For Immediate Release
February 1, 2012
Contact: Jennifer Frees
717-627-0036
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A Conversation with Senator Brubaker

PA Income Tax Check-Off Program Benefits Worthy Causes

As millions of state residents prepare to file their federal, state and local taxes, all taxpayers will have the option to make a donation to several important charitable organizations. The PA-40 tax form includes five boxes allowing taxpayers to donate to the Wild Resource Conservation Fund, the Military Family Relief Assistance Program, the Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Trust Fund, the Juvenile Diabetes Cure Research Foundation and the Breast and Cervical Cancer Research Fund.

The Military Family Relief Assistance Program offers grants to eligible members of the military and their families. The program offers financial assistance for expenses such as emergency food, child care and shelter, natural or manmade disasters or the death of a family member. Program eligibility guidelines and more information are available at www.dmva.state.pa.us.

The Breast and Cervical Cancer Research Fund supports research projects in the commonwealth to find a cure for breast cancer and cervical cancer. More information is available online at www.pabreastcancer.org/refunds. The Juvenile Diabetes Cure Research Foundation funds research grants focused on curing Type 1 diabetes. Additional information is available at www.jdrf.org.

The Wild Resource Conservation Program works with the PA Game Commission and Fish and Boat Commission to support research, conservation and education projects to preserve our wildlife and aquatic resources. More information on the program is available online at www.dcnr.state.pa.us. The Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Trust Fund promotes the voluntary organ and tissue donation to help health care providers save the lives of state residents. More information is available online at www.health.state.pa.us.

Local residents who will not receive a state tax refund this year can still make donations to support these efforts by contacting the state agencies that administer these programs.

Chesapeake Bay Program Encourages Winter Pollution Reduction Measures

Many homeowners and businesses purchase rock salt and other de-icers each winter to help remove snow and ice from our sidewalks and driveways. However, using the wrong products or using too much of these products can add dangerous levels of pollution to local streams and waterways. The Chesapeake Bay Program recently offered new guidelines to help homeowners and businesses reduce pollution resulting from de-icer use.

Sodium chloride, also known as rock salt, is the most commonly used de-icer, but contains cyanide which can be harmful to plants and wildlife. Calcium chloride is a safer option to protect fish and other aquatic wildlife, but may be harmful to plants. The Chesapeake Bay Program encourages the use of magnesium chloride or calcium magnesium acetate to reduce pollution. Homeowners and businesses can also reduce run-off pollution by using no more than a handful of de-icer per square yard. Removing as much snow and ice as possible from sidewalks and driveways can also help prevent the overuse of de-icing chemicals.

The Chesapeake Bay Program also encourages de-icing methods that do not require a chemical de-icer, such as applying warm water mixed with table salt to ice, using sand to improve traction and covering small areas with a tarp or other heavy, waterproof plastic prior to a snowstorm to prevent ice accumulation.

More information regarding the application of safe, environment-friendly de-icers is available online at www.chesapeakebay.net.