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DEP defends tipping fee boost for air, staff

By Robert Swift

HARRISBURG — A wide range of issues, from air quality to tipping fees, were discussed this week as Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell and his agency had their budget hearing with the House Appropriations Committee.

A proposal to increase the state tipping fee paid by landfill operators and pay for new staff hires highlights Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed fiscal year 2020-21 budget.

The governor proposed $1.5 million to hire 15 more field staffers for DEP’s Bureau of Air Quality drew questions from Reps. Jesse Topper, R-Bedford, and Matt Gabler, R-Clearfield. The air quality bureau is charged with monitoring toxic pollutants, collecting data, monitoring complaints and handling permits.

Gabler asked why DEP is seeking both the $1.5 million budget line item and a separate fee hike through the state Environmental Quality Board to support air quality operations.

Topper asked why what he called a pretty hefty increase is being sought when air quality is improving in Pennsylvania due to a switch from coal to natural gas as a fuel.

McDonnell said the $1.5 million will help restore bureau staffing levels, which have declined 24 percent since 2002. The fee hike will help support work on air quality permits, which continue even if overall emissions decline, he added.

While Pennsylvania is seeing gains in air quality, said McDonnell in testimony, about 20 counties are getting bad grades in an American Lung Association scorecard for having high ozone pollution days.

The proposed $1 per ton hike in the tipping fee on municipal landfills to help support the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund generated this exchange.

Rep. Rosemary Brown, R-Monroe, said she’s concerned about the impact of a tipping fee hike on residential trash bills. She said her research shows that tipping frees account for one-third of those trash bills in her area. Brown suggested tapping the Recycling Fund instead.

The hazardous sites fund is rapidly running out of money due to the end in 2016 of the Capital Stock and Franchise Tax, a primary funding source, said McConnell noting it supports hazardous waste cleanup and brownfield programs.

“We are interested in making sure the programs continue,” said McDonnell, adding the new funding will allow officials to make immediate decisions to address big projects.

Later, House Appropriations Majority Chairman Stan Saylor, R-York, picked up on the idea of using the Recycling Fund to underwrite the hazardous sites fund.

“If we increase that tipping fee tomorrow, garbage rates are going up in Pennsylvania,” said Saylor.

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