Pennsylvania Game News - January 2010 - 13

The Surveying Section continues to be understaffed, but was able to survey 6,237 acres and 97 miles of SGL boundary lines, while also working with adjoining landowners to settle boundary line disputes. From right-of-way licensing for pipelines, utility lines, tower sites, and other uses of SGLs, the agency received more than $2 million, the most in agency history. Local governments received $1.20 per acre in-lieu-of taxes, as required by the Act of May 17, 1929, as amended. During the fiscal year, $1,722,650 was divided into three equal payments to the county, school district and township where Game Lands are located. Through participation in the Environmental Review Committee (ERC), staff reviewed and commented on potential wildlife habitat impacts, and ultimately recommend approval for the creation, restoration and/or enhancement of more than 16 acres of wetlands on private lands and 1.5 acres of wetlands on State Game Lands through the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Partners for Wildlife program, and the Department of Environmental Protection’s Pennsylvania Wetland Replacement Project. Since the creation of the PGC Wind Energy Voluntary Cooperative Agreement, 22 wind development companies have become cooperators, thus agreeing to avoid, minimize and potentially mitigate any adverse impacts the development of wind energy on private lands may have on the state’s wildlife resources. Fifty-three wind energy development projects were reviewed for potential impacts to special concern species, natural resources and State Game Lands. Staff reviewed and commented on 213 transportation projects (PennDOT, Turnpike, airports, rail) concerning species of special concern with 154 potential impacts. Habitat or presence/absence surveys were conducted for four projects. The surveys were conducted for bald eagle, peregrine falcon, least bittern, osprey, great blue heron, sedge wren and bats. The survey results were used to avoid, minimize, or mitigate (for unavoidable) impacts. The State Game Lands Banking Agreement, adopted as a partnership with PennDOT and the Federal Highway Administration, provides advance mitigation lands to offset permanent acreage losses to SGL resulting from bridge replacement or minor road improvement projects. State Game Land Banks totaling 107.7 acres available for mitigation were established in Tioga and Northumberland counties. These agreements expedite the mitigation process where small acreage impacts to SGLs can be debited from existing land banks, instead of being addressed on a case-by-case basis. A total of 834 Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory (PNDI) reviews were completed for construction and development projects, and 618 potential impacts to species of special concern were identified and recommendations made. Surveys were conducted on six projects to avoid Habitat improvements on public and private land benefit not only game species but all wildlife. HAYDEN WENTZ, 12, got his first deer in Conewago Township, York County, during the special antlerless only firearms season for junior license holders in October. JANUARY 2010
Pennsylvania Game News - January 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Game News - January 2010
