PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1660                      PRINTER'S NO. 2575

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


SENATE BILL

No. 1408 Session of 1991


        INTRODUCED BY HOPPER, NOVEMBER 12, 1991

        SENATOR BRIGHTBILL, ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, AS
           AMENDED, NOVEMBER 10, 1992

                                     AN ACT

     1  Designating the Yellow Breeches Creek as a component of the
     2     Pennsylvania Scenic Rivers System in accordance with the
     3     Pennsylvania Scenic Rivers Act; and providing for cooperation
     4     and coordination in its protection and use and for the
     5     responsibilities of its management.

     6     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     7  hereby enacts as follows:
     8  Section 1.  Short title.
     9     This act shall be known and may be cited as the Yellow
    10  Breeches Creek Scenic River Act.
    11  Section 2.  Legislative findings and purposes.
    12     The Department of Environmental Resources has, in accordance
    13  with the act of December 5, 1972 (P.L.1277, No.283), known as
    14  the Pennsylvania Scenic Rivers Act, fulfilled its obligations
    15  and responsibilities prerequisite to the designation of THE       <--
    16  Yellow Breeches Creek as a component of the Pennsylvania Scenic
    17  Rivers System. The designation of this component is for the
    18  purposes of protecting its flow and of conserving and protecting
    19  its pastoral and scenic and fishery qualities and historic AND    <--

     1  GEOLOGIC characteristics in accordance with the policy and
     2  provisions of the Pennsylvania Scenic Rivers Act.
     3  Section 3.  Designation and classification.
     4     (A)  DESIGNATION.--The main stem of the Yellow Breeches Creek  <--
     5  in Cumberland County and York County AND HAIRY SPRINGS HOLLOW IN  <--
     6  CUMBERLAND COUNTY and related adjacent land area are designated
     7  a component of the Pennsylvania Scenic Rivers System under the
     8  act of December 5, 1972 (P.L.1277, No.283), known as the
     9  Pennsylvania Scenic Rivers Act. The boundaries and termini of
    10  the component have been defined by the Department of
    11  Environmental Resources and are shown on the map entitled
    12  "Yellow Breeches Scenic River CREEK Study" which is on file and   <--
    13  available for public inspection in the Division of Land Records,
    14  Historical and Museum Commission of the Commonwealth of
    15  Pennsylvania, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THE WIDTH OF THE CORRIDOR   <--
    16  IN THE SEGMENT DESIGNATED AS RECREATIONAL FROM THE SR 2004
    17  BRIDGE TO THE SR 2017 BRIDGE SHALL BE FROM THE TOP OF THE STEEP
    18  BANK ON THE SOUTH TO THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
    19  FLOODWAY BOUNDARY ON THE NORTH.
    20     (B)  CLASSIFICATION.--SEGMENTS OF THE COMPONENT ARE
    21  CLASSIFIED AS FOLLOWS:
    22         (1)  HAIRY SPRINGS HOLLOW HEADWATERS TO THE BACKWATERS OF
    23     BIG POND - 5.1 MILES, SCENIC.
    24         (2)  YELLOW BREECHES MAINSTEM FROM THE BACKWATERS OF BIG
    25     POND ON HAIRY SPRINGS HOLLOW TO SR 2004 BRIDGE (BOWMANSDALE)
    26     - 32 MILES, PASTORAL.
    27         (3)  YELLOW BREECHES MAINSTEM FROM SR 2004 BRIDGE
    28     (BOWMANSDALE) TO CONFLUENCE WITH THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER - 18.8
    29     MILES, RECREATIONAL.
    30  Section 4.  Management responsibilities.
    19910S1408B2575                  - 2 -

     1     The Department of Environmental Resources shall exercise
     2  administrative responsibilities in implementing the "State
     3  Agency Guidelines" portion of the "Management Guidelines for the  <--
     4  Yellow Breeches Creek," CREEK, within the designated component    <--
     5  as outlined in the text of the "Yellow Breeches Creek Scenic
     6  River Study" conducted by the Department of Environmental
     7  Resources under the act of December 5, 1972 (P.L.1277, No.283),
     8  known as the Pennsylvania Scenic Rivers Act. The "Local           <--
     9  Management Guidelines" included in the "Yellow Breeches Creek     <--
    10  Scenic River Study" are recommended and voluntary for local
    11  governments, landowners and interested organizations in
    12  recognizing the value GUIDELINES" MAY BE DEVELOPED FOR THE        <--
    13  YELLOW BREECHES CREEK SCENIC RIVER. THESE MAY BE RECOMMENDED AND
    14  WILL BE VOLUNTARY FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, LANDOWNERS AND
    15  ORGANIZATIONS INTERESTED IN CONSERVING THE VALUE of the Yellow
    16  Breeches Creek. The Pennsylvania Fish Commission shall exercise
    17  enforcement of its fishing and boating regulations and laws
    18  within the designated component.
    19  Section 5.  Special considerations.
    20     The Department of Environmental Resources shall assist a       <--
    21  local organization ORGANIZATIONS representative of landowners,    <--
    22  conservation groups and local governments within the designated
    23  component acting as the local coordination mechanism for the
    24  implementation of this act. Nothing in this act shall be
    25  construed as granting authority to any level of government or
    26  private entity to establish streamside trails without the prior
    27  consent and agreement of riparian landowners. NOTHING IN THIS     <--
    28  ACT SHALL BE CONSTRUED AS GRANTING ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY TO ANY
    29  MUNICIPALITY OR COUNTY TO RESTRICT OR PROHIBIT THE USE OF LAND
    30  WITHIN THE DESIGNATED SCENIC RIVER CORRIDOR.
    19910S1408B2575                  - 3 -

     1  Section 6.  Cooperation and coordination.
     2     All State agencies are authorized to seek the help of and
     3  enter into agreements with the Federal Government and its
     4  agencies and commissions, local governments and concerned
     5  private individuals and organizations with the view of fostering
     6  cooperation and coordination to further the purpose of this act.
     7  To this end, the Department of Environmental Resources shall
     8  also seek the cooperation of the Susquehanna River Basin
     9  Commission. All State agencies, boards and commissions shall
    10  cooperate and coordinate their activities with the Department of
    11  Environmental Resources in relation to the Yellow Breeches Creek
    12  in order to further the purpose of this act.
    13  Section 7.  Limitation of liability.
    14     The provisions of the act of February 2, 1966 (1965 P.L.1860,
    15  No.586), entitled "An act encouraging landowners to make land
    16  and water areas available to the public for recreational
    17  purposes by limiting liability in connection therewith, and
    18  repealing certain acts," limiting the liability of owners of
    19  land and water areas who make them available to the public for
    20  recreational purposes without charge shall be applicable to
    21  owners of land and water areas relating to WITHIN the Yellow      <--
    22  Breeches Creek COMPONENT.                                         <--
    23  Section 8.  Expenditure of funds.
    24     The Department of Environmental Resources is authorized to
    25  expend moneys when available for:
    26         (1)  Technical assistance for, PLANNING AND                <--
    27     implementation of and planning under the "Yellow Breeches      <--
    28     Creek Scenic River Study" conducted by the Department of
    29     Environmental Resources under the act of December 5, 1972
    30     (P.L.1277, No.283), known as the Pennsylvania Scenic Rivers
    19910S1408B2575                  - 4 -

     1     Act.
     2         (2)  Assistance in the education of the general public
     3     regarding the scenic rivers designation and ESTABLISHMENT OF   <--
     4     appropriate conservation measures.
     5  Section 9.  Effective date.
     6     This act shall take effect immediately.
















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