PRINTER'S NO. 3315
No. 263 Session of 1994
INTRODUCED BY FEE, SURRA, GRUPPO, JAROLIN, PHILLIPS, GODSHALL,
HUTCHINSON, GEORGE, BELARDI, BOYES, HENNESSEY, GORDNER,
SAYLOR, KUKOVICH, TRELLO, L. I. COHEN, MASLAND, KASUNIC,
GIGLIOTTI, FAIRCHILD, STABACK, PISTELLA, LEDERER, BEBKO-
JONES, SATHER, HALUSKA, JOSEPHS, CAPPABIANCA, BAKER,
S. H. SMITH, PESCI, WOZNIAK, ROONEY, D. W. SNYDER, OLASZ,
MELIO AND MERRY, MARCH 9, 1994
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CONSERVATION, MARCH 9, 1994
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1 Directing the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control
2 and Conservation Committee to study the issues concerning the
3 regeneration and management of Pennsylvania's forests; and
4 creating a task force.
5 WHEREAS, Forests comprise 59% of Pennsylvania's total land
6 area; and
7 WHEREAS, Forests are owned by private individuals, industry
8 and Federal and State Government; and
9 WHEREAS, Forests provide numerous economic, recreational and
10 environmental values; and
11 WHEREAS, The policies and legislation developed today will
12 determine the future of forests in Pennsylvania; therefore be it
13 RESOLVED (the Senate concurring), That the General Assembly
14 direct the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and
15 Conservation Committee to undertake a comprehensive review of
16 forest regeneration, biodiversity and old-growth forests, timber
1 management on State forest land, management of private forest
2 land and other relevant issues affecting Pennsylvania's forests
3 and establish priorities for them; and be it further
4 RESOLVED, That to accomplish this goal, a task force be
5 created to be comprised of two members of the Senate, one from
6 the majority party and one from the minority party appointed by
7 the President pro tempore, two members of the House of
8 Representatives, one from the majority party and one from the
9 minority party appointed by the Speaker of the House of
10 Representatives; and the members shall choose a chairman from
11 their number; and be it further
12 RESOLVED, That an advisory committee be created by the task
13 force to assist in developing facts and recommendations
14 concerning the regeneration and management of Pennsylvania's
15 forests and that the advisory committee be composed of
16 representatives of the following government agencies:
17 (1) Department of Environmental Resources, Bureau of
18 Forestry;
19 (2) Department of Commerce/Pennsylvania Economic
20 Development Partnership, Hardwoods Development Council;
21 (3) Pennsylvania Game Commission;
22 (4) The Pennsylvania State University, School of Forest
23 Resources; and
24 (5) United States Forest Service;
25 and be it further
26 RESOLVED, That the advisory committee should further have one
27 representative from five business organizations representing
28 forestry, mineral owners, landowners, lumber manufacturers and
29 farmers and shall have five representatives from five nonprofit
30 conservation and environmental organizations, and any other
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1 organization that the task force deems appropriate to be
2 represented, not to exceed three additional advisors; and be it
3 further
4 RESOLVED, That the task force may hold hearings, take
5 testimony and make its investigations at such places as it deems
6 necessary; and be it further
7 RESOLVED, That the General Assembly direct the Joint
8 Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation
9 Committee to provide sufficient staff and other administrative
10 support to the task force; and be it further
11 RESOLVED, That the task force prepare a report containing its
12 findings and recommendations, together with any necessary
13 legislation, and deliver it to the General Assembly as soon as
14 possible.
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