THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY STEVENSON, BOYD, CALTAGIRONE, CAUSER, CLYMER, ELLIS, FLECK, GEIST, GINGRICH, HARHART, HUTCHINSON, KNOWLES, KOTIK, MARSICO, METZGAR, MILLER, MURT, PEIFER, PYLE, RAPP, SCAVELLO AND YOUNGBLOOD, JANUARY 31, 2011

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, JANUARY 31, 2011  

AN ACT

Amending the act of June 28, 1995 (P.L.89, No.18), entitled "An

act creating the Department of Conservation and Natural

Resources consisting of certain functions of the Department

of Environmental Resources and the Department of Community

Affairs; renaming the Department of Environmental Resources

as the Department of Environmental Protection; defining the

role of the Environmental Quality Board in the Department of

Environmental Protection; making changes to responsibilities

of the State Conservation Commission and the Department of

Agriculture; transferring certain powers and duties to the

Department of Health; and repealing inconsistent acts,"

further providing for definitions; and providing for

floatplane recreation.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 103 of the act of June 28, 1995 (P.L.89,

No.18), known as the Conservation and Natural Resources Act, is

amended by adding a definition to read:

Section 103.  Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this act shall

have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

* * *

"Floatplane."  An aircraft with pontoons mounted under the

fuselage that only come in contact with the surface of the water

in order to allow the aircraft to land and take off using the

surface of the water.

* * *

Section 2.  The act is amended by adding a section to read:

Section 312.1.  Floatplane recreation.

(a)  General rule.--The department shall promulgate rules and

regulations to permit the landing and takeoff of floatplanes on

designated lakes within State parks that are at least 3,000

acres in size.

(b)  Provisions required for regulations.--The regulations

shall include provisions for the proper and safe operation of

floatplanes on the designated lakes. For each specific

designated lake, a license to operate a floatplane shall be

issued by the department to any floatplane operator who

demonstrates the following:

(1)  A current pilot's certification issued by the

Federal Aviation Administration.

(2)  The aircraft is equipped as required by the

regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration

specifically for seaplanes, which regulations are in effect

on the effective date of this section.

(3)  An understanding of the applicable boating

restrictions and regulations established for the particular

body of water on which the floatplane operates when on the

water and not in flight.

(4)  Compliance with all applicable requirements of the

Department of Transportation of the Commonwealth.

(5)  Other operational and safety practices and

procedures as deemed necessary by the department.

Section 3.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.