Letters: DEP's mission won't be hurt by state budget cut

The "Marcellus Shale: Pa. tapped, drillers not" article last Sunday gave an incomplete and, therefore, distorted picture of how the recently enacted state budget will affect the Department of Environmental Protection. By focusing on the 27 percent reduction to the state General Fund portion of the DEP's budget, the article presented the potential impact on the environment as more severe than it will actually be.

In a typical year, state funds account for less than a third of DEP's budget. Last year, for example, state funds totaled $232 million of our $712 million departmental budget. Federal dollars and other revenues derived from fees and fines make up the bulk of our agency budget.

In addition, fees for gas drilling permits were increased to make it possible for us to hire additional inspectors to oversee and make sure gas drilling in the state does not harm the environment. The cut in state funds will have no impact on the permitting and inspection operations performed by the oil and gas staff at DEP, because instead of taxing the citizens for this work, we are making the drilling companies pay for this critical environmental protection work.

Gov. Rendell had to accept a final budget that cut spending in this recessionary national economy. It regrettably will require layoffs in DEP and other departments, as well as reductions or eliminations to some worthy services. But, and this is most important, we have made sure that our critical environmental inspection and enforcement efforts remain top priorities and will not be reduced.

DEP Secretary John Hanger

Harrisburg