We recognize the immense conservation needs that exist today in Pennsylvania:
Cleaning Up Rivers and Streams: More than 13,200 of 83,000 miles of streams are impaired by water pollution of different types. Natural buffers along streams have been cut down and property damage has increased from flooding because natural floodplains have been eliminated.
Acid Mine Drainage Pollution: Severely polluted water from abandoned coal mines is Pennsylvania's number one source of water pollution - more than 2,400 miles of streams are sterile and unusable and more than 250,000 acres of abandoned mines need to be reclaimed in 45 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties.
Loss of Farmland and Open Space: Pennsylvania's ten largest urban areas grew in population by 13 percent in 30 years, but the amount of land we paved and developed grew by 80 percent. In the process, hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland and open space permanently disappeared. More than 300 acres of land are consumed by sprawling development every day in Pennsylvania.
We acknowledge the Growing Greener Bond would:
Provide crucial funding for open space and working farmland preservation, cleaning up abandoned mine drainage, protecting our rivers, lakes and streams, and many other essential conservation and environmental programs.
Do so without increasing current taxes or fees or adding new ones.
By signing this pledge, we promise to go to the polls on May 17 and vote YES! for the Growing Greener referendum. By doing so, we will allow future generations to enjoy Pennsylvania's bountiful natural resources as we have.
(Please help us spread the word. We urge you to forward this information to your friends, families, neighbors and community leaders.Help get the word out to successfully pass Growing Greener on May 17th.)
