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For Immediate Release
January 13, 2000

Butler County Groups Awarded Growing Greener Grants

Harrisburg -- Three Butler County groups have been awarded grants under the new Environmental Stewardship and Watershed Protection Act, said Sen. Mary Jo White (R-21), who sponsored and led the Senate effort to create the act.

White said Stream Restoration Inc. has been awarded an $815,751 grant to construct a series of passive treatment systems in the Slippery Rock Creek Watershed in Butler County. A separate $50,000 grant was also awarded to the Slippery Rock Watershed Association to construct additional passive treatment systems within the watershed.

A $5,000 grant was awarded to Glade Run Lutheran Services/St. Stephen's Academy in Jackson Township to develop a restoration plan and a school-based monitoring program for the Glade Run Watershed, the senator added.

"In less than one month since Growing Greener was signed into law, Pennsylvania has moved to get these much needed funds into the hands of local organizations and volunteers where it can do the most good. There has never been a lack of human resources - many donating their time and expertise - willing to help clean up and restore our environment. Growing Greener finally matches this commitment with substantial financial resources necessary to our environment," said White.

White said other organizations and local governments can apply for the first round of grants to be awarded from the five-year program, also known as Growing Greener. The grants are aimed at projects that protect and restore watersheds, reclaim abandoned mines and plug abandoned oil and gas wells.

Applications must be received by the state Department of Environmental Protection by February 11, 2000. DEP has scheduled six workshops across the commonwealth to assist prospective applicants.

In this region, workshops will be held Wednesday, January 19 at DEP's Northwest Regional Office, 230 Chestnut St., Meadville; and Thursday, January 20 at the Sheraton Inn – Pittsburgh North, 910 Sheraton Dr., Mars.

To request an application or obtain more information, potential applicants can visit the DEP web site at www.dep.state.pa.us, send e-mail to GrowingGreener@dep.state.pa.us or contact the Growing Greener Grant Center at 877-PAGREEN.