Permits for Events, Hunting, Camping, and Other Uses of Conserved Lands Requiring permits for certain activities on conservation lands (such as events, hunting, and camping) helps land managers ensure that the activities do not negatively impact the land or others’ enjoyment of it. The permit-application process can also serve to inform users of the rules for using the land. read more
15
July
26
June
PALTA Publishes New Guidance on Liability Protection
The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association has published new and updated guidance on the protections provided to land trusts, local governments, and other landowners against claims of personal injury and loss of property by people using their land. PALTA developed substantial amendments to Pennsylvania's Recreational Use of Land and Water Act (RULWA) signed into law by Governor read more
28
May
New PALTA Tool for Review: Find a Trail Group
The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association has published for public review and feedback the beta version of a tool for finding trail groups across Pennsylvania. The map-based tool allows users to search for groups by county or identify the groups associated with a specific trail. It also allows users to search by trail type and other criteria. The tool’s purpose is to help people read more
8
May
PALTA Publishes New Stormwater-Management Guide; Updates Other Guides
The most effective tools to reduce the water pollution and flooding caused by stormwater runoff are green infrastructure, land conservation, and best management practices on farms. PALTA’s new three-page guide Working with Nature to Manage Stormwater serves as a gateway to the wealth of web resources that explore these tools. Guides Updated PALTA has updated and revised 10 of read more
8
May
6.04(a) of Model Conservation Easement Updated…Again
The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association added six words to §6.04(a) of the Model Grant of Conservation Easement and Declaration of Covenants to clarify the provision’s intent. Users are encouraged to adopt this change immediately. The revised subsection reads as follows (revisions in red): Notice to Holder. Before Owners begin or allow a Subdivision, Improvement, activity, or read more
1
May
Land Trust Accreditation Commission Extends Accreditation Term
On May 1, the Land Trust Accreditation Commission announced that it has extended the accreditation term from five to seven years. The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association has long advocated for an extension of the accreditation term. Per the Commission's new rules, the accreditation term will still begin at five years, but will extend to seven years at an accredited land read more
19
February
2nd Edition of the Model Access Easement for Environmental Stewardship Published
The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association has finalized the 2nd edition of the Model Access Easement for Environmental Stewardship and posted it at ConservationTools.org. The first edition was developed to help organizations secure long-term access to land for remediating the effects of abandoned mine drainage. For the second edition, the model’s provisions have been modified to read more
2
July
Pennsylvania General Assembly Protects Conservation Easements from Irresponsible Exercise of Eminent Domain
Following votes in the Pennsylvania House (177-15) and Senate (37-12), Governor Tom Wolf signed HB 2468 into law as Act 45 of 2018 on June 24. The bill, which was introduced in early June by Representatives Warren Kampf, Kate Harper, and Marcy Toepel, establishes for conservation easements a crucial new safeguard: school districts, county and local municipal governments, and read more
