Apr 7 2010
The Department of Environmental Protection, in an effort to address some of the environmental concerns of Pennsylvania, has announced funds of around $16.5 million for the Growing Greener program, which involves projects that help restore stream banks, clean state waterways, reclaim mine-scarred lands, reduce pollution and prevent flooding. The funding includes federal funding of $3.9 million for Non-Point Source Pollution Control grants and $12.6 million for Watershed and Flood Protection grants.
The last seven years has seen the Growing Greener program of Pennsylvania offer local communities with over $237 million for improving the quality of waterways and addressing environmental concerns at mine sites, opines Secretary of the program John Hanger.
The number of Growing Greener Grants given out since 2003 is above 1,300. Such grants have been used to fund innovative and new drinking wastewater/water treatment systems, open space acquisitions, dam improvements, repairs and improvements of fish hatcheries, acid mine drainage abatement, wildlife habitat development, industrial site revitalization, recreation and community parks projects, abandoned mine reclamation, acid mine discharge treatment, sophisticated energy projects and watershed protection projects by means of Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority.
The funds are awarded to watershed groups, non-profit organizations and municipal and county governments for addressing regional and local water quality concerns.
Source: http://www.depweb.state.pa.us