THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 3, 1995 TAG: 9502030583
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY BETTY MITCHELL GRAY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RALEIGH LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
After weeks of potentially bad news about the future of state environmental programs, five environmental groups went on the offensive Thursday, calling for more than $84 million in state spending for environmental programs.
But as a concession to new budget-conscious lawmakers, many of the 37 proposals outlined in the 12-page ``Green Budget'' simply reallocate existing state money, depend on user fees or expand existing programs.
John Runkle, general counsel for the Conservation Council of North Carolina, said at a press conference that he is ``guardedly optimistic'' about getting legislative approval for most of the proposals.
Runkle and others said they hoped much of the plan will be included in a state budget proposal scheduled to be presented to the legislature next week by Gov. James B. Hunt Jr.
Spokesmen for the environmentalists said that while the competition for state dollars will be intense this session, spending for environmental programs should appeal to legislators because it makes good economic sense.
``Because of the return North Carolina will get from it, these recommendations make good sense even in an era when we're trying to make government more efficient,'' said Thomas G. Bean, director of government affairs for the North Carolina Wildlife Federation.
The report, ``Green Budget 1995: Investing for Prosperity,'' outlines spending in several areas:
Natural heritage protection, including increased funding for state parks, new positions for the state's coastal reserve system and appropriations for plan conservation - $13.32 million.Initiatives to carry out recommendations of the state Coastal Futures Committee, including funding for marine fisheries - $17.1 million.
Alternatives to highway construction, including increased billboard regulations and a reallocation of 10 percent of the Department of Transportation budget for mass transit. Funding from reallocations and $5.2 million in fees.
Energy efficiency and solar energy, including money for the state solar center and state government energy projects - $30.8 million.
Sustainable agriculture, including demonstration centers for farmers, and cost sharing for farms and cities that protect the environment - $11 million.
Environmental education - $1.5 million.
Pollution prevention for industries and state enforcement of drinking water regulations - $7.9 million.
Reducing solid waste and encouraging businesses to recycle - $2.1 million.
Government environmental policy reform, including legal help for low-income and minority communities facing pollution problems - $500,000.
Runkle said increased funding for state parks, money for environmental education and spending for environmentally friendly agriculture programs appear to have the broadest support among groups who have seen the proposals.
And, he said, support for the state's environmental programs appears to have grown in recent months as evidenced by large turnouts for public hearings on environmental issues statewide.
``That's why I'm guardedly optimistic,'' Runkle said. If Thursday's press conference had been held before one recent public hearing, ``I would have been more guarded than optimistic.''
But another environmental lobbyist said conservation groups will be much more on the defensive during the current session of the General Assembly than in past years and may have to draw more heavily on their members to help promote their agenda.
``I do think this session we'll have to expend a certain amount of our energies defending existing laws - the Watershed Protection Act,'' said Bill Holman, lobbyist for the state chapter of the Sierra Club.
The groups delivered their report to legislators Thursday afternoon.
Debate over state environmental policy is scheduled to begin next week with the first meetings of state House of Representative and Senate committees charged with handling environmental legislation.
Ever since the Nov. 8 election, which saw the defeat of many environmental allies, conservation groups from the coast to the mountains have been worried about the new Republican majority in Raleigh and in Washington, D.C., with their national and state voter contracts and their determination to rein in government regulations.
Environmental groups represented at the press conference included the Sierra Club, the Conservation Council of North Carolina, the state chapter of the Environmental Defense Fund and the North Carolina Wildlife Federation. The North Carolina Solar Energy Association was not represented at the press conference. by CNB