The General Assembly submitted to the Governor and the Governor signed on July 6 a 2010-2011 state budget that:

• Preserves the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund land trust project money. The Governor had proposed $132 million in raids on special environmental funds including Keystone in June. Since 1993, local communities have been matching Keystone land trust monies dollar for dollar -- often many dollars for each state dollar -- to make great things happen. The state’s Keystone land trust project investments have created and each year build upon a tremendous and lasting legacy for the people of the Commonwealth.
• Leaves other environmental funds intact.
• Expresses the intent to pass a Marcellus shale severance tax by 10/1/2010 with revenues to be divided between the “Commonwealth, counties and municipalities, and environmental initiatives.” (There is still a lot of very important detail to be worked out on this.)
• Imposes no new drilling leasing mandates on the State Forests.

Unfortunately, other elements of the budget are not so good from a conservation perspective. State General Fund (i.e. general tax dollar) support for DCNR and DEP was substantially cut. Increases in permitting fees and other revenues for the Departments will partially offset this loss but only partially. The PA Environment Digest counts $1.3B in total diversions from environmental programs over the last eight years.