Environmental Law

No Budget but PADEP Still on the Job

By M. Joel Bolstein

Pennsylvania's budget is overdue.  What does that mean for brownfield developers?  It means that the people who are reviewing your Act 2 reports in each of PADEP's regional offices, and the people setting policy for the Pennsylvania Act 2 program in Harrisburg, may not be getting paid.  In fact, unless a budget is adopted quickly, many employees at PADEP will not be getting pay checks this Friday. 

I've spoken with many people at the Department over the last week, as is typical for one of my work weeks.  I've also exchanged numerous emails with ECP staff and counsel advising the ECP program.  In each of those communications, I express my sympathies over the present situation and ask how things are going.  Many of the people at the Department are my former colleagues and friends, especially those in the Act 2 program.   In each instance, they thank me for my concern and say that people are managing as best they can in a very difficult situation.  What amazes me is that people continue to go about the Commonwealth's business despite not being paid.  That, to me, is proof that the people at PADEP are among the most dedicated, mission driven employees in the Commonwealth. 

When you are getting ready to make that phone call to someone at PADEP about one of the brownfield projects you are working on, or you're tapping out an email to the ECP program staff asking to set up a conference call or a meeting to keep a project moving, take a moment to thank that person for continuing to do their job during this budget crisis.  It's a difficult time for everyone at PADEP.  Even if someone happens to be working in a program that receives federal funding allowing them to continue to get paid, there's a friend or colleague down the hall that's struggling to figure out how they are going to pay their bills without that regular pay check.    

Brownfield redevelopment in Pennsylvania is a team effort , and the people at PADEP who review and approve your site characterization reports and cleanup plans and final reports are integral members of the team.    When someone on the team is hurting, it is up to all of us to help pick them up.  My advice to everyone that works on brownfield redevelopment projects in Pennsylvania is to be understanding, be human, and show some compassion for the people at PADEP that are continuing to help move your brownfield projects along during this difficult time.   Let's all hope that a budget is passed as soon as possible.       

Full post as published by PA Brownfields Environmental Law on July 29, 2009 (boomark / email).