News & Notes February 2002

State Announces Additional Budget Freeze
DEP to Meet Growing Greener Commitments

DEP Executive Secretary David Hess recently explained the details of budget actions taken by Gov. Mark Schweiker, stressing that DEP intends to maintain the commitments made under the Growing Greener program to support watershed projects and conservation districts.

On Jan. 18, 2002, Gov. Schweiker froze $148.3 million in state spending in an effort to balance the state's budget for the current fiscal year. The Administration has frozen a total of $309.9 million this year, with the single largest freeze being $50 million marked for the Growing Greener Program.

However, despite the decision to freeze Growing Greener monies, the Department of Environmental Protection will still be able to cover the costs of current Growing Greener projects. Schweiker noted that the budget freeze will not impact existing commitments to fund Growing Greener projects, and will not reduce funds provided for local watershed cleanups and restoration.

In a recent letter to Growing Greener partners, Secretary Hess explained that DEP has developed a spending plan for Growing Greener based on three principles: no reduction in the total commitment of state funds to Growing Greener, no take-backs of commitments within the current fiscal year, and of particular interest to Pennsylvania's conservation districts, no reduction in the dollar amounts committed to watershed projects or to support conservation district watershed specialists.

DEP and the state budget office have developed a spending plan for Growing Greener that extends the length of the program from five years to six, in order to deter current program spending without affecting projects that are already underway.

"The bottom line is the action taken and expected steps in next year's budget proposal will not affect your watershed project or conservation district watershed specialists funded by Growing Greener," Secretary Hess explained. "All of our Growing Greener commitments will be met."

Curriculum Announced for 2002 Conservation Leadership School

The Pennsylvania State University is providing students between the ages of 15 and 18 with a unique opportunity to learn about the environment and conservation during the 2002 Penn State Conservation Leadership School program.

During the one-week program, the curriculum will include: Sustainable Forestry, the Future of Pennsylvania Wood Products, the Watershed Management Challenge and Managing Pennsylvania's White-tailed Deer. School dates are June 23-28, July 7-12 and July 14-19.

Conservation districts should expect to receive a mailing outlining the details of the 2002 Conservation Leadership School. However, anyone with information about scholarship opportunities, local conservation school programs, or questions regarding Penn State's Conservation Leadership School is asked to contact Mike Powell, CLS Director, at 814-865-7554, or mjp175@psu.edu.

Additional details and registration information may be found at the website: http://conferences.cas.psu.edu, then selecting the menu item: Forest Resources.

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