Pennsylvania DCNR Seeks Public Comment on Right-of-Way Process for State Forest and Park Lands
Posted on: Tuesday, 14 July 2009, 09:42 CDT
HARRISBURG, Pa., July 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Stakeholders with an interest in how rights-of-way are obtained across state forest and park lands are invited to review and comment on a document outlining the process, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Acting Secretary John Quigley announced today.
"DCNR always has had the legal authority to grant rights-of-way on the land we manage, but we must update the process to reflect our current approach for managing DCNR lands," Quigley said. "With Pennsylvania fast becoming the focus of an increasing number of new energy transmission projects, we have seen a leap in the volume of requests for rights-of-way.
"We have compiled all of our procedures and requirements and are offering the public a chance to comment on them before they are finalized," Quigley said.
DCNR manages more than 2.4 million acres of state parks and forests. The Bureau of Forestry is one of the largest landowners in the United States to be independently certified as "well managed" according to the principles of the Forest Stewardship Council.
"It's our responsibility to balance the need for a reliable domestic energy supply with our mission to protect our forests for their many other uses and values," Quigley said.
The guidelines outline the process including applying for a right-of-way; preventing and control invasive plants on right-of-ways; replanting impacted areas; assessing timber damages and other compensations; choosing a route; and a description of the fees associated with rights-of-way on DCNR lands.
"Our goal is to do the least environmental damage possible, and the procedures we have outlined are intended to encourage industry to use the smallest amount of state lands possible," Quigley said.
Comments should be submitted by July 31.
For more information, or to review and comment on the draft guidelines, visit www.dcnr.state.pa.us, choose Forestry, and "Right-of-Way Development."
CONTACT: Christina Novak, (717) 772-9101
SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Source: PR Newswire
Related Articles
- Viola Davis lands 'States' role
- Kennecott Completes State Approval Process for New U.P. Michigan Nickel and Copper Mine
- Panasonic Avionics Selected By Singapore Airlines for Airbus A380; Passengers Enjoy a New Way of Flying With State-of-the-Art In-Flight Entertainment
- Catholic Health Association of the United States Comments on the Latest Census Bureau's Report on Health Insurance
- Pennsylvania DCNR Enrolls 75 State Forest, Park Tracts in Deer Management Assistance Program
- CSC Lands N.Y. State Contract Extension
- ABC Way Off on Subsidy, State Says
- History Makes Way for New Freeway: State Helps Relocate Old Homes in Path of North Spokane Route
- Small Science in a Big Way ; UNM Center Lands Three-Year, $9 Million Grant to Research Molecules
 |
 |
User Comments (0)
RSS Feeds