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HARRISBURG, January 12, 2006 - State Sen. J. Barry Stout and
Rep. Bill DeWeese today announced that the state Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP) will be awarding grants to Greene
County and two townships for environmental planning and enforcement.
Greene County will receive a $65,372 grant under the County Planning
Grant Program to revise its solid waste management plan. In
addition, Jefferson Township will receive a $930 grant under the
Sewage Facilities Enforcement Grants Program, and Washington
Township will receive a $1,027 grant under the same program.
“While the state makes significant demands on its counties and
municipalities to preserve the environment, the state also helps
them deal with the costs,” said Stout (D-Greene/Washington). “With
strong local effort and state assistance, we’re keeping our streams
and fields clean for generations to come.”
“These DEP grants will allow local environmental obligations to be
met, while also helping the municipalities to maintain their
budgets,” said DeWeese (D-Greene/Fayette/Washington). “These, and
other similar programs at the state level, supply ample evidence as
to why the Commonwealth is considered a nationwide leader in
environmental initiatives.”
Under the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction
Act (Act 101 of 1988), all Pennsylvania counties are required to
plan for solid waste management and submit their plans to DEP. Each
county must ensure that sufficient landfill capacity exists for the
next 10 years and analyze the impact of recycling efforts on the
amount of waste generated.
The act also established the County Planning Grant Program, which
reimburses counties up to 80 percent of the costs to prepare and
revise municipal waste management plans and related studies.
Under the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act (Act 537 of 1966), each
municipality is required to prepare a sewage facility plan that
provides for the resolution of existing sewage disposal problems and
addresses future sewage disposal needs. Municipalities may apply for
grants to reimburse up to 50 percent of sewage enforcement expenses.
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