(HARRISBURG, PA)—Harry Campbell, executive director for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) in Pennsylvania, applauded the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) awarding of the $12.6 million for restoration and stormwater projects in the Commonwealth. Funding comes from the penalty assessed to Sunoco for violations related to the Mariner East 2 pipeline project.
"One thing that all of these projects have in common is that they will improve Pennsylvania's water – whether that is through reducing runoff pollution, restoring watersheds, or other means," DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell said in a department press release.
The DEP collected the $12.6 million penalty in February for numerous violations along the Mariner East 2 pipeline and began accepting applications in April.
Of the DEP grants, Mr. Campbell said:
"We applaud the distribution of these funds to 61 projects to improve water quality in 14 counties of the Commonwealth. Many of the projects are located within the Pennsylvania portion of the Chesapeake Bay watershed and are positive steps toward getting the Commonwealth back on track toward its clean water goals.
"In Cumberland County, farmers will get needed technical assistance, and the amount of polluted runoff into waters like Wertz Run, Hogestown Run, Cedar Run Creek, Yellow Breeches Creek, and others will be reduced.
"Trees will be planted in Dauphin County and streambanks in Highspire Borough, and the townships of Derry, Lower Swatara and Londonderry will be repaired and stabilized.
"In Huntingdon County, polluted runoff will be reduced in Shirley, Tell, Union, and Penn townships.
"The floodplain in the Cocalico Creek headwaters will be restored in Lancaster County.
"Lebanon County will receive grants for nine projects that include planting riparian buffers, improving stormwater management, restoring conditions along two creeks, and more.
"Roughly 19,000 miles of our rivers and streams are damaged by pollution. At CBF, we believe that adequate investments of resources focusing on the right practices, at the right places, and engaging the right people and partners will restore and protect cleaner water for future generations of Pennsylvanians."
EDITOR'S NOTE: The DEP press release and a listing of the 61 projects can be found here.
