The United States House of Representatives made history today by passing the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) to fully and permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The Act passed with bipartisan support and will be sent to the President’s desk, where it is expected to be signed into law. The following statement can be attributed to Tom Cors, director of read more
Public Policy
23
July
10
February
Comments on New Model Amendment Due March 4
The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association has completed the first round of public review of the draft Model Amendment of Grant of Conservation Easement and Declaration of Covenants. The guidance has been revised and PALTA welcomes suggestions for improvements to this final draft. Reviewers are also encouraged to suggest examples of potential amendments that could be addressed in read more
24
January
DCNR Seeking Comment on Draft ATV Trail Policy
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) this week will outline proposed changes to its internal policy on ATV trails on state forest lands to the Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Council for public comment. Pennsylvania currently has more than 260 miles of ATV trails in state forests. The department is reviewing its policy to respond to read more
14
November
The Continuing Folly of the Pennsylvania State Budget
PALTA intern Rhiannon Loza created this cartoon about cuts made to the Environmental Stewardship Fund in June. read more
9
October
DNCR Releases Penn’s Parks for All Strategic Plan
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has released the preliminary version of Penn's Parks for All: Planning for Pennsylvania's State Parks of Tomorrow, which summarizes the responses from over 10,000 people surveyed about how Pennsylvania state parks can be improved. The report also outlines ongoing and future improvements DCNR plans to make to the read more
28
February
All Major Pennsylvania Sportsmen and Wildlife Groups Oppose Environmental Funding Transfers
In an unprecedented move, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation, Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited, Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen and Conservationists, Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever, Quality Deer Management Association, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Trout Unlimited, and read more
19
February
DCNR Budget Testimony Submitted to General Assembly
This is the text of the written budget testimony submitted to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees by Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn: Good afternoon Chairman Saylor, Chairman Bradford, and members of the House Appropriations Committee. Thank you for this opportunity to discuss the budget for the Department of read more
19
February
New Pennsylvania Farm Bill Proposal Includes $6 Million for Farm Conservation Practices
On February 14, Gov. Tom Wolf joined Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding to unveil the Pennsylvania Farm Bill, a proposal to provide support for and continued investments in the state’s agriculture industry. Among other provisions, the plan includes an additional $6 million to support on-farm conservation practices and would help make Pennsylvania a leader in organic read more
29
January
New Report: State Parks and Forests Face $500 Million Maintenance Backlog
On January 28, the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation unveiled a new report on the maintenance needs of state park and forest infrastructure titled The Legacy of Pennsylvania Parks and Forests: The Future is in Our Hands. The event took place in the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg and featured a slate of speakers who highlighted the need for increased funding for park and read more
25
January
Bill Reintroduced to Designate Eastern Hellbender Official State Amphibian
On January 23, Sen. Gene Yaw (R–Lycoming) reintroduced legislation—Senate Bill 9—to designate the eastern hellbender the state’s official amphibian and clean water ambassador. Sen. Yaw serves as Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and is one of Pennsylvania’s six representatives on the interstate Chesapeake Bay Commission. The bill read more
12
December
New Study: Outdoor Recreation Generates Billions for Pennsylvania Economy
A new economic study finds that outdoor recreation in Pennsylvania, including hunting and fishing, generated $26.9 billion in 2016—that’s $2.2 billion more than the construction industry. The state’s wealth of natural resources and rich outdoor traditions also supported more than 390,000 jobs, where Pennsylvanians earned $17 billion in salaries and wages. The research, read more
25
October
Land Trusts, Trail Groups, Local Governments, and Other Landowners Get New Liability Protection
On October 24, 2018, Governor Wolf signed Act 98 into law. Act 98 amends the Pennsylvania Recreation Use of Land and Water Act (RULWA) to better protect from liability those who open their properties to the public for recreation without charge. Improvements to the law include: Explicitly listing paths, paved and unpaved trails, fishing and boating structures, hunting read more
16
August
Loza Testifies to House Committee on Growing Greener
At the request of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, PALTA Executive Director Andy Loza (who is also a member of the Growing Greener Coalition Executive Committee) testified at an informational meeting about SB 799 on August 16. As the day’s first speaker, Loza highlighted how Growing Greener investments have made Pennsylvania a better place to live, work, read more
7
August
PA Supreme Court Orders Rehearing Based on Environmental Rights Amendment
On August 3, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ordered the Commonwealth Court to rehear a challenge to a zoning permit allowing shale gas drilling in Middlesex Township (Butler County) specifically on the grounds of whether it is consistent with that court’s Environmental Rights Amendment decision in 2017. The challenge was brought by the Delaware RiverKeeper Network, Clean Air read more
16
July
DEP Invites Comments on Revised Environmental Justice Policy
The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the July 14 Pennsylvania Bulletin inviting public comments on a revised Environmental Justice Public Participation Policy technical guidance (DEP ID: 012-0501-002). Historically, minority and low-income Pennsylvanians have not had equitable opportunities to participate in decisions that may adversely impact their read more
