Pennsylvania DCNR Seeks Public Comment on Right-of-Way Process for State Forest and...

Pennsylvania DCNR Seeks Public Comment on Right-of-Way Process for State
Forest and Park Lands

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

Christina Novak of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources, +1-717-772-9101