog” that involves a combination of a
vertical flow pond, settling pond and aerobic wetland. This is the second
acid mine drainage construction project in the overall Morgan Run watershed
restoration plan. This system will restore 500 feet of an unnamed tributary
and 1.5 miles of Morgan Run. Clearfield County Solid Waste Authority - $25,000 for clean up one of
nine illegal dump sites identified in the county that directly threaten
surface and/or ground water. The site is in Emigh
Run/Lakeside Watershed Association Inc. - $122,260 for the relocation of the
headwaters of Emigh Run that flow through deep mine
refuse waste. The mine refuse was deposited directly into the stream by an
abandoned deep mine operation. The stream relocation will divert stream flow
away from the acid spoil piles using natural stream design techniques. Mosquito Creek Sportsment’s Association Inc.
- $143,500 for construction of two innovative alkaline-addition technologies
using limestone sand to mitigate the effects of acid deposition in the
Mosquito Creek watershed. One project will create a high-flow buffering
channel paralleling Gifford Run to neutralize episodic acidification
occurring during high-flow events without placing limestone sand directly in
the stream channel. The second project will create a vertical flow limestone
bed on Lost Run to test the efficiency of using limestone sand in vertical
flow wetlands to eliminate the need for compost. Both of these projects are
part of the Mosquito Creek Progressive Restoration Plan. Columbia County Conservation District - $68,750 to repair an existing
natural channel design project at the Forest District 20 - $600,000 to construct a
parking lot and access area at state Route 42 in Forest District 20. Crawford Crawford County Conservation District - $96,299 to implement a natural
stream channel design project on a tributary to Woodcock Creek. The project
will rehabilitate 2,600 linear feet of stream bank. Dauphin Capital Region Economic Development Corp. and
Bethlehem Steel - $1 million to rehabilitate ISG Bethlehem, the former USX
steel mill site. |