NEWS RELEASE

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Department of Conservation
and Natural Resources
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol
Harrisburg, PA 17120

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Christina Novak
DCNR Press Secretary
(717) 772-9101

STATE PARKS AND FORESTS TO CLOSE WITHOUT A STATE BUDGET IN PLACE
DCNR to Furlough About 2,300 Employee

HARRISBURG (July 6, 2007) — Governor Edward G. Rendell is working to adopt a budget that requires no broad based tax increases, provides sufficient resources to ensure that Pennsylvania continues to improve its public schools, offers high quality child care, helps Pennsylvanians get good jobs and helps our companies grow, but the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, forced by the federal government to classify state employees in the event of budget impasses, said today a budget impasse will mean the furlough about 2,300 employees, as well as the closing of state parks and forests to the public beginning July 9.

“Summer, obviously, is our busiest time of year, which makes it difficult for us to turn people away from opportunities to camp and enjoy the outdoors,” DCNR Secretary Michael DiBerardinis said. “But without employees to provide maintenance and clean the bathrooms; lifeguards to watch the pools; staff to check people in and out; and test water quality at our lakes, we simply cannot remain open.”

About 2,300, or most, of DCNR staff will be furloughed. About 300 staff members will remain at work, including park managers, district forest managers and salaried rangers. Park managers and salaried rangers will be working enforcement and safety shifts only; state park and forest district offices will be closed.

Pennsylvania has 117 state parks and more than 2 million acres of state forest land. All will be closed beginning Monday and will remain closed until a state budget is adopted, with the exception of Norristown Farm Park, which is leased to Montgomery County; Salt Springs State Park in Susquehanna County, which is run by volunteers; Big Pocono State Park in Monroe County, which is run by a concessionaire; and Archbald Pothole State Park in Lackawanna County, which is run by Archbald Borough.

Gates will be closed where feasible. Temporary barricades will be erected where possible. The central reservation system will be closed.

Campers and cabin occupants will be required to leave by midnight on July 9.

All marinas at state parks will be closed, except for the one at Neshaminy State Park in Bucks County and which is run by a concessionaire.

Boating on navigable waters will not be restricted; however, access through park lands will be prohibited and boaters are being notified.

All water and sewage treatment plants will be shutdown, except those that serve the public outside of DCNR lands.

DCNR Bureau of Forestry staff that fight forest fires will be recalled if necessary.

It is estimated that DCNR will lose $1.5 million in revenue for each week of closure.

Other functions provided by DCNR, such as grant review and approval; mapping and topographic and geologic survey; and environmental reviews through the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program needed for permits; will shut down as long as employees are furloughed.

Governor Edward G. Rendell proposed a $27.3 billion budget on Feb. 6 that offered solutions for Pennsylvania’s transportation funding crisis, relief for overburdened property taxpayers, innovative ideas for attracting the best and brightest scientists to find cures for the world’s deadliest diseases, ways to free residents from their dependence on foreign oil, expansion of successful education initiatives and bold ideas for bringing health care to every Pennsylvanian.

Recently, however, members of the Senate opted, instead, to demand that the budget cut millions of dollars from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade education programs, economic development and job training programs, as well as child care and mental health programs.

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2007