Conservation Advocate

Just another WordPress site

Donate | Updates | Contact   
You are here: Home / Advocacy / Land Trust Alliance Update: Two Months to Save LWCF

Land Trust Alliance Update: Two Months to Save LWCF

Posted on August 18, 2015

Over the past five decades, the Land and Water Conservation Fund has infused over $16 billion of federal energy royalties into more than 41,000 conservation projects — from iconic national treasures to hometown parks and natural areas in nearly every county (link is external). But unless Congress acts, the LWCF will expire on September 30, 2015.

Against that urgent backdrop, Sean Robertson of the Land Trust Alliance joined a half dozen land trust Ambassadors in Washington, D.C. for LWCF advocacy day. Among the participants was Sue Currier, executive director of the Delaware Highlands Conservancy (link is external). She touted The Northeast Connection, a Forest Legacy project done in partnership with three local rod and gun clubs as an “unconventional partnership” that’s “elevated the presence of the conservancy in our community.” She hopes to see strong enough LWCF funding to get the project done this year, as does PALTA.

You can support LWCF by calling on your members of Congress to co-sponsor bipartisan legislation permanently reauthorizing the fund: S. 338 (link is external), S. 890 (link is external) or H.R. 1814 (link is external). Thirty-five senators and 130 representatives have already cosponsored these bills, and each additional cosponsor strengthens the case to renew LWCF before the September 30 deadline.

Last week, all these efforts led to a real breakthrough: U.S. Senate Energy Committee Chair Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and ranking Democrat Maria Cantwell Washington state announced a framework (link is external) to permanently renew LWCF while urging agencies to “consider conservation easements where feasible and appropriate.” It’s far from a done deal, but we’re closer than ever to a win.

You can learn more about LWCF at www.lta.org/lwcf.

Filed Under: Advocacy, Alert/Update Tagged With: LWCF

Land Trusts, Trail Groups, Local Governments, and Other Landowners Get New Liability Protection

October 25, 2018

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 […]

Governor Signs HB 2468

June 25, 2018

Governor Wolf quietly signed HB 2468 (and several other bills) into law on Sunday, June 24. The bill is now Act 45 of 2018. A correction to the previous PALTA communication: Act 45 should apply retroactively to McCormick Farm, so, hopefully, the Cumberland Valley School District will cease its pursuit of the farm. The district […]

HB 2468 Is on Governor’s Desk

June 25, 2018

Friday evening, after the Senate passed HB 2468 (37-12), the House voted to concur (177-15) with the Senate’s changes to the bill. The governor is expected to sign the bill. This is a thrilling victory for conservation! This landmark, bipartisan legislation provides a crucial safeguard for conservation easements from the unnecessary exercise of eminent domain […]

Issues

  • Public Investments in Conservation
  • Protection of Public Parks & Open Space
  • Conservation Incentives
  • State Budget
  • PA Constitution and the Environment
  • PA Conservation-Related Laws

Advocacy Resources

  • Find Your Legislator
  • Get Out the Vote
  • Become a Conservation Advocate
  • Legislative Outreach Tutorial
  • Rules for Nonprofits
  • Advocacy Links
About Us | Archive
ConservationAdvocate.org is administered by the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association.