Archive

In the depths of winter, the Administration proposed repurposing the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund and the Environmental Stewardship Fund (ESF): $30 million of Keystone Fund monies that would normally be invested in on-the-ground projects would instead be redirected to pay for the general operations of DCNR. Likewise, $16 million of ESF monies would be repurposed to pay for general operations at DEP and other agencies. In the ensuing months, many of us worked to educate the Administration, senators, ...
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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 blinds, parking, and other infrastructure associated with outdoor recreation as areas to which the liability protections of RULWA apply. Clarifying the law ...
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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 will now have to convince the Orphans’ Court that there is “no reasonable and prudent alternative” if it wishes to take the conserved land. This ...
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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 by school districts and other local units of government. And with it, the General Assembly once again affirms the value of conservation easements in Pennsylvania ...
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The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association sent the following letter to all Pennsylvania state senators and their chiefs of staff on June 21, 2018. Subject: Support HB 2468. Stop irresponsible eminent domain. Dear Senator: On behalf of the 75 member organizations of the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association and the 120,000 Pennsylvanians they count as members, I write to request that you: (1) ask Senate leaders to have the vote on HB 2468 today or tomorrow, (2) vote for HB 2468, and ...
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We Need an Amendment-Free Vote This Week to Stop Irresponsible Eminent Domain The Senate Local Government Committee reported out House Bill 2468 Wednesday afternoon in an 11-1 vote! The next step for the bill, which requires court approval of conservation easement condemnations, is a vote of the full Senate. Senators must pass the bill this week and cleanly—no amendments—to ensure that the bill’s protections are put in place before the legislature leaves for the summer. Please contact your state senator(s) ...
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The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association sent the following letter to all Pennsylvania state representatives and aides on June 18, 2018. Subject: Support HB 2468; Stop Irresponsible Eminent Domain Dear Representative: On behalf of the 75 member organizations of the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association and the 120,000 Pennsylvanians they count as members, I write to request your support of HB 2468 and ask that you oppose all amendments that would weaken the bill’s safeguard against poorly considered eminent domain. Conservation easements ...
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House Bill 2468, which the Pennsylvania House of Representatives may amend today (Monday, 6/18) and vote on tomorrow, requires court approval of conservation easement condemnations. The heart of the bill reads: The orphans' court shall review the proposed condemnation and approve the proposed condemnation only if the court determines there is no reasonable and prudent alternative to the utilization of the land subject to a conservation easement for the project. Please contact your state representative(s) immediately, and ask them to ...
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On February 6, the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association submitted comments to the Environmental Quality Board regarding the consideration of conservation easements in Pennsylvania stream redesignations. Special thanks go to Ron Ramsey (The Nature Conservancy), Pat Pregmon, and, most notably, Kelly Germann (Tinicum Conservancy) for their particularly substantial reviews. Click here to read the PALTA comments in their entirety. Click here to read comments submitted by others ...
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The group fighting to conserve Pennsylvania’s public forest and park lands asked the state’s highest court for help again today. The Pennsylvania Environmental Defense Foundation obtained a landmark ruling from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court six months ago. The court declared that money from the sale of natural resources such as natural gas on Pennsylvania’s public forest and park lands cannot be used to fill gaps in the state budget. The Foundation has today filed with the Supreme Court a Petition ...
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There is an opportunity to add your organization's name to the Community Letter in Support of Nonpartisanship. The letter begins: The undersigned organizations strongly oppose proposals that would politicize the charitable nonprofit and philanthropic community by repealing or weakening current federal tax law protections that prohibit 501(c)(3) organizations from endorsing, opposing, or contributing to political candidates. Organizations can sign on at https://www.givevoice.org/community-letter-support-nonprofit-nonpartisanship ...
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The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association sent the following letter to the state senate on Monday, September 18th. We urge you to contact your Senator immediately to oppose any cuts to conservation funds. Download PDF of letter Dear Senator: I write to you on behalf of the 75 member organizations of the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association and their 120,000 contributors. As you revisit revenue plans for the 2017-18 budget, the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association encourages you to keep the following in ...
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A group of House Republicans have proposed taking “unused” account balances from the the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund, the Environmental Stewardship Fund (Growing Greener), and farmland preservation, their selling point being that they can do this without actually hurting projects. Close scrutiny of the grant programs and farmland preservation system shows that it just doesn’t work. You can’t strip money from the dedicated funds without causing harm. Nevertheless, the idea that they can divert this dedicated money to state general operations ...
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We need you to act ASAP. The Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund, Growing Greener, and farmland preservation and in danger. The General Assembly is considering stripping their funding to balance the state budget. This is a gravely serious threat that would harm Pennsylvania not just this year but for years to come. What we all need to do: Call (Harrisburg offices) and email your State Representative, Senator, and the Governor NOW and SUNDAY, and urge them to OPPOSE any transfers from the Keystone Fund, ...
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PA Representative Cutler of Lancaster County soon will introduce legislation that would direct a portion of PA farm preservation funding to land trusts for purchase of agricultural conservation easements. Please ask your representative to co-sponsor Rep. Cutler's bill. Rep. Cutler's memorandum asking for co-sponsors is provided below. Land trusts would be expected to use the state funds to leverage private contributions on a 50-50 basis in order to increase the effectiveness of state investments in farm preservation. The current proposal ...
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Legislation to establish a greatly expanded Growing Greener 3 will be introduced shortly in the PA House and has been introduced in the Senate. Representatives are being asked by the House's lead sponsors* to sponsor the House legislation. Please call or email your state representative ASAP, preferably today but no later than Tuesday. Ask them to co-sponsor the legislation. A link to the memo requesting their cosponsorship is provided below.** View current list of sponsors. The legislation establishes a framework for the state to ...
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Email sent from PALTA to state representatives on 6/27/17: Dear [Representative]: On behalf of the 75 member organizations of the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association and the 120,000 Pennsylvanians they count as members, I write to request your support of HB 544 and ask that you oppose all amendments with the exception of Rep. Maher’s A1763. The final passage vote for this legislation last year was 187-2 in the House. HB 544 would amend the Recreational Use of Land and Water ...
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In a letter to the governor and general assembly, the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association joined fellow advocates for restoring Susquehanna River health and safe drinking water sources for Pennsylvanians across the state in calling for your swift and significant action to increase investments in water quality protection. Sign-on letter (6/28/17) ...
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Go to the White House's public comment site. Comment on the importance of conservation. You may multi-select as many agencies as you want and type your comments for each agency accordingly in the text area below. Also, since required to complete the form, select "-NONE-" and "-NA-" at the top of the survey items regarding agency elimination (unless you have specific agencies you wish to see eliminated). There is no need to fill out the "Organization" question. Examples of possible comments: Select Department of ...
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The LWCF has permanently protected nearly 5 million acres of public lands including some of America’s most treasured assets, including the Grand Canyon National Park ...
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Senator Killion’s Growing Greener III framework legislation (SB705) has been introduced. See Coalition’s press release. The House bill, as of this morning, has 31 sponsors but needs many more. Please call or email your state representative ASAP. Ask them to co-sponsor the legislation. View the cosponsorship memo. View current list of sponsors. The legislation establishes a framework for the state to invest $315 million annually to support water protection, land conservation, outdoor recreation, and other environmental projects. Pennsylvania needs this new framework. Growing Greener could provide ...
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The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association sent a letter to the majority and minority chairs of the Tourism and Recreational Development Committee to underscore the association's support for HB 544. PALTA Letter to Rep. Millard HB 544 would amend the Recreational Use of Land and Water Act to limit the liability for personal injury or property damage of landowners who generously open their lands to public use for hunting, bird watching, hiking, and other forms of recreation. It ensures they will ...
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The Trump administration’s proposed 21 percent cut to the U.S. Department of Agriculture could cause significant harm to Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry and rural communities, according to state Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. The cuts, he said, could affect everything from the safety of community water systems and the prospects for economic growth in rural communities to funding for important agricultural research projects. “While there is still a great deal of detail that is unknown, what has been reported thus far is ...
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To ensure that Pennsylvanians continue to have access to clean water, parks and trails, green open spaces, and locally grown food, Governor Wolf and the General Assembly must provide adequate funding for a Growing Greener III program by investing robust and adequate funding in vital conservation, recreation, preservation, and community revitalization projects. These investments support our state’s economy and enhance the health of our communities and quality of life for our residents. Growing Greener III is needed to ensure that ...
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Gov. Tom Wolf Tuesday proposed a $32.7 billion General Fund budget along with $2.7 billion (Republicans say a $3.6 billion) increases in personal income, Sales, tobacco, Bank Shares and insurance premium taxes. He also proposed a new severance tax on natural gas production, with a credit toward the drilling impact fees paid, to go into the General Fund, and an increase in the state waste disposal fee from $7.25 to $9.00/ton. The proposal includes $50.9 million in additional funding for ...
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Since 1993, the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund has helped communities achieve tremendous and lasting conservation, recreational and economic benefits for the people of the Commonwealth ...
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This communication was sent to PALTA partners on July 15, 2016 The state's 2016-2017 budget did not favor the environment: For a second year, Growing Greener lost $15M due to Growing Greener's dependence on natural gas impact fees, which have dropped dramatically with reduced drilling activities. Growing Greener was competing for these funds with the state's General Fund, which (absent new revenues) needed the money to keep state government (e.g., DCNR) running. The Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund, High Performance Green ...
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On June 28, 2016, the House voted 123 to 77 to defeat House Bill 2013 (Ellis-R-Butler) which would have opened Pennsylvania’s State Parks to private development. A procedural motion to reconsider the vote by which the bill was defeated was filed. A new vote would be required to bring the bill up for consideration again before the House, but since the legislative body has recessed for the summer no reconsideration of the bill is imminent. Click Here for a roll call ...
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PALTA Letter sent to House on 6/28/2016: Dear Representative: House Bill 2013, even as amended, remains bad public policy. If the bill called on DCNR to undertake a study of the needs of Pennsylvanians and how the state might better meet those needs considering the experiences of other states, then that would make sense as a way to boost focus on the issues. However, the bill doesn’t do this; instead, it pursues a narrow agenda of promoting “hotels, inns, restaurants, amusement ...
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PALTA delivered the following letter to state representatives on June 23, 2016, regarding HB 2013 Dear State Representatives, On behalf of the 75 member organizations of the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association, I write to request your opposition to House Bill 2013—whether or not amended. Pennsylvania’s land trusts, having donated or bargain-sold numerous parcels of land to the Commonwealth for the creation and expansion of State Parks, want the state to build on its award-winning track record of responsibly managing the ...
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PALTA Letter sent to House on 6/23/16: Dear Representative: On behalf of the 75 member organizations of the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association, I write to request your opposition to House Bill 2013—whether or not amended. Pennsylvania’s land trusts, having donated or bargain-sold numerous parcels of land to the Commonwealth for the creation and expansion of State Parks, want the state to build on its award-winning track record of responsibly managing the State Park system. HB 2013 is not a viable ...
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On December 7, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case Borough of Downington v. Friends of Kardon Park, a dispute which has lasted more than seven years. The issue at stake is whether Downington Borough can sell acres of parkland to developers, who would construct retail space and housing units on the site, without public or judicial oversight. The implications of this case are critical for the future of Pennsylvania's parks; if Downington is granted the right ...
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Updated 2/12/2016 The Keystone Recreation, Parks and Conservation Fund: Increase of $8.6 million Agriculture Conservation and Easement Purchase Fund: Increase of $1.1 million Environmental Stewardship Fund: dispersing $108.4 million (including a $35 million from Oil & Gas Lease Fund and $6.1 million from Marcellus Legacy Fund; Growing Greener II debt service is $36.3 million. Oil and Gas Lease Fund: revenue projections at $48 million (down $12 million from 2015-16 and down $66 million from 2014-15). Funds from DCNR decreases from $69.7 to ...
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PALTA advocated for renewal of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which was renewed in December 2015 by Congress. Below is a PALTA opinion piece regarding LWCF published by Pennsylvania media outlets earlier that month: Senators and Representatives should not leave Washington without renewing a modest program that helps preserve our nation’s natural resources and cultural heritage. For 50 years, the Land and Water Conservation Fund has provided crucial funding to protect and enhance national icons like the Grand Canyon ...
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December 20, 2015 The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association joins the Land Trust Alliance in praising Congress for voting to make permanent a tax incentive supporting land conservation. In a strong bipartisan action, the House voted 318-109 and the Senate voted 65-33 to pass the bills that included the tax incentive. Farmers, ranchers, the public and generations of future Americans will directly benefit from the incentive that encourages landowners to place a conservation easement on their land to protect important natural, ...
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Below is a PALTA opinion piece published in Pennsylvania media outlets in December 2015: Helping Owners Conserve Land for the Public Benefit by Andrew M. Loza, executive director of the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association Farms and forests, natural areas, green spaces in our neighborhoods—all help define the places that we think of as home. These lands don’t just provide scenic beauty; they safeguard drinking water, reduce flooding, provide food and timber, protect wildlife and more. They are also endangered. Between ...
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PALTA sent this letter to House representatives on December 7, 2015 Dear Representative: On behalf of the 75 member organizations of the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association, I write to request your support of HB 544. The Association also asks you to oppose amendments that would diminish the bill’s protections for public-spirited landowners; at this writing this means voting “no” to all amendments including the amendments offered by Representatives Longetti, Gibbons and Neuman. HB 544 would amend the Recreational Use of ...
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Pennsylvania’s Constitution states that: The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania’s public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people. [Article 1, Section 27] For decades the courts marginalized this simple but profound Constitutional provision ...
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Shape history! Vote on Tuesday, November 3 when Pennsylvanians will elect 3 judges to the 7-member Pennsylvania Supreme Court. These judges will have a profound impact on Pennsylvania law and the lives of Pennsylvanians. No matter your positions on issues, you should exercise your obligation to vote. (Find your polling place.) The Supreme Court justices will address fundamental matters, such as the application of Article I, Section 27 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, the Environmental Rights Amendment, which states: The people have ...
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501(c)(3) non-profit organizations may not endorse or oppose candidates; however, nonprofits may engage in nonpartisan outreach efforts that encourage constituents to participate in the election process. Nonpartisan simply means no partiality to any one candidate or political group. Nonprofit VOTE, an organization dedicated to providing resources to nonprofits on election activity, identifies the following activities as permissible for 501(c)(3) organizations to participate in: Conduct or Promote Voter Registration Host or Co-Sponsor a Candidate Forum Distribute Nonpartisan Sample Ballots, Candidate Questionnaires, or Voter Guides Continue Issue ...
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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 ...
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The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association, in a letter to Pennsylvania's Senators and Representatives on June 16, 2015, communicated support for Governor Wolf's severance tax proposal and "any other fair and reasonable proposal that dedicates a significant portion of the tax revenue to the conservation and restoration of Pennsylvania's natural resources." The text of the letter is below: Re:  Support Severance Tax Proposed by Governor Wolf The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association, which is made up of 75 of Pennsylvania’s leading land ...
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2/3/15 Representatives Mike Kelly (R-PA) and Mike Thompson (D-CA) just introduced the Conservation Easement Incentive Act, H.R. 641. It now goes immediately to a vote in the House Ways and Means Committee! The committee has scheduled a markup of this and other charitable incentives, which include incentives for donations of food to food banks, and provisions for tax-free charitable donations from IRAs tomorrow, February 4. Then it goes to the House floor for a vote of the full House, as early ...
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On January 29, 2015, Governor Tom Wolf signed an executive order reinstating a moratorium on new leases for oil and gas development in state parks and forests. At an event in Benjamin Rush State Park, Governor Wolf signed the executive order with members of the General Assembly in attendance. “Natural gas development is vital to Pennsylvania’s economy, but so is the economic and environmental viability of our parks and forests,” said Governor Wolf. “This is about striking the right balance ...
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January 15, 2015 Governor-elect Tom Wolf selected for his chief of staff and secretary of planning and policy, two former DEP secretaries—two individuals who care deeply about the air we breathe, the water we drink and the land that we sleep, work and play on. Now, we learn that he will appoint John Quigley and Cindy Dunn as secretary of environmental protection and secretary of conservation and natural resources, respectively. Extraordinarily excellent choices. John Quigley in his tenure as secretary ...
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The enhanced deduction for conservation easement donations expired Dec. 31, 2014. Advocacy will continue to in an effort to make this enhanced deduction permanent. The incentive raised the deduction a landowner can take for donating a conservation easement from 30 percent of his or her income in any year to 50 percent. It allowed qualifying farmers and ranchers to deduct up to 100 percent of their income. And it extended the carry-forward period for a donor to take tax deductions for a ...
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As its final act before adjourning for the holidays, the Senate voted Tuesday night to extend dozens of expired tax incentives through the end of 2014. This includes the enhanced deduction for conservation easement donations. The president is expected to sign the bill. The incentive has three components: raising the deduction a landowner can take for donating a conservation easement from 30 percent of his or her income in any year to 50 percent; allowing qualifying farmers and ranchers to ...
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On October 15, 2014, by a vote of 118 to 79, the House gave final approval to House Bill 1565 (Hahn-R-Northampton) that would weaken DEP requirements for stream buffers in Special Protection Watersheds.  In September, the House passed an earlier version of the bill by the vote of 119 to 79.  The bill now goes to the Governor for his action. Click Here to see how your House member voted. House action Wednesday followed a vote by the Senate Tuesday which ...
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October 8, 2014 The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association urges senators to oppose HB 1565. In a letter delivered to the senate today, PALTA wrote: Enactment of this legislation would cause irreversible harm to Pennsylvania’s water quality and increase the destruction wrought by flooding. The scope of the bill goes far beyond the supposed problems with the implementation of the regulations. The bill effectively eliminates the requirement of a riparian forest buffer, essentially replacing it with a grass buffer standard. The ...
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The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association urged members of the state senate to oppose HB 1565 stating that “enactment of this legislation would cause irreversible harm to Pennsylvania’s water quality and increase the destruction wrought by flooding.”: The bill cannot be fixed because its central feature—the neutering of buffer requirements—is fundamentally wrong.  Comments Regarding HB1565 Pennsylvania Land Trust Association (10/8/2014) CBF statement (10/7/2014) Pennsylvania Land Trust Association (10/6/2014) Chesapeake Bay Foundation Letter to Senators (10/1/2014) Former DEP Secretary David Hess (9/30/2014) PA League of ...
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This piece was published Bernard Sweeney, Ph.D.,  director and president of Stroud Water Research Center, on September 14, 2014. The SWRC is a nonprofit organization based in Avondale, Pennsylvania focused on freshwater research, environmental public education and watershed restoration. The website address is www.StroudCenter.org. Fresh water is our most precious natural resource, as essential to life as the air we breathe. Fortunately, most of us in the United States don’t have to give it much thought. But news of several water ...
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The House voted on July 17 on H.R. 4719, "The America Gives More Act," which contains the Conservation Easement Incentive Act." The bill passed by a bipartisan vote of 277-130.This is the first time every member of Congress has gone on record making the easement incentive permanent ...
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Congressional House leadership has scheduled a vote on July 16 or 17 on a bill to permanently enact several charitable tax incentives, including H.R. 2807, the Conservation Easement Incentive Act. The bill will come to the House floor as part of a larger charities package. This is a unique opportunity for the land trust community. Our provision officially has a bipartisan majority of the House with a total of 222 co-sponsors. But we can’t take anyone’s vote for granted. Benjamin ...
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On July 10, Governor Corbett signed the 2014-15 budget (House Bill 2328) and fiscal code (House Bill 278), line item-vetoed specific  legislative appropriations and placed legislative spending initiatives into budgetary reserves. On June 30, the Pennsylvania Senate (26-24) and House (108-95), passed this Republican-written budget. (In subsequent days, the General Assembly also passed the fiscal code, legislation important to implementing the budget.) The budget leaves the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund untouched. Likewise, farmland preservation and Growing Greener. These conservation investment programs will continue ...
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The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association filed an amicus curiae brief in Commonwealth Court on April 21 in defense of parkland and open space held by governments for the benefit of the public per the discussion at the March policy committee meeting and the authorization of PALTA’s board. The catalyst of the brief is the litigation regarding Kardon Park (Petition of the Borough of Downingtown). If the court adopts the amicus curiae’s arguments (and it should!), PALTA will have performed a ...
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In April 2014, the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee held a hearing on several proposed bills that would impact the pipeline approval and oversight process of intrastate pipelines. The Pipeline Safety Coalition, along with several local land trusts, drafted a memo (download below) to the committee with specific recommendations regarding the siting process and specifically Senate Bills 504 and 506. Download Memo to Joint Legislative Air & Water Pollution Control & Conservation Committee RE: Intrastate Pipelines (6/30/2014)  ...
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Will your call, letter or meeting be the one to make the difference for conservation? It very well could, but you must act now. Pennsylvania has made tangible and lasting investments in conservation, thanks to the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund and farmland preservation program, both established in 1993, as well as Growing Greener, established in 1999. With these programs, Pennsylvania has been establishing and improving parks and trails, protecting wildlife habitats, preserving productive farms and saving other important green spaces (such as historic battlefields and ...
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Please add your organization on to the sign-on letter (download here)  and forward this email to all the organizations and businesses you deal with.  Deadline to respond is close of business on Friday, June 13. One path for balancing the state's 2014-15 budget would cut the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund, farmland preservation and Growing Greener. We must keep Senators and Representatives from going down this path as the state's June 30 deadline for enacting a new budget approaches. To sign on, please send ...
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In his 2014-15 budget proposal, Governor Corbett budget proposes: to allow limited drilling activity on commonwealth-owned lands in instances where the drilling can occur without the need for additional surface impacts. While this change will result in limited drilling activity, it is projected to generate $75 million of immediate revenue to the commonwealth and significant additional royalty revenue into the future. (2014-15  Governor's Executive Budget) Additional Resources Governor Corbett discusses this proposal in an interview with NPR State Impact reporter Mary Wilson (2/17/2014) ...
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The Governor's proposed budget maintains the status quo on key conservation funding programs, including the Keystone Recreation, Park & Conservation Fund, Growing Greener (Environmental Stewardship Fund) and farmland preservation.  The budget zeroes out funding for Heritage Area Programs (which had been zeroed out for several years until last year when it was allocated $2.25 M).  The governor also proposes to generate $75M by leasing additional state forest lands. The new leasing will occur, according to the governor's proposal, near existing ...
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The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association joined several conservation and environmental organizations in urging the legislature to oppose House Bill 1576 and Senate Bill 1047. These proposals would undermine the ability of our wildlife management agencies to protect the mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians of the Commonwealth. The current process allows scientists and wildlife management experts from the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission and the Pennsylvania Game Commission to designate state threatened and endangered species, and wild trout streams in ...
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June 5, 2014 HB 544 would amend the Recreational Use of Land and Water Act (RULWA) to reaffirm the General Assembly’s support for landowners who, out of the goodness of their hearts, open their lands to public use for hunting, hiking, biking and other outdoor recreational purposes. The Recreational Use of Land and Water Act isn’t delivering on its purpose. It doesn’t adequately limit the liability for personal injury or property damage of private landowners who wish to provide a ...
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Approved on December 18, 2013, Act 115 amends Pennsylvania's Open Space Law (Act 442 of January 19, 1967, as amended), which authorizes the Commonwealth and its local government units to preserve, acquire or hold land for open space uses and provides for municipal referenda for dedicated open space taxes. The amendment provides greater flexibility and clarity to local municipalities in managing their open space programs. Allows Some Revenue to be Used for Maintenance and Development The amendment provides that in ...
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Representatives Jim Gerlach (R-PA) and Mike Thompson (D-CA) have officially introduced the Conservation Easement Incentive Act now known as H.R. 2807! The two Congressmen held a press conference in front of the Capitol Building to underline the success of this incentive. Organized by the Alliance, the conference also included representatives from Maryland Environmental Trust, Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, National Association of Conservation Districts, Ducks Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy and other Conservation Easement Tax Incentive Coalition partners. Check out more photos ...
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Governor Corbett signed into law Act 68 on July 9, 2013 which enables Pennsylvania municipalities to address storm water issues with the option of creating storm water authorities. Municipal authorities are independent agencies authorized by municipalities to manage public works services.  Local and county government entities have utilized authorities to address a wide variety of public services – from sewer and water to park and recreation. However, prior to the signage of Act 68, many municipalities believed they lacked the ...
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On June 30, 2013, Governor Corbett signed the 2013-14 state budget, which included critical funding for conservation programs. In addition to maintaining full funding for the Keystone Recreation Park & Conservation Fund, the general fund budget includes $2.25 million for the state’s Heritage Areas Program and $3.3 million in restored funding for conservation districts, which is in addition to the $5 million the districts will receive from the Act 13 Impact Fee. The budget also includes increased support for the ...
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House Bill 84 amends the Agricultural Area Security Law (Act 43 of 1981) and abrogates regulations in order to reduce easement monitoring requirements for county agricultural land preservation boards. County boards will now be required to inspect eased properties at least every two years, rather than the prior annual requirement. The bill also changes some of rules pertaining to inspections. The House passed the bill 194-0 on 1/22/2013 and the Senate passed the bill 50-0 on 6/17/2013. (In comparison with ...
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February 2013 The Senate Appropriations Committee will review the proposed budget for DCNR on February 25. The House Committee will do so on March 5. Committee members will ask DCNR Secretary Rick Allen questions and express their thoughts about conservation and recreation funding. We want as many of them as possible to publicly express their strong support for the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund. Please contact legislators in their district offices to ask them to express their support and ...
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This letter was sent to PALTA partners on October 20, 2012 Dear Friends and Colleagues, Celebration is in order…HB2224 has been defeated! Although HB 2224 was scheduled for a vote, the Pennsylvania Senate completed its last voting day of the 2011-2012 legislative session Wednesday night (10/17) without taking that vote. The Senate will not vote on bills during its lame duck session starting November 14. HB 2224 would have radically changed PA law. Local parks that weren’t acquired in particular ...
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HB 2224 would radically reshape Pennsylvania law and, in doing so, make it easy to sell many of our parklands for quick cash. It doesn’t matter that a park has been used and loved for decades or even centuries. The bill would allow a local municipality or county to – depending on the arcane details of how a park was established –undo the park (and all the work that went into creating it) in a single vote. The Pennsylvania Senate ...
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The Senate may take a final vote on HB2224 on Wednesday, October 3. Please call your Senators ASAP at their Harrisburg offices and tell them to oppose HB2224. The Senate voted 29-20 on Monday to amend HB2224, adding a requirement of a public hearing before sale of public land. This requirement, though welcome, misses the mark. (Because of varying motivations, one can’t determine a Senator’s position by looking at the amendment vote.) PALTA’s 10/1/2012 letter to Senators can be found in the letters section of the resource ...
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The Pennsylvania Senate is poised to vote on a bill that, depending on how the land was acquired, will allow county and local governments to sell local parks for easy cash. A vote on the bill could take place the week of October 1. If the bill passes, it goes to Governor Corbett for his signature. House Bill 2224 puts much-loved parks at risk of being sold for short-term gain or on a political whim. It repeals longstanding rules that ...
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This letter was sent to PALTA partners in 2012 Dear Friends and Colleagues, Congratulations, and thank you! The Pennsylvania House and Senate approved a 2012-13 state budget that supports key conservation investments by the Commonwealth. The Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund will continue producing lasting legacies for Pennsylvania and cigarette tax revenue will continue to finance farmland preservation in the Commonwealth. Both conservation investment programs will continue, unharmed, into 2013, the 20th anniversary of the dedication of tax revenue to both Keystone (realty transfer ...
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On February 7, 2012 Governor Corbett introduced a budget that permanently zeroed out dedicated funding to Keystone park and conservation projects and farmland preservation. Thanks to the tireless efforts of conservation advocates and legislative champions, the House voted 120 to 81 to approve SB1466, the General Fund budget, which fully restored the Keystone Fund, provided $20 million for Ag Preservation and $6 million for the Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant fund. The Senate passed the bill, 32 to 17 ...
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The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association applauds the PA General Assembly for supporting key conservation investment programs in the 2012-13 state budget. The House and Senate have ensured that the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund will continue to create lasting conservation, recreational and economic benefits for Pennsylvania and that cigarette tax revenue will continue to finance the preservation of the Commonwealth’s most productive farmland. Both conservation investment programs will continue, unharmed, into 2013, the 20th anniversary of the dedication of ...
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Governor Corbett's proposed 2012-13 budget eliminates all recreation, park, and conservation funding from the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund. The budget goes on to propose that the cut be made permanent. This means a loss of $30M in 2012-13 and the same--or more--in every year thereafter. It is the biggest cut to conservation funding ever proposed in Pennsylvania. (Keystone funding for libraries and historic preservation would remain intact.) Governor Corbett's budget is a proposal. You have the power to ...
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Will your call, letter, or meeting be the one to make the difference for conservation? It could, but you must act. For two decades, Pennsylvania has made tangible and lasting investments in land conservation thanks to two taxes dedicated to that purpose: 15% of the Realty Transfer Tax for the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund $20.5M of the Cigarette Tax for farmland preservation. With the support of these dedicated tax revenues, Pennsylvania has been protecting and establishing recreational areas, ...
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Governor Corbett’s 2012/2013 budget sets a course to permanently eliminate the only significant state dedicated funding for farmland preservation in Pennsylvania. Farmland preservation receives $20.5M of Pennsylvania’s cigarette tax revenue each year.  The Governor's budget proposal calls for permanently redirecting that funding to the state's general fund. For 2012 and 2013, the Governor proposes to replace the cigarette tax revenue with anticipated revenue from bond premiums.  However, after these transition years, Pennsylvania will have no significant source of funding for farmland preservation. State funding for farmland preservation creates an ...
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September 2013 Governor Corbett proposes the permanent diversion of the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund revenue that supports local park, trail and open space protection projects to general government operations.  His 2012-13 budget would also phase out dedicated funds for the state farmland preservation program. Letters and face-to-face meetings with legislators in their local offices are very much needed to prevent the Governor’s proposals from becoming reality. However, here’s a small step that won’t take you more than a few seconds: Sign the ...
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Governor Corbett’s proposed 2012-13 state budget continues the practice begun under Governor Rendell of funding DCNR’s general operations through Oil and Gas Lease Fund revenues rather than through the state’s general fund. Historically, the Oil and Gas Lease Fund revenue had been dedicated for improving state park and forest infrastructure and acquiring lands important to the integrity and quality of the state parks and forests. Act 50 of 2009 provides $50 million for an annual appropriation from the Oil and Gas ...
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Governor Corbett signed Act 13 of 2012, the "Marcellus shale bill" or House Bill 1950, into law on 2/14/2012. Act 13's proponents point to the improvements the law makes in the regulation of natural gas activities, arguing that the law provides protections far superior to those that otherwise would have been provided under the status quo. The bill's opponents point to the bill's deficiencies, arguing that legislators could have done much better and that, in the case of local zoning ...
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As required by Pennsylvania House Resolution 2009-17, the nonpartisan Legislative Budget and Finance Committee reviewed Growing Greener 2. Download the committee's report by clicking on the following link: Review of the Commonwealth’s Growing Greener II Initiative. Growing Greener 2 has had positive economic and environmental impacts across the state, saving hundreds of farms, bringing streams back to life, improving state parks, creating thousands of jobs, plugging hundreds of abandoned and leaking gas wells, remediating abandoned strip mines, preserving tens of thousands ...
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