PA budget cuts degrade environmental agencies

By SANDY LONG

PENNSYLVANIA — The Keystone State’s top two environmental agencies now know the dire outcomes of the nation’s lengthiest budget impasse and have begun slashing their way to a reality that includes the elimination of staff, programs and services. Among the hardest hit was the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) also facing substantial setbacks.

The Rendell administration initially announced it would furlough 147 employees from the two agencies and eliminate another 186 full-time vacant positions for a total reduction of 333 positions. In addition 1,131 seasonal workers at DCNR had their positions eliminated or hours reduced in state park and forestry operations.

The final number of staff furloughed at the DEP was reduced to 96 due to Civil Service rules allowing employees to “bump” into other funded positions throughout the agency, which faces a 26.7 percent budget cut ($58 million).

At DCNR, which faces a budget reduction of 18.5 percent ($21 million), nine workers were furloughed and 66 vacant positions eliminated for a total of 75 positions.

DCNR will keep Pennsylvania’s 117 state parks open using revenues left in the DCNR Oil and Gas Fund, according to Secretary of Administration Naomi Wyatt, who noted that the fund received $25 million from Marcellus Shale natural gas leases.

Despite remaining open, many of the parks will have reduced services (see sidebar on page 4).

The actions were prompted by dramatic cuts in the 2009-10 general fund budget for the agencies. The governor’s office noted in its fact sheet that the DEP cuts take that agency back 13 years to spending levels in place in 1996-97.

The cuts have occurred even as both agencies face increasing responsibilities related to the development of the Marcellus Shale natural gas reserves underlying large areas of the state.

DEP noted, however, in its budget impact statement that “the reduction in state funds will have no impact on the permitting and inspection operations performed by the oil and gas staff at DEP. Drilling companies—not taxpayers—pay for this critical environmental protection work. Fees for gas-drilling permits were increased to make it possible for DEP to hire additional inspectors to oversee and make sure gas drilling in the state does not harm the environment.”

The agency has raised permit review fees for gas-well drilling and has proposed permit fee increases related to water quality, erosion and sedimentation, air quality and laboratory accreditation fees totaling about $23.4 million.

DEP also noted, “Other important environmental work continues, with significant levels of state funds not affected by the recently enacted state budget. For example, since April 2009, the state has invested $1.5 billion in new grants and loans for urgently needed repairs to local water, sewer, flood and dam infrastructure. That is more than four times the normal annual investment in these critical water project upgrades.”

As reported in the PA Environment Digest, the 2009-10 budget cuts are the biggest cuts in history to environmental programs, following a seven-year trend that shows diversions or cuts of $980 million dollars in environmental funding.

Environmental groups have expressed alarm, noting that the agencies are already overwhelmed. They contend that economic impacts may be felt as a result of potential delays to the permitting process and there are concerns that enforcement could be compromised.

David Masur, director of the statewide citizen-based advocacy group PennEnvironment, calls the budget a “disaster” in environmental terms. Donald S. Welsh, president of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, said the cuts “raise significant doubts” about the abilities of both agencies to fulfill their missions.

There is further concern about the new requirement for DCNR to generate $60 million dollars by leasing public forest land for natural gas drilling (see related story on in next week’s TRR edition). According to DCNR spokeswoman Christina Novak, the 2008 sale of natural gas leases on 74,000 acres brought $166 million.

But environment committee chair State Senator Mary Jo White (R., Venango) downplayed the cuts, referring to other funding approved by the general assembly, federal stimulus funds and new fee increases to be approved and implemented. In a statement, White said, “I do not believe these cuts have disproportionately targeted DEP’s ability to enforce Pennsylvania’s environmental laws.”

In dealing with the severe cuts, State Representative Camille “Bud” George (D., Clearfield) advised DEP Secretary John Hanger to “pray” that various environmental impacts, such as invasive insects and chemical spills at gas drilling sites “miraculously do not occur again.”

An agency primer on budget impacts

DCNR: The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is charged with operating state parks; managing the 2.1 million acres of state forest land; providing information on the state’s ecological and geologic resources; and providing grants and technical assistance to benefit rivers, trails, greenways, local parks and recreation, heritage parks and open space.

Pennsylvania will receive an unanticipated lease payment for natural gas extraction. Because state parks are integral to the economies of the communities in which they are located and because of the important recreational opportunities they offer, the commonwealth will use some of these funds to reduce the DCNR budget shortfall by enough to keep all 117 state parks open.

The other impacts are as follows:

Personnel: DCNR will furlough nine full-time employees and eliminate vacant salaried positions. The agency has reduced its seasonal wage staff by 240 employees over the past year and shortened the work season by several months this fall for an additional 892 seasonal employees. The combined impact of these changes is equivalent to a reduction of 367 full-time positions.

Parks: DCNR will reduce service levels at all state parks by shortening swimming seasons at pools and beaches; closing campgrounds earlier and opening them later in the year; more selectively removing snow and mowing grass; and reducing park environmental education, interpretive and recreational programming and teacher training.

Forests: DCNR will defer maintenance on state forest roads; eliminate the program that raises and sells native seedlings to private forest landowners; eliminate spraying for gypsy moths and curtail the surveillance of other forest pests such as emerald ash borer and hemlock wooly adelgid; and eliminate the program that is producing a three-dimensional map of the state using GIS and aerial photography.

Projects and Grants: Large infrastructure projects that either will generate additional revenues, or are important to the long-term care and sustainability of the system, will continue with the funding provided by law specifically for those purposes. DCNR will continue to make focused and strategic investments in conservation and recreation through its grants program with the reduced dollars that have been provided by law specifically for those purposes.

DEP: The Department of Environmental Protection is the state agency largely responsible for administering Pennsylvania’s environmental laws and regulations, including reducing air pollution; making sure drinking water is safe; protecting water quality in rivers and streams; making sure waste is handled properly; supporting community renewal and revitalization; promoting advanced energy technology; and helping citizens prevent pollution and comply with state environmental regulations.

Budgetary challenges have forced DEP to make choices to preserve the programs and initiatives that protect the health and safety of Pennsylvania’s citizens and environmental resources. Critical environmental inspection and enforcement efforts that are essential to protecting health, safety and the environment remain top priorities and will not be reduced.

In fiscal year 2009-2010, the general fund budget was reduced from $217 million to $159 million, a difference of $58 million. The impacts of the reductions include:

Personnel: DEP will furlough 96 employees and will not fill 120 vacant positions.

The elimination of some permitting staff in each region that may lengthen processing times for some permits; the department is in the process of raising any outdated fees to ensure effective permitting.

• A reduction in planning and technical services for local governments and counties.

• Elimination of funding for this year of the Consumer Energy Program.

• Reduction in the period of time Black Fly spraying can continue with spraying likely to terminate by the end of July 2010.

• Elimination of West Nile Virus county grants in 36 counties; DEP staff will attempt to provide some lessened coverage in those counties where county programs do not operate.