The Program received an annual allocation of $4 Million from 1997 through 2013. Starting in 2014, the Program allocation was increased to $28 Million, with a minimum of $8 Million earmarked to paved low volume roads. A brief overview of the Program is provided below, additional history, details and practices can be found in the tabs to the left.
PA State Conservation Commission: Allocates funding to Conservation Districts based on amount of eligible roads and identified pollution sites.
Conservation Districts: County-based entities that administer the Program at the local level. Local public road-owning entities apply to the District for grants to fund individual worksites.
Quality Assurance Board: County-based multidisciplinary advisory board that establishes county-specific policies and ranking criteria, and recommends projects for funding.
Grant Applicants: Public road-owning entities who apply to their Conservation District for grant funding for individual projects. Most grant applicants are municipalities, although any state or local public road-owning entity is eligible after attending a two day “Environmentally Sensitive Maintenance” training.
Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies: Non-profit Center at Penn State established to provide education, outreach, and technical assistance to entities involved in the PA Dirt, Gravel, and Low Volume Road Program.
Key Program Facts
-
Stresses site-specific, long-term solutions to prevent erosion and pollution, instead of "band-aid" fixes.
-
Reduces pollution while promoting sustainable unpaved roads.
-
Minimal administration; limited to 2% at the state level; limited to 10% at the local level.
-
Emphasis on informed local control and environmental soundness puts decision-making at local level.
-
Adherence to program values assured through central training, technical assistance, and quality control.
-
Uses a computerized GIS system used for project tracking and central reporting with minimal paperwork.
PA's 17,000+ stream pollution sites on unpaved roads
