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For Immediate Release
December 7, 1999

Senate Approves White’s Expanded Growing Greener Package

$645 million package the largest environmental initiative in state history.

Harrisburg – Led by Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Chairman Mary Jo White (R-21), the state Senate today approved the largest environmental investment in Pennsylvania’s history: a $645 million expanded version of the Growing Greener environmental initiative.

White said the measure would clean up abandoned mines and restore watersheds; protect open space; eliminate the maintenance backlog in state parks; and provide new and upgraded water and sewer systems.

"Today we invest a significant amount of money to ensure that our streams and waterways are cleaner, farmland and open space is preserved, and communities have quality water and sewage treatment facilities. We are all privileged to call Pennsylvania home, and we owe this investment to future generations by being proper stewards of our environment and natural resources," said White.

The revised package includes a total of $100 million for farmland preservation to eliminate the backlog of projects statewide – up from $80 million allocated in the original version.

The compromise "Growing Greener" plan 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.

The final version of Growing Greener was approved as an amendment to House Bill 868, which grants immunity to volunteers who clean up abandoned oil wells, mining sites, and restore polluted watersheds.

The bill, which has the support of Governor Ridge, now goes to the House of Representatives for its consideration.