Keystone Trails Association: Preserving Pennsylvania's Footpaths since 1956 
KTA ACTION ALERT: 
ENDANGERED SPECIES ARE UNDER ATTACK 

HOW TO HELP
 
 
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THE ISSUE AT
 A GLANCE
 
For decades, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and the Pennsylvania Game Commission have successfully implemented programs to protect and restore the habitats of threatened, endangered, and rare species, such as the osprey, the great egret, the bog turtle, the banded sunfish and wild trout.

The gas drilling and mining industries are now targeting the protectors of Pennsylvania's threatened and endangered species. These industries claim that the PA Fish and Boat Commission and the PA Game Commission are hindering their plans to develop projects, and they want to undermine these agencies' ability to administer Pennsylvania's endangered species laws.
WHY KTA OPPOSES HB 1576
 
The changes proposed by HB 1576 restrict the PA Fish and Game Commissions' ability to protect threatened and endangered species of fish and wildlife -- permitting more mining, more drilling and more clear-cutting to occur on Pennsylvania's lands. Both agencies would have to go through a very cumbersome regulatory review process to add new species deserving of protection. In addition, the bills place the burden on the agencies to design mitigation plans, if the developer encroaches on protected habitat.   
 
The supporters of this proposal say that it would ensure there is proper oversight during the process of naming endangered species and protected streams. However, HB 1576 is designed to promote the interests of politicians - and the gas drilling industry - not the interests of Pennsylvania's wildlife.  Currently, although scientists make the initial determination, the final determination is made by politically-appointed members of both Commissions. This bill would unnecessarily inject additional politics into the process of determining whether or not a species is endangered, or if a stream should be protected. 
 
There is no credible evidence that the current - balanced - system does not work well, yet these proposals would hamstring the work of the scientists of the Fish and Boat Commission and the Game Commission by adding an unnecessary, cumbersome, and time-consuming layer of bureaucracy to the process of identifying species worthy of protection. 

HB 1576 is opposed both by environmental groups (like PennFuture and the Sierra Club) and hunting and fishing groups (like Trout Unlimited). These disparate groups don't often agree, but they are unified in their opposition to this bill.  Outdoors-men and -women from across the political spectrum are united in opposition to this bill.  

Keystone Trails Association is pleased to join our friends in the environmental community, as well as the sportsmen community, in opposing House Bill 1576.
 
THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW

  

The state legislature may take action on this bill in the very near future.  We urge you to contact your State Representative and State Senator as soon as possible, and tell them that you oppose HB 1576.   
 
Not sure where to start?  Click here for guidelines and information about how to contact your elected officials, and click here for a sample letter to your legislator, written by Jim Foster, KTA Board Secretary. 

 

Please help us spread the word, and share this alert on your social networks today - before it's too late.   

Thank you -- together, we CAN make a difference!