Robbins: Senate Approves Measure to Fund State Hazardous Sites Cleanup Program

Harrisburg – The state Senate today approved legislation that would continue funding Pennsylvania's Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund without the tax increases sought by the Rendell administration, according to Senator Bob Robbins (R-50).

Senate Bill 149 directs an amount equal to a quarter-mill of the Capital Stock and Franchise Tax -- about $36 million -- from the General Fund to the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund (HSCA). The legislation would use the same revenue stream that funded HSCA until 2002.

"Passage of this bill represents a chance to fund an important initiative without raising taxes," said Robbins. "Hopefully, the administration will seize the opportunity."

The only alternative Gov. Rendell has offered is to impose a new Toxic Release Inventory Tax and trash disposal tax to partially fund HSCA. There is clearly little support for this in the General Assembly; the governor's proposal has not even been introduced in the Senate in more than a year, said Robbins.

Additionally, even if the General Assembly passed the governor's tax increases today, there is no way the new taxing and funding system could be implemented in time to avert the "crisis" cited by DEP, the senator noted.

DEP has stopped remediation and cleanup efforts; stopped investigations into illegal contamination of hazardous sites; threatened to furlough 225 employees beginning April 1, 2005; and stated publicly to communities facing contamination that they are in danger.

Senate Bill 149 does not affect the commitment by Senate Republicans to phase-out the Capital Stock and Franchise Tax by 2010, or earlier.

The bipartisan "Green Ribbon Commission," created to address Pennsylvania's environmental funding needs, met earlier today. The commission recommended immediate funding for HSCA. It also recommended putting an environmental bond question on the May 17 primary election ballot.

The bill now goes to the House of Representatives for their consideration.

CONTACT: Mike Hengst (717) 787-1322