Pennsylvania Code › Title 17 - CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES › Part I - Department of Conservation and Natural Resources › Subpart C - State Forests › Chapter 27 - STATE FOREST NATURAL AREAS-STATEMENT OF POLICY › Section 27.5 - Procedure

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
(a) Recommendations
				  for designation, or removal from designation, of areas as Natural Areas or Wild
				  Areas should be submitted to the State Forester accompanied by a map and a
				  complete description of the character of the recommended area. Recommendations
				  for areas to be removed from designation should be accompanied by a statement
				  explaining that the criteria originally meriting designation no longer exist,
				  or other substantial justification for removal.
(b) The State Forester, upon receipt of a
				  recommendation proposing an area for designation, will review the proposal and
				  determine whether the area meets the criteria for Natural Area or Wild Area
				  designation as approved by the Department. Recommendations for areas proposed
				  for removal from designation shall be reviewed to determine the appropriateness
				  and impact of the removal.
(c) Upon
				  a determination by the State Forester that areas proposed for designation meet
				  the criteria for Natural Areas or Wild Areas respectively, the State Forester
				  shall recommend designation of the proposed areas to the Deputy Secretary for
				  Parks and Forestry and the Secretary.
(d) A notice of areas proposed for
				  designation as Natural Areas or Wild Areas will be published in the
Pennsylvania Bulletin
. This notice will include the name of
				  the area proposed for designation, number of acres, State forest, location and
				  features qualifying the area for designation. There will be a public comment
				  period of at least 30 days. If significant public concerns are raised during
				  the comment period, the Secretary may schedule one or more public meetings.
				  Following the public comment period and public meetings, the Secretary may
				  direct that the proposed areas be designated as Natural Areas or Wild Areas.
				  The Secretary's decision will be final and the designation will be effective
				  upon publication in the
Pennsylvania Bulletin
.
(e) A notice of areas proposed for removal
				  from designation as Natural Areas or Wild Areas will also be published in the
Pennsylvania Bulletin
. This notice will include the name of
				  the area proposed for removal, number of acres, State forest, location and
				  justification for removal from designation. There will be a public comment
				  period of at least 30 days. If requested in writing during the public comment
				  period, the Department may schedule a public meeting. If no significant
				  objection to the removal is made either during the public comment period or at
				  the public meeting, the Secretary may direct that the proposed areas be removed
				  from designation as Natural Areas or Wild Areas. The Secretary's decision will
				  be final and the removal will be effective upon publication in the
Pennsylvania Bulletin
.
This section cited in 17 Pa. Code §
												27.1 (relating to
						background).