Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge (R) yesterday signed into law a $646 million program to help protect many thousands of acres of open space, preserve 1,500 farms, and improve state parks. But enviros in the state criticize the new law because it lacks a dedicated funding base, and they say that nearly $1.5 billion would be needed to adequately address the state’s environmental problems. Critics say that Ridge has not been as aggressive in the fight against sprawl as the governors of neighboring Maryland and New Jersey. Meanwhile, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation announced yesterday that it will give $14 million to protect forests, marshes, and fields in New Jersey and Rhode Island, the most densely populated states in the country.
