Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 49, December 7, 2024
Section 17.5 - Natural Area designation procedure(a) Recommendations for designation, or removal from designation, of areas as Natural Areas should be submitted to the State Park Director with a map and a description of the character of the area. Recommendations for areas to be removed from designation should be accompanied by a statement explaining that the criteria meriting designation no longer exist, or other substantial justification.(b) The State Park Director will review the proposal to determine whether the area meets criteria for Natural Area designation. Recommendations for removal from designation will be reviewed to determine the appropriateness and impact of removal.(c) Upon determination that areas proposed for designation meet the criteria for Natural Areas, the State Park Director will recommend designation of the areas to the Deputy Secretary of Parks and Forestry and the Secretary.(d) A notice of areas proposed for designation as Natural Areas will be published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. This notice will include the name of the area proposed for designation, the State Park in which the area is located, the size of the area and the features qualifying the area for designation. There will be a public comment period of at least 30 days. If significant public concerns are raised, the Secretary may schedule a public meeting. Following the public comment period, and any possible public meeting, the Secretary may direct that the proposed areas be designated as Natural 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 will also be published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. This notice will include the name of the area proposed for removal, the State Park in which the area is located, the size of area and the 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 area be removed from designation as a Natural Area. The Secretary's decision will be final and the removal will be effective upon publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.The provisions of this § 17.5 adopted August 20, 1993, effective 8/21/1993, 23 Pa.B. 3943.