“A society grows great when its people grow trees whose shade they shall never sit in.” — Greek proverb

After They Drill, Who Pays the Bill?

Natural gas extraction imposes heavy costs on our communities: air pollution; pipelines, drilling pads and wastewater pits scarring our landscapes; heavy rigs damaging our roads; billions of gallons of water taken from our streams; and operational errors contaminating our land and water. Get information and see policy proposals related to natural gas drilling at landandwater.org. (read more)

Senate Bills Create Lose-Lose Propositions for Parks

Senate Bills 962 and 963 create lose-lose propositions for parks by presenting the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources with a false choice: either cut funding for State Parks or cut funding for important local community park projects across the Commonwealth. Senate Bill 963 remakes the highly successful Keystone Recreation, Parks and Conservation Fund into a budget reserve for the General Fund, and SB 962 does the same to the Environmental Stewardship Fund (Growing Greener). A coalition of groups is opposing these bills. (read more)

Grants Available for Guided Organizational Assessments

Land trusts may apply for grants from the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association for Guided Organizational Assessments. There is no deadline. The Association will evaluate applications on an ongoing basis and make awards as resources allow. (read more)

The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association Honors Two Municipalities for Leadership & Commitment in Protecting Our Natural Resources

The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association is pleased to honor two townships this year for innovative land use planning and zoning regulations for the purpose of protecting sensitive and scenic areas and critical natural resources. Both Oley Township of Bucks County and Middletown Township of Delaware County will receive the Government Leadership Award. (read more)

Mark Your Calendars: 2010 Pennsylvania Land Conservation Conference

Plan to attend Pennsylvania's annual training, networking and inspirational event for those involved with private and public land conservation - April 8-10, 2010 at the Desmond Hotel & Conference Center in Malvern. (read more)

Accreditation Commission Announces Latest Round of Accredited Land Trusts, Including One PA Organization

Pennsylvania now has seven organizations that have achieved Accreditation through the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, with the Lancaster Farmland Trust joining the group of six Pennsylvania organizations that were first to attain accreditation last fall. (read more)

What Types of Conserved Land Do We Have in PA and How Much?

(read more)

Conservation & Natural Resources Advisory Council Calls for Temporary Hold on Leasing of Public Lands

CNRAC calls for a temporary hold on any leasing of additional acreage in the state forest system for Marcellus Gas Shale leasing. (read more)

New Proposed Federal Transmission Policies Extend Beyond Corridors to Threaten More Land and Water Protection

Legislative activity as well as industry activity are shaping land conservation future. The new changes also undermine greenhouse gas policies while creating immediate and direct threats to conserved lands. (read more)

Q: What Will Pennsylvania Look Like in Fifty Years?

A graphic representation of conserved and developed lands in Pennsylvania in 2008 and projections for 2058. One Answer: Pennsylvania is on track to become much more developed than present-day New Jersey in the next several decades. (read more)

Oil and Gas Lease Fund Can Create Jobs and Reinvest in Our Parks and Forests

Governor Rendell has a great opportunity to boost the economy using existing revenue and using authority already provided by the General Assembly: The opening of our publicly owned forests to drilling by private companies for Marcellus shale natural gas recently generated $190 million for the state’s Oil and Gas Lease Fund. Through seven recessions and five decades, the Oil and Gas Lease Fund has supported conservation, recreation, dams and flood control projects. The $190 million influx to the Fund provides the Governor with a golden opportunity to make job-creating capital investments in Pennsylvania’s green infrastructure. (read more)

ConserveLand Newsletter - Fall 2008


The Fall 2008 issue of the ConserveLand Newsletter is now available. (read more)

The Conservation Easement Assistance Program is now expanded to include installing signs, amending easements, and more. To learn more, visit http://conserveland.org/ceap/.

Natural Gas Resources

Handouts and presentations for Natural Gas & Land Conservation Conference now available as well as additional resources, including the NEW Conserveland Natural Gas Listserv. (read more)

IconservePA -- Engaging Pennsylvanians in Conservation

Learn about DCNR's new outreach program and how you can become more involved. (read more)

Join the ConserveLand Listserv!

The ConserveLand Listserv is a networking resource for land conservation professionals and volunteers. Sign up today! (read more)

Applications now available for PATH to Organic Program

The initiative has two main purposes: first, to provide an incentive for farmers to make the three-year transition to certified organic production practices; and second, to evaluate organic production practices as tools in improving soil health, protecting water quality and sequestering atmospheric carbon on a pilot basis outside of the traditional research environment. (read more)

Former DCNR Secretary Michael DiBerardinis Honored

The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association was pleased to honor outgoing DCNR Secretary, Michael DiBerardinis in May at the annual conference. (read more)

Land Conservation Votes 2008

Five Local Land Conservation Measures Win Overwhelming Support in General Election (read more)

A Gas & Oil resource is now available through the Colorado Coalition of Land Trusts. The publication is entitled Mineral Development and Land Conservation Handbook and is available at http://www.cclt.org/mineralhandbookpurchase.html.

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For every acre of open space we protect in Pennsylvania, we lose nearly three.

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News Clips - Updated Daily by Noon

Rep. George - Bony pile on State Game Land to be removed
Jul 3, 2009     (Press Release)

Platts Bulletin: As shale gas booms, drilling 'frackdown' has industry on edge
Jul 3, 2009     (Press Release)

Lawmakers work to protect water supplies
Jul 3, 2009   HARRISBURG — Two measures to protect water supplies from contamination  by drilling for natural gas deposits in the Marcellus Shale formation were  approved Wednesday by a House committee.  The action by the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is a first...  - TOWANDA DAILY

Pickett water legislation moves forward
Jul 3, 2009   HARRISBURG — State Rep. Tina Pickett, R-Wysox, announced Wednesday that  her legislation that would amend the Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Act to  increase the protection of water supplies in the state has been approved by  the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee....  - SAYRE MORNING TIMES

Nutter Introduces Parks and Rec Committee Members
Jul 3, 2009   Mayor Nutter has introduced the members of the newly created commission on  parks and recreation, after last November's ballot question in which voters  overwhelmingly decided to abolish the more than 140-year-old Fairmount Park  Commission.  The mayor says they received over 200 applications, and after city council...  - KYW

Guidelines on toxic air pollutants remain stagnant in Allegheny County
Jul 2, 2009   A standing-room-only crowd made its disappointment known Wednesday when the  Allegheny County Board of Health voted not to take action on a policy that  would have imposed tougher air pollution rules on new and expanding  industries.  "You are not the Board of Health. You are the board of industry," said...  - TRIB

Panel clears water protection bill
Jul 2, 2009   HARRISBURG - Two measures to protect water supplies from contamination by  drilling for natural gas deposits in the Marcellus Shale formation were  approved Wednesday by a House committee.  The action by the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is a first...  - WB CIT. VOICE

PPL submits plan to help customers use electricity more wisely
Jul 2, 2009   PPL Electric Utilities Wednesday requested Pennsylvania Public Utility  Commission approval of an energy efficiency and conservation plan to help  its customers use electricity more wisely.  The submittal is part of Pennsylvania Act 129 of 2008, which was passed by...  - POCONO RECORD

Funds needed to clean underground tanks
Jul 2, 2009   Wednesday, July 1, 2009 11:57 PM EDT  Pennsylvania is applying for $6.1 million in federal American Recovery and  Reinvestment Act funds to clean up 71 leaking underground storage tanks in  40 counties, including one in Somerset County.  “We are applying for the maximum grant amount available and will target...  - SOMERSET DAILY

Snyder County creek gets makeover
Jul 2, 2009   MOUNT PLEASANT MILLS — Officials and volunteers put the final touches  on a stream restoration project in Mount Pleasant Mills on Wednesday.  The project, funded through a grant from the state Department of  Environmental Protection, is meant to prevent soil erosion into Mahantango...  - DAILY ITEM

NY gas moratorium keeps drillers high and dry
Jul 2, 2009   While excitement over drilling in the Marcellus Shale reaches fever pitch  across the Twin Tiers, some drilling companies say New York State is giving  them the cold shoulder.  Last July, New York Gov. David Paterson put a moratorium on the issuing of  permits for natural gas drilling until the state Department of...  - SAYRE MORNING

Natural gas tax would help budget
Jul 2, 2009   In the struggle to close the state budget deficit, there is a source of  funding that could provide much-needed relief and support proven, effective  conservation and environmental initiatives — a tax on the extraction of  natural gas.  Reserves of natural gas have been identified in the Marcellus Shale...  - WC DAILY

Much ado at state parks
Jul 2, 2009   Folks heading to Tuscarora or Locust Lake State parks this weekend won't  find themselves in want of something to do.  According to Robin Tracey, environmental education specialist, events are  planned at both parks for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  From 3 to 4 p.m. Friday there will be a scavenger hunt at Locust Lake with...  - POTTS. REP.

Drilling Rig Snags Powerline
Jul 2, 2009   A small drilling rig aboard a truck traveling along Route 187 in Wilmot  Township Wednesday afternoon somehow became entangled with nearby power and  phone lines and before the driver could stop, three poles were snapped off  and the lines hung just a few feet over the roadway. The accident took...  - WYALUSING R. C.

2005 Copyright, Commonwealth Clips, Pennsylvania Legislative Services
Thank you to Lacawac Sanctuary Foundation for supporting our land conservation efforts.
© 2005 Pennsylvania Land Trust Association
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