Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced today that 12 projects in the state’s southcentral region were awarded a total of $2,051,051 through DEP’s Growing Greener Plus grant program. These projects work to protect waterways and watersheds, reclaim abandoned mine sites, and work to reclaim and plug abandoned oil and gas wells. This year’s awards exceed $12 million statewide.
“The Growing Greener Plus grant program empowers communities to pursue environmental progress and innovation,” said Interim Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley. “This support fuels vital Pennsylvania initiatives that protect our land and restore local watersheds. As a result, our Commonwealth can look forward to a greener future.”
Energy Transfer Marketing & Terminals, L.P. has paid the Office of Attorney General (OAG) $10 million to fund projects that improve the health and safety of water sources along the routes of the pipelines. This funding is being distributed through existing Commonwealth grant programs to ensure high-impact projects are selected in the affected communities and that proper oversight is provided. Grant programs include those operated by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the DEP.
“Pennsylvanians have a fundamental right to clean water, and these two projects will further my office’s mission to make that right a reality,” said Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry. “The conviction we secured against Energy Transfer for environmental crimes while building natural gas pipelines will continue to pay dividends for future generations by funding projects that protect Pennsylvania’s natural resources.”
Growing Greener is the largest single investment of state funds in Pennsylvania's history to address critical environmental concerns. Growing Greener grants can be awarded to watershed groups, local or county government, municipal authorities, county planning commissions, county conservation districts, council of governments, educational institutions, or non-profit organizations. Grantees have up to three years to implement their projects.
The full list of approved Growing Greener Plus projects, funded by the Environmental Stewardship fund, in Southcentral Pennsylvania includes:
Dauphin County:
- Capital Area Greenbelt Association, Inc.— $288,000
- The project will repair 825 linear feet (LF) of deteriorating stream channel using regrading and plant materials. The project will reduce sediment pollution by reshaping the overly deep and wide stream to provide a defined drainage channel for the base flow, a wide flat floodplain, and change the eroding vertical embankments to a naturally stable gradient planted with approximately 2,600 new native plants including live stakes, large and small trees, shrubs, and seeding.
Fulton County:
- Fulton County Conservation District— $117,110
- The project will design and permit two sites, which will total 2,200 LF of livestock exclusion, stream restoration, and streamside forested buffers along banks of Big Cove Creek.
Huntington County:
- Chesapeake Conservancy, Inc.— $140,000
- The project will implement Phase I and Phase II activities for the Warriors Mark Run - East catchment. The project includes design, permitting and plan writing for projects, and construction for a farm restoration project.
- Huntingdon County Conservation District— $374,346
- The project will complete four stream restoration projects in Huntingdon County to stabilize eroding streambanks and reduce the loading of sediment and nutrients into Standing Stone Creek. It will install best management practices (BMPs) such as mudsills, log cross vanes, rock vanes, rock toe, and brush mattresses that will stabilize the eroding streambanks and provide beneficial fish habitat.
Lancaster County:
- Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake— $116,000
- The project will provide technical assistance to congregations with the sponsor's partners, the Center for Watershed Protection and Alliance for the Chesapeake. The project will design, permit, and construct up to nine green infrastructure projects at five congregations and provide green team training, maintenance training, and various educational events and ribbon cuttings to help additional congregations in Lancaster County take action towards cleaner water.
- Cocalico Creek Watershed Association— $96,400
- The project will design and permit a stream and wetland restoration along approximately 1,285 LF on the Little Cocalico Creek at Fry Run.
- Lancaster County Conservation District— $276,225
- The project will restore 3,400 LF of stream habitat with livestock exclusion fencing and riparian forest buffer.
Lancaster & Chester Counties:
- Stroud Water Research Center, Inc.— $258,000
- The project will implement 27.65 acres (ac) of forested buffers on nine farms in Lancaster and Chester Counties. The buffers on six Lancaster County farms will also provide livestock exclusion.
Mifflin County:
- Mifflin County Conservation District— $67,725
- The project will design and permit urban BMPs at the Lewistown Country Club, including bioswales, rain gardens, formal conservation landscaping, and invasive plant species control. The BMPs will treat stormwater coming from the parking lot and entrance road.
York County:
- Leg Up Farm, Inc.— $108,000
- The project will improve conditions to an unnamed tributary to Codorus Creek and will result in improved water quality. The project will result in 500 LF of stream restoration, 1.2 ac. of wetland creation, a stormwater BMP, and flood reduction adjacent State Route 181.
- Watershed Alliance of York, Inc.— $103,100
- The project will survey, design, and permit approximately 4,100 LF of stream restoration, 1.1 ac. of floodplain benches to be created, and 3.8 ac. of riparian buffer plantings.
- Horn Farm for Agricultural Education— $141,145
- The project will design and permit three restoration projects within the headwaters of Kreutz Creek Watershed, including 2,100 LF of streambank stabilization with 5 ac. of forested riparian buffers, 1 ac. of riparian forested wetlands, and 300 LF of stormwater BMP.
- York County Conservation District— $105,000
- The project will design and permit an approximately 5,000 LF of channel and floodplain restoration. The benefits include sediment and nutrient load reductions, and improving aquatic and terrestrial habits for native fish, plants, and animals when constructed.
As part of the FY2022-23 budget, Act 54 of 2022 allocated funds to DEP for grants and reimbursements (up to 75 percent of allowable costs) to municipalities and counties for eligible activities. The primary focus of the Act 167 Plan grants for is for the preparation or revision of Act 167 Plans by counties.
The full list of approved Act 167 Stormwater Management Planning Grants, funded by the COVID- American Rescue Plan Act, in Southcentral Pennsylvania includes:
Blair County:
- Blair County ACT 167 Stormwater Management Plan— $30,000
- Blair County has 1,092 miles of streams and 10 percent impaired waters. The county has implemented several best management practices with the goal of reducing over a million pounds of sentiment, and addressing stormwater and flooding issues.
Lancaster County:
- Lancaster County Act 167 Plan Update (Phase 1)— $50,000
- The project will update Lancaster County’s Act 167 plan which will allow the county to more effectively address its accelerated runoff and flooding problems, which in turn will have benefits for water quality and pollutant loading. A new plan will provide updated ordinances to support regional runoff and flood management.
The approved project within the Mariner East 2 pipeline corridor from the OAG Energy Transfer settlement agreement in Southeastern Pennsylvania include:
Berks County:
- Berks County Conservation District— $250,625
- o The project will design and permit shovel-ready floodplain and stream restoration projects on four contiguous properties, extending over a mile of stream located in the Cacoosing Creek Watershed. The project will conduct an assessment, planning, design and permitting on several high priority stream and floodplain sections.
Statewide Projects:
- Pocono Northeast Resource Conservation Development Council— $400,000
- The proposed project is a group of service providers that collaborate with watershed and lake management organizations and municipalities to enhance the programmatic and technical skills of these groups to successfully monitor, protect, and restore Pennsylvania's waterways throughout the state.
- Stream Restoration, Inc.— $352,583
- The project will provide watershed groups, nonprofit organizations, conservation districts, and governmental agencies technical assistance related to the monitoring, operation, and maintenance of abandoned mine drainage (AMD) treatment systems.
- Stream Restoration, Inc.— $268,432
- The project will provide watershed groups, nonprofits, conservation districts, and governmental agencies involved with the restoration of AMD impaired watersheds a free, user-friendly, web-based, GIS-enabled data and project management tool to help with monitoring, assessment, evaluation, management, and maintenance of watershed restoration projects with a major emphasis on AMD treatment systems.
For more information on the Growing Greener Plus grant program, application guidance, and to sign up for notifications when grant programs reopen, visit DEP’s webpage, Growing Greener Plus Grants Program.
You can also visit the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s website, or follow DEP on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
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