Schuylkill County Favors Protection of Trail

The Pottsville (Pa.) Republican & Herald newspaper has an editorial on 5 March 2008 in favor of the bill before the Pennsylvania Senate that would strengthen protection of the Appalachian Trail, especially in areas without zoning regulations. The editorial is titled "Appalachian Trail deserves protection" and shows Schuylkill County's support of this important bill: "The trail deserves the support of lawmakers, sportsmen, hikers and even those who may never set foot on it."

Allentown Paper Favors Protection

An Allentown Morning Call editorial on 4 March 2008 calls for Appalachian Trail protection under the headline "Appalachian Trail still needs protection".

"Efforts to keep the skyline unobstructed and things like power lines far away have been initiated by state Rep. Bob Freeman, the Democrat from Easton and chairman of the House Local Government Committee. His bill, HB 1281, has been passed in the House of Representatives and is now awaiting action in the Senate. The new legislation, an amendment to the Appalachian Trail Act of 1978, would require each municipality through which the trail runs to create and enforce zoning laws to protect the trail from these visual encroachments."

More Support for Pennsylvania Protection

The Harrisburg (Pa.) Patriot-News weighs in on 3 March 2008 on the side of Trail protection by editorializing in favor of the Pennsylvania bill before the senate there. Under the headline "Zoning would give added protection to asset for its 229-mile path through Pennsylvania" they say that "Bipartisan House Bill 1281, which has been approved by the state House and is nearing action in the state Senate" should be passed and signed into law.

"The Appalachian Trail is a special place, one almost entirely tended to by volunteers, that allows the public to 'get away' from the hubbub of modern life for a few hours or a few months. But it will only remain special to the extent it is protected from development and activities that would destroy the trail's tranquillity."

And we can thank the racetrack in Eldred township, right along the Trail, for revealing the need for this legislation.

Editorial Supports Pennsylvania H.B. 1281

The Pocono Record has an editorial in its 29 February 2008 issue titled "Help protect historic Appalachian Trail from development blight" which speaks a strong word (several of them, actually) in favor of Pennsylvania H.B. 1281. This bill, passed by the Pennsylvania house and now waiting for action by its Senate,

"would amend the Appalachian Trail Act by calling on host municipalities to adopt and implement zoning and land development ordinances that would protect the trail. It would extend protection beyond the immediate environs of the trail to include neighboring tracts and viewscapes along the trail corridor."

The bill was writen in the wake of the Alpine Rose race track proposed for Eldred Township, Monroe County, PA. If you're from Pennsylvania, write your state senator in Harrisburg.

Stop Light for Eldred Race Track

Andrew C. Martel of the Allentown, PA Morning Call writes on 21 February 2008 of the welcome news that the "State delays car-driving track in Eldred Township".

Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection has raised questions about deficiencies in the racetrack's applications. The specific concerns were about probable pollution of an otherwise pristine stream. Developer Richard Muller Jr., and his expensive Alpine Motorsports Club are not allowed to begin construction until the environmental permits are granted. Unfortunately, it appears, noise pollution and visual pollution are not considered. The Appalachian Trail is already in this area, but seems to have no strong legal basis for stopping this wasteful project. Hikers will not be happy about their new 360 acre neighbor in Monroe County, PA.

Pennsyvania HR 1281 Supported

An important editorial in the Pocono Record of 1 February 2008 titled "Appalachian Trail must be protected" speaks strongly in favor of Pennsylvania's House Bill 1281, which would require townships to enact and enforce zoning to protect the Appalachian Trail in the state. As the lead points out:

"It may be too late to stop the Alpine Motorsports Car Club in Eldred Township, but it isn't too late to protect the Appalachian Trail from future projects that threaten the pristine beauty and natural sounds of the nation's longest footpath."

Pennsylvania's Senate must also approve the bill, and then the governor must sign it, too.

Pennsylvanians: write your state senators!

Pennsylvania Bill Aims for Trail Protection

The Pocono Record has an article titled "State bill would protect Appalachian Trail corridor, prevent projects like Alpine Rose" by Adam McNaughton in its 23 January 2008 issue. It describes the import of Pennsylvania "House Bill 1281 that would require townships to enact and enforce zoning to protect the Appalachian Trail."

It goes on to explain that

"If the bill passes the Pennsylvania Senate and is signed by Gov. Ed Rendell, municipalities through which the Appalachian Trail passes will have the "power" and the "duty" to adopt zoning ordinances to preserve the trail."

This can't stop the Alpine Motorsports race track from being built one half mile off the Appalachian Trail, and that project is only waiting for final permits from the state's Department of Environmental Protection.

Pennsylvania House Passes Protection Bill

The 13 December 2007 issue of the Pocono Record has an article titled "Bill to protect Appalachian Trail in Pa. approved in House" in it. I know, I know ... you thought the Trail actually was already protected. But,

"'State law enacted in 1978 requires municipalities that border the trail to protect it as a state scenic, historic and esthetic treasure, but municipalities were not required to enact ordinances to do so,' said [Bob] Freeman, D-Northampton. 'My legislation would make sure the Appalachian Trail is appropriately protected from development that could detract from the trail’s natural beauty.'"

I'm not sure what the difference is between requiring protection on the one hand and requiring an ordinance to protect. Especially since the article doesn't say that the municipalities are going to be required to enforce their ordinances. Maybe that will be in the law passed in another 30 years.

Pennsylvania, you'll remember, is home of Eldred Township where the Alpine Rose race track wants to add auto racing noise and fumes to your hiking experience.

"The legislation (H.B. 1281) now heads to the Senate for consideration." Write your state senator!

Report on Alpine Rose Hearing

The Pocono Record of 23 August 2007 has an article by Howard Frank that details the hearing held by Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on the permit to allow the Alpine Rose track construction next to the Appalachian Trail. It is titled "Alpine Rose stormwater plan met with dissent."

The report summarizes lots of diffrent evidence and arguments against the permit. Despite the emotion displayed "the hearing's outcome will probably hinge on the science." To my eyes, the science says that the track should NOT be allowed.

"The next step in the application process will be a review of the testimony and additional documents the DEP has received, followed by a decision on the permit, according to Mark Carmon, community relations coordinator for the DEP, who ran the hearing.

"Carmon would not give a time frame for that process."

It almost seems like the winner will be the side that waits it out the longest.

Alpine Rose Hearing on 22 August

The Pocono Record out of Stroudsburg, PA has an article titled "Alpine Rose hearing tonight; 3 p.m. deadline to register to testify" in its 22 August 2007 issue. Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) said

"The public hearing will address developer Richard Muller Jr.'s request for reinstatement of a permit to discharge stormwater from construction into the Aquashicola Creek."

ATC, Sierra Club, and the local Blue Mountain Preservation Association all oppose the plans to build a track next to the Appalachian Trail where car and motorcycle drivers will be able to zip around the 3 1/2 mile loop at speeds of up to 120 miles per hour.

The DEP had originally denied the permit not because of encroachment on the Trail, but because of potential pollution of a pristine stream in the area.

Pending Pennsylvania Legislation is Trail-Friendly

The 14 June 2007 issue of the Carlisle (PA) Sentinel has an editorial titled "Trail-saving bills deserve to pass" that mentions two bills before the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

"PA House Bill 13 is under consideration in the General Assembly, a proposal to strengthen existing recreational law regarding trails and protect private property holders from liability claims regarding the use of public trails on their land. The bill passed the House and is now before a Senate committee.

"There's another bill on the table regarding protection of the Appalachian Trail, PA House Bill 1281, which would spell out what local municipalities and the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources could do to protect the trail."

In reference to that second bill, the editors mention the Alpine Rose racetrack travesty. If you're reading this from Pennsylvania, please contact your legislators in support of these bills.

Pennsylvania Hiking Trail Troubles

A long-ish piece in the Sentinel (from the Carlisle-Shippensburg, PA region) by Heather Stauffer on 10 June 2007, and headlined "Troubled trail: Part of Dickinson Township hiker/biker path is closed" details some of the difficulties of trails that pass over private property. There are a number of them in Pennsylvania. Different hiking club officers quoted agree that many landowners seem concerned about liabilities if hikers are injured on their property. The article mentions a Pennsylvania bill - passed by the House and being considered by the Senate - which would reiterate landowner protection.

Paul Shaw, executive director of the Keystone Trails Association,

"said, he'd like to see a bill for a defense fund that would reimburse landowners for those legal costs.

"Meanwhile, he's happy about another piece of pending legislation: House Bill 1281, which would amend Pennsylvania's Appalachian Trail Act by spelling out what Pennsylvania municipalities and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources may do to protect the trail.

"'What we found is that a lot of people assume that with the Appalachian Trail being a national trail, it's fully protected,' Shaw said. But, he said, that's not the case.

"'There was a racetrack proposed in eastern Pennsylvania that would have been right next to the trail,' Shaw said. So, he said, 'We're strong supporters of (the bill).'"

That would be the Alpine Rose race track which is actually STILL a live issue.

Race Track Roadblocked for Now

The 31 May 2007 issue of The Morning Call carries Kevin Amerman's article "Berks developer faces new delay for Monroe car resort; State sets back hearing, awaits more facts on water runoff controls." It chronicles the current situation whereby the quiet hiking atmosphere along the Appalachian Trail in Eldred Township is hanging on by a thread in the face of the imminent roar of road construction virtually trailside, followed by racing -- oh, excuse me, make that simply driving

"at high speeds on the track" -- on the "four-mile driving course, which would feature dips and turns on 360 wooded acres off Upper Smith Gap Road near the Appalachian Trail in Eldred Township."

Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection has not re-scheduled the hearing at which they were expected to cough up the final permits. Maybe they're still seeking a way to halt the project.

Eldred PA Car Club Still on the Agenda

Like a bad dream that won't quit, the Alpine Rose Resorts Motorsports Club proposal in Eldred Township is still on the agenda in Pennsylvania. The article by Howard Frank titled "Alpine Rose Car Club DEP Hearing Postponed" in the 27 May 2007 issue of the 'Pocono Record' newspaper in northeast Pennsylvania spells it out.

The heart of the article is this:

"Last September, a state hearing board revoked the storm water discharge permit for the club, saying the DEP [Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection] erred in issuing the permit.

"The board ruled Alpine had failed to prove it considered alternatives to the increased discharge and runoff into the Aquashicola Creek, a high-quality cold water fishery, for which state law permits no degradation.

"Since then, a new plan was submitted by Alpine Rose, and the DEP scheduled the hearing for Thursday.

"The DEP postponed that meeting, saying it was not prepared to issue a draft permit or denial for the public to consider."

For those of you who don't remember this bad-proposal-that-will-not-die, here's how this article summarizes it:

"The project features a four-mile road course within a private club on 360 acres near Upper Smith Gap Road in Eldred Township, adjacent to the Appalachian Trail.

"The membership-only club would allow car enthusiasts to drive their own vehicles at speeds of up to 120 miles per hour."

And this isn't a bunch of yahoos tooling around in their broken-down pick-up trucks: it costs $30,000 to join, plus

"a one-time $3,000 processing fee. Annual fees are $4,000. On the 10th anniversary of the track, investors are promised a 75 percent return of their initial $30,000 investment. Those leaving before the 10th year will receive 75 percent of their initial investment, and the membership will then be resold by the club. After 500 memberships are reached, the cost of a membership will increase to $38,000, the annual dues will rise and the 75 percent return on the initial investment will no longer be available. Total membership will not exceed 1,200 and no more than 25 cars will be allowed on the track at one time."

I'm not great at math, but does that make sense to you? Spend $33,000 now, plus a total of another $40,000 over the next 10 years, for a total of $73,000 in order to get back 75% ($22,500) of the initial $30,000. Seems like I'd not really be making anything on that deal. Maybe they're rich yahoos.

There's a good chronology of events leading up to this postponement in the article. The Sierra Club helped out with the last series of legal battles that were spearheaded by the ATC and the Blue Mountain Preservation Association.