Conservation groups oppose using project funds to pay dept. expenses

Several conservation groups have joined together over their concerns about a Wolf administration proposal to use environmental fund project monies to pay operating expenses at the state Departments of Environmental Protection and Conservation and Natural Resources.

“We appreciate the need for the Commonwealth to properly fund the Departments of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). The work of those agencies is critical to ensuring healthy fish and wildlife habitat and plentiful outdoor recreational opportunities,” read the letter from a coalition of 11 wildlife, conservation and outdoor sports organizations including Ducks Unlimited and the National Wild Turkey Federation.

“However, these resources should come from the General Fund—not from dedicated sources established to support local, on-the-ground projects that conserve and restore our waters, set aside natural lands, and support state parks and recreation,” the letter continued.

In the letter the groups state their concerns over preserving the integrity of the Environmental Stewardship and Keystone Funds.

But Sen. Gene Yaw, a Republican representing northwestern Susquehanna County, said that it is too early in the budget process to know how things will work out.  Things will be clearer by May or June, Yaw said.

“This is not the final decision.  Nobody knows at this point.  I don’t think anybody needs to get upset about it,” he said.

Created in 2002, the ESF is funded by an increase in fees charged to dump trash at landfills.   Of those funds, 37.4% goes to the Department of Environmental Protection to clean up acid mine drainage and support watershed based conservation efforts.  Over 24% goes to the Department of Conservation and Natural resources for rehabilitation of state parks and forests as well as grants to local governments and nonprofits for open space protection and recreation projects.

Begun in 1993, the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund is a dedicated fund for investments in recreation, parks, conservation, libraries, historical preservation, and education.

Jack Sorber of the local William F. Moore Memorial Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, one of the groups who signed the letter, repeated the group’s concerns over any reallocation of funds.

“He’s taking money from a fund that he should not be allowed to.  Environmental funds are hard to come by,” Sorber said in a recent interview.

Sorber said that moving funds from the ESP or Keystone Fund could affect local lands such as Salt Spring Park or State Game Lands 35 in Great Bend.

“He’s using environmental funds for other resources.  We just don’t think it’s acceptable.  Environmental funds should go to environmental concerns,” Sorber said.

Wolf’s plan to transfer $20 million from the ESF came up during a Senate Appropriations Committee budget hearing with DCNR Sec. Cindy Dunn March 4.   Sec. Dunn told the senators that the $20 million would be used to reduce debt service while Sen. Thomas Killion (R-Delaware) said he’d prefer to see funding increased.

According to video of the hearing available online, Sec. Dunn acknowledged that if DCNR were to lease just three per cent of the 850,000 free acres of land from the 2 million total acres it controls, it could generate $100 million.

“You could use part of your assets to fund your own operations rather than take it out of other dedicated funds,” Yaw, the chairman of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, said.

“In our view it’s prudent to continue to watch the build out on those existing leases and not open up to more leases and, you know, more activity in that Marcellus area,” Sec. Dunn said.

Sec. Dunn said the demand for leases was low and that the department and the governor would prefer to watch the development of current leases than issue new ones.

Sec. Dunn stated the current leases, which are also used to support the department’s operating budget, generate more than $80 million annually, with the timber industry contributing about $25 million and recreational activities generating $29 billion for the state economy.

DCNR spokesman Terrence Brady referenced Gov. Wolf’s reinstatement of a moratorium on drilling on state parks and forests begun by former Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell in 2010.

“This is about striking the right balance. Our state parks and forests are unique assets that should be preserved, protected, and utilized by our residents for recreational purposes,” Wolf said in a January 2015 press release announcing the moratorium’s reinstatement. 

Brady also echoed Yaw’s observation on the early phase of the budget making process.

“This is not new with lawmakers looking at what could be open to gas exploration,” Brady said.

Rep. Jonathan Fritz (R-Susquehanna/Wayne), said that recent examination of the state budget has revealed hidden state surplus monies also available to pay down debt service.

“Last year, a number of fiscal watchdogs within the Legislature exposed the considerable number of [state] agency accounts that held idle and unencumbered funds,” Fritz said earlier this week in an e-mailed statement.

“The administration, at that point, responded that these dollars were not ‘found money,’ that the money was in fact earmarked for projects and other obligations. Well, low and behold, turns out the funds are available, provided they are used as the administration directs,” Fritz’s statement continued

“In my opinion, it’s best to use ‘found money’ to pay down our debt instead of being used in the unorthodox method that the administration has proposed. Simply put, it’s irresponsible use of taxpayer money,” Fritz said.

Other groups signing onto the letter include: Backcountry Hunters and Anglers; Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited; Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen and Conservationists; Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever; Quality Deer Management Association; Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation; Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership; Trout Unlimited; and United Bowhunters of Pennsylvania.