HARRISBURG, Sept. 31 – With tomorrow being the first day of autumn, many Pennsylvanians will be spending increasing amounts of time outdoors. This also is when black bears become more active, setting the stage for an increase in bear sightings and possibly encounters.

Mark Ternent, Pennsylvania Game Commission black bear biologist, noted that, as fall progresses, bears will begin to increase their food intake to prepare for the upcoming denning season, which begins in mid- to late-November. For some bears, the search for food may lead them closer to people or homes.

Ternent offered suggestions on how to reduce the likelihood that your property will attract bruins and how to best react when a bear is encountered.

“Bear activity can increase during the fall as bears try to consume as many calories as possible from any source they can find in preparation for denning,” Ternent said. “As a result, sightings of bears can increase, particularly if natural nut and berry crops are below average.

“While Pennsylvania bears are mostly timid animals that would sooner run than confront people, residents should know a few things about how to react if they encounter a bear, or better yet, how to avoid an encounter altogether by reducing the likelihood of attracting bears in the first place.”

Ternent stressed there are no known records of a Pennsylvania black bear killing a human, and there have been fewer than 25 reported injuries resulting from black bear encounters during the past 10 years in the state. However, deaths caused by black bears have occurred elsewhere in North America. Pennsylvania’s bear population currently is estimated at 15,000 animals, and reports of problems because people failed to keep food away from bears are not uncommon.

“Pennsylvanians need to understand that when bears become habituated to getting food from people, it can lead to conflicts, property damage and the possibility of injury or eventual destruction of the bear,” Ternent said. “Feeding wildlife, whether the activity is intended for birds or deer, can draw bears into an area. Once bears become habituated to an area where they find food, they will continue to return, which is when the bear can become a real problem for homeowners and neighbors.

“Even more disturbing are the reports we receive about people intentionally feeding bears to make them more visible for viewing or photographing.”

Since March 2003, it has been illegal to intentionally feed bears in Pennsylvania. Also, the unintentional feeding of bears which results in nuisance complaints filed with the Game Commission can result in a written warning that, if ignored, could lead to a citation and fine.

“We recognize that people enjoy viewing wildlife, and we are not attempting to impact that activity,” Ternent said. “But, the agency has an obligation to reduce conflicts when and where we can. All too often, human complaints about bears can be traced back to intentional or unintentional feeding. To protect the public, as well as bears, we need to avoid the dangers of conditioning bears to finding food around homes. It would be irresponsible to do otherwise.”

Ternent listed five recommendations to reduce the chances of having a close encounter with a black bear on a homeowner’s property:

Play it smart. Do not feed wildlife. Food placed outside for wildlife, such as corn for squirrels or deer, may attract bears. Reconsider putting squash, pumpkins, corn stalks or other Halloween or holiday decorations outside that also may attract bears. Even bird feeders can become “bear magnets.” Tips for how to safely feed birds for those in prime bear areas include: restrict feeding season to when bears hibernate, which is primarily from late November through late March; avoid foods that are particularly attractive for bears, such as sunflower seeds, hummingbird nectar mixes or suet; bring feeders inside at night or suspend them from high crosswires; and temporarily remove feeders for two weeks if visited by a bear. Encourage your neighbors to do the same.

Keep it clean. Don’t place garbage outside until pick-up day; don’t throw table scraps out back for animals to eat; don’t add fruit or vegetable wastes to your compost pile; and clean your barbecue grill regularly. If you feed pets outdoors, consider placing food dishes inside overnight.

Keep your distance. If a bear shows up in your backyard, stay calm. From a safe distance, shout at it like you would to chase an unwanted dog. If the bear won’t leave, slowly retreat and call the nearest Game Commission regional office or local police department for assistance. Children should understand not to run, approach or hide from a bear that wanders into the yard, but, instead, to walk slowly back to the house.

Eliminate temptation. Bears that visit your area are often drawn there. Neighbors need to work together to reduce an area’s appeal to bears. Ask area businesses to keep dumpsters closed and bear-proofed (chained or locked shut).

Check please! If your dog is barking, or cat is clawing at the door to get in, try to determine what has alarmed your pet. But do it cautiously, using outside lights to full advantage and from a safe position, such as a porch or an upstairs window. All unrecognizable outside noises and disturbances should be checked, but don’t do it on foot with a flashlight. Black bears blend in too well with nighttime surroundings providing the chance for a close encounter. If bears have been sighted near your home, it is a good practice to turn on a light and check the backyard before taking pets out at night.

“Ideally, we want bears to pass by residential areas without finding a food reward that would cause them to return and become a problem,” Ternent said. “Capturing and moving bears that have become habituated to humans is costly and sometimes ineffective because they can return or continue the same unwanted behavior where released. That is why wildlife agencies tell people that a ‘fed bear is a dead bear.’”

Ternent noted that although bears are no strangers to Pennsylvanians, bears are misunderstood by many.

“Bears should not be feared, nor should they be dismissed as harmless; they simply need to be respected,” Ternent said. He also advised:

Stay Calm. If you see a bear and it hasn’t seen you, leave the area calmly. Talk to the bear while moving away to help it discover your presence. Choose a route that will not intersect with the bear if it is moving.

Get Back. If you have surprised a bear, slowly back away while quietly talking. Face the bear, but avoid direct eye contact. Do not turn and run; rapid movement may be perceived as danger to a bear that is already feeling threatened. Avoid blocking the bear’s only escape route and try to move away from any cubs you see or hear. Do not attempt to climb a tree. A female bear can falsely interpret this as an attempt to get at her cubs, even though the cubs may be in a different tree.

Pay Attention. If a bear is displaying signs of nervousness or discomfort with your presence, such as pacing, swinging its head, or popping its jaws, leave the area. Some bears may bluff charge to within a few feet. If this occurs, stand your ground, wave your arms wildly, and shout at the bear. Turning and running could elicit a chase and you cannot outrun a bear. Bears that appear to be stalking should be confronted and made aware of your willingness to defend by waving your arms and yelling while you continue to back away.

Fight Back. If a bear attacks, fight back as you continue to leave the area. Bears have been driven away with rocks, sticks, binoculars, car keys, or even bare hands.

“Learning about bears and being aware of their habits is a responsibility that comes with living in rural Pennsylvania or recreating in the outdoors,” Ternent said.

Intelligent and curious, black bears are heavy and have short, powerful legs. Adults usually weigh from 200 to 600 pounds, with rare individuals weighing up to 800 pounds. An adult male normally weighs more than an adult female, sometimes twice as much.

Bears may be on the move at anytime, but they’re usually most active during evening and morning hours. Bears are omnivorous, eating almost anything from berries, corn, acorns, beechnuts, or even grass to table scraps, carrion, honey and insects.

More information on black bears is available on the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) by selecting on “Hunting,” and then clicking on the black bear photograph.

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Sept.18, 2009 - Schulkill Co. District Attorney James P. Goodman has announced today that Schuylkill Drug Sweep-Middle has resulted in arrest warrants being served for 25 street level drug dealers in Southern and Central Schuylkill County.

The District Attorney’s Drug Task Force was assisted by other Detectives from the Schuylkill County District Attorney’s Office along with Schuylkill County Sheriff Joseph Groody, other members of the Schuylkill County Sheriff’s Office, and the Schuylkill County Adult Probation Office Department.

In addition to the 25 individuals that had arrest warrants served for drug charges, two additional people were picked up on outstanding bench warrants – Craig Romberger from Tremont and Nathan Cooper from Schuylkill Haven. Both individuals were remanded to the Schuylkill County Prison.

District Attorney James P. Goodman stated that the arrests were the result of several investigations conducted by the Schuylkill County District Attorney’s Drug Task Force in conjunction with local police departments. District Attorney Goodman stated that this is the District Attorney’s continued effort to keep drug dealers off the street and stated that we will continue to pursue drug dealers who sell these poisons on our streets and in our communities.

District Attorney Goodman also gave special thanks to Assistant District Attorney Bill Reiley who is a special prosecutor hired under a Methamphetamine Grant obtained by D.A. Goodman and who handles the prosecution of all drug arrests made by the Schuylkill County Drug Task Force. D.A. Goodman credited the good work of Bill Reiley along with the expansion of the Schuylkill County Drug Task Force and the cooperation of local police for the increase in the number of drug arrests being made in the county.

The drug bust in the middle and southern part of the county follows on the heels of a major drug bust that occurred in Northern Schuylkill County on July 30, 2009 when 25 street level drug dealers were arrested. D.A. Goodman wanted to emphasize what results can be achieved by local police working together with the Schuylkill County Drug Task Force to help keep drug dealers off the street. D.A. Goodman emphasized that it is important to fight the war on drugs and help make our communities safer.

$6.1 MILLION IN RECOVERY FUNDS WILL CLEAN UP LEAKING UNDERGROUND TANKS

HARRISBURG.Aig. 18, 2009 – Governor Edward G. Rendell announced today that Pennsylvania has received the maximum grant amount available to the state for leaking underground storage tank cleanup under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The state will use the $6.1 million in federal funding to clean up 71 tank sites in 40 counties.

“Leaking underground storage tanks create a variety of problems, from soil and ground water contamination to preventing sites from being used in a productive manner,” said Governor Rendell. “The benefits of these projects will be many: the clean-up work will create jobs for contractors; and the remediated sites will help attract developers which creates construction jobs and permanent jobs through new business opportunities.”

In July, the state Department of Environmental Protection applied for the Recovery Act funding grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to clean up sites where the responsible party is unknown, is unwilling or unable to remediate the site or the cleanup is an emergency response situation. In cases where the responsible party is unwilling or partially able to conduct the work, DEP will perform the remediation work and may take actions to recover cleanup costs.

“This is an example of federal money being used at the local level to put people to work and make their neighborhoods better and safer places to live and work,” said Governor Rendell. “This funding will enable us to take once productive sites and restore them to the point where they can be productive once again.”

Pennsylvania began regulating underground storage tanks in 1989. State law requires all underground storage tanks to be registered and permitted. Newly installed and replaced underground storage tanks must be double-walled and have corrosion protection and leak detection. Tank installers must be certified by the state and tanks are inspected by DEP-certified inspectors at least once every three years.

For more information, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us, keyword: Storage Tanks. To learn more about how the federal economic stimulus will benefit communities across Pennsylvania, visit www.recovery.pa.gov.

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The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell’s initiatives and to sign up for his newsletter, visit www.governor.state.pa.us.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is a list of the 71 sites where Pennsylvania will address leaking underground storage tanks using federal recovery funding:

Adams County Oxford Township — William McIntyre property

Allegheny County North Fayette Township — Former Dairy Mart #1122 Oakdale Borough — Zirwas Atlantic

Armstrong County Ford City — Tim Rusfre property

Beaver County Freedom Borough — Pine Run Market Hopewell Township — Mancini’s Service

Bedford County East Providence Township — Post House Restaurant Napier Township — Gilbert Brothers

Berks County Saint Lawrence Borough — Saint Lawrence Citgo

Bradford County Ridgebury Township — Al’s Mid State Market Wells Township — State Line Coastal

Bucks County Springfield Township — Stony Point Grocery Warrington Township – Malcolm’s

Carbon County Summit Hill Borough — Leonzi Property

Chester County East Pikeland Township — Gappa Sadsbury Township — Tim Browns Auto

Clearfield County Beccaria Township — Slovikosky Service Station

Columbia County South Centre Township — Jiffy Mart

Crawford County Conneautville Borough — Conneautville Keystone Meadville City — Kimple’s Exxon

Cumberland County Hampden Township — Super Car Wash

Delaware County Chester City – Dudek’s Service Center Ridley Township — Otto’s Service Station

Erie County Albion Borough — Povolko Citgo

Fayette County Uniontown Borough – Trusio’s

Forest County Tionesta Borough — Shea Auto

Franklin County Greene Township — Scotland Fuels Waynesboro Borough — Waynesboro Food Mart

Huntingdon County Jackson Township — Former Bigelows Grocery

Indiana County Indiana Borough — McNaughton Oil White Township — Flemings Amoco

Juniata County Mifflin Borough — Former Mifflin Service Center

Lackawanna County Clarks Green Borough — Hawk Oil Clifton Township – Fisher’s Quik Shoppe Scranton City — Carpentier Property Scranton City — Diana’s Gulf

Lebanon County Jonestown Borough — RK Tune Up 3

Lehigh County Slatington Borough — Hilltop Texaco Washington Township — Zeigler Property (Perkowski)

Luzerne County Dallas Township – Besteder’s ESSO Duryea Borough — Shock’s Service Station Hanover Township — Domoco Gas & Oil Lehman Township — Harold’s Garage Newport Township — Alden Station Mini Mart Wilkes-Barre City — Sanitary Leasing Service

Lycoming County Jordan Township — Unity Market

Mercer County Coolspring Township — McEwen Oil Sharon City – Radkowski property

Monroe County Pocono Township — Scotrun Texaco Stroud Township — North Fifth Street Texaco Stroud Township — Weaver Property

Montgomery County Horsham Township — Glemser Bros Norristown Borough — OJP Auto Service Inc Whitpain Township — Center Square Citgo

Northumberland County Shamokin City – Shamokin City Warehouse

Perry County Spring Township — Greenbriar Mall

Philadelphia County Philadelphia City — Bills Auto Philadelphia City — Ribot’s

Potter County Harrison Township — Mill’s Country Store Portage Township — Costello General Store Roulette Township – Faith’s Country Store

Schuylkill County Cass Township – Jenkin’s Property Pottsville City — West End Cleaners

Snyder County Spring Township — Shellenberger Agency

Sullivan County Dushore Borough — Trapani Service Station

Susquehanna County Little Meadows Borough – Barnum’s Gulf Silver Lake Township — Tucker’s Store

Washington County Smith Township – Meerdo’s Service Somerset Borough — Yost Property

Wayne County Salem Township — Don Frick Sheds Salem Township – Grason’s Service Station

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HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger today lauded East Penn Manufacturing Co. in Lyon Station, Berks County, for receiving a $32.5 million grant under the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The grant, announced this week by the U.S. Department of Energy, is part of a nationwide effort to accelerate manufacture and deployment of electric vehicles, batteries, and components. East Penn Manufacturing, a third-generation family business with more than 63 years in battery manufacturing, will use the grant to increase production capacity for its lead-acid batteries and the UltraBattery, a lead-acid battery combined with a carbon supercapacitor, for micro and mild hybrid applications.

“This grant will allow East Penn Manufacturing to scale up production to more than 2.8 million batteries annually by 2013,” Hanger said. “Such funding creates new high paying, sustainable jobs while at the same time it strengthens the diversification of this critical manufacturing sector for batteries and electric drive components.”

East Penn Manufacturing received one of 48 grants awarded nationwide for new advanced battery and electric drive projects. The $2.4 billion in projects marks the single largest investment in advanced battery technology for hybrid and electric-drive vehicles ever made. East Penn is the largest manufacturing employer in Berks County. It has a 490-acre plant site, the largest in its industry, with over two million square feet under roof. The grant will enable East Penn to:

• Support the future of the hybrid electric vehicle market by producing 4.2 million advanced batteries; • Play a significant role in producing a viable, cost effective, and highly recyclable battery for the HEV market; and • Save approximately 200 million gallons of petroleum over the next four years, and 1.2 billion gallons of petroleum by 2020.

“East Penn has adapted and responded to the current economic crisis by developing innovative technologies to meet the environmental challenges of the 21st century,” Hanger said. To learn more about how the federal Recovery Act is benefiting Pennsylvania, visit www.recovery.pa.gov.

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by Bud Angst

The following article was first published in the Valley View Citizen-Standard in 1996 in the wake of some meeting of a school board that were being disrupted by members of the attending public. I came across it recently during an on-going spurt of files-cleaning and decided it still is relevant not only to the elected body to which it was aimed more than a dozen years ago but to all elected local government elected bodies.

The public’s performance at the (name deleted) School Board meetings is impeding the conduct of official business and, in the process, making the district the laughing stock of the area.

One of the jokes making the rounds in the (municipalities deleted) is that the Board is considering solving its financial problems by charging admission to its meetings. The ticket concession, says the bitter joke, will be put out on bids and a distributor sought to market video tapes of the meetings, sale of the tapes to be promoted by submitting them to the producers of the “World’s Funniest Videos” program.

‘Tain’t funny. In fact, it’s disgraceful. And avoidable.

The (name deleted) School Board can — and certainly should — bring its meetings back under control.

The first step the Board should take is to pass a motion to conduct its meetings in accordance with a formal set of rules of order for public meetings — Roberts is the generally accepted one — and appoint its solicitor to interpret and rule upon violations of that rule.

Next, individual members of the Board should recognize that their responsibility is to provide an education that will equip our children to compete in a highly competitive, highly technological world. “It was good enough for us, so it’s good enough for them” is simply not good enough today.

Next, board members must recognize that they were elected to exercise their own judgment, not to poll the citizenry on every controversial issue. If we wish to take a citizens’ vote on every question, then there’s no need to have a school board. We can simply take a poll and do whatever the majority desires. The problem, of course, is that the majority is swayed by the rhetoric and emotion of the moment, changes its minds frequently, sometimes doesn’t know what it really wants, and, when it does, is often wrong.

The Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution was passed to protect the minority from the tyranny of the majority.

The (name deleted) Board — and the public — should also recognize that public input during the course of official meetings is a privilege, not a right, and can be revoked. Although public input at meetings is often permitted, it is usually confined to specific portions of the meeting and strictly controlled as to length and content. If no such rules have been set at (name deleted) School Board meetings, then it’s time to set them.

The Board should also realize that it is not powerless in the face of its president’s rulings or actions. Rulings by the presiding officer can and sometimes should be overruled by a majority vote of the members attending. When the president suggests, “Let’s hear what the public has to say,” it’s time for some member to reply, “I move that we adhere to our responsibilities and confine this discussion to elected board members.”

Citizens must be allowed to attend meetings where public business is conducted. There is no requirement they be allowed to speak, much less debate each other, on any topic they choose. And, when they are allowed to speak, no reason they should not be held to commonly accepted standards of courtesy and behavior.

(A PA Game Commission Statement)

HARRISBURG – Hunters and trappers seeking to participate in Pennsylvania’s upcoming bobcat seasons have until Sept. 1 to submit an application via the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s new Pennsylvania Automated License System (PALS) to be included in the public drawing to award 1,780 permits. This can be done at any issuing agent or through the “Buy Your Hunting License Now” icon in the upper right-hand corner of the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us). There is no paper application process this year.

There is a $5.70 non-refundable application fee to be entered into the drawing. Details on the season can be found on page 76 of the 2009-10 Pennsylvania Digest of Hunting & Trapping Regulations.

On Sept. 11, the 1,780 permits will be selected during a computerized drawing, which will be open to the public, at the agency’s Harrisburg headquarters, 2001 Elmerton Avenue, just off the Progress Avenue exit of Interstate 81. Those selected will receive their bobcat permit by U.S. mail in early October. The bobcat hunting season will take place Oct. 24 through Feb. 20. The bobcat trapping season will be held from Oct. 25 through Feb. 21.

The season will be open only in Wildlife Management Units 2A, 2C, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4D and 4E. To participate in this restricted opportunity, an individual must have a resident or nonresident furtaker license, a resident or nonresident junior combination license or resident senior combination license, and a bobcat hunting-trapping permit.

Those who received a bobcat permit last year are not eligible for this year’s drawing. Only one application per person will be accepted, and PALS will prohibit an individual from submitting more than one application.

As part of the preference point system established by the agency in 2003, consecutive applications are not required to maintain previously earned preference points, but those points can be activated only in years that an individual submits an application. For instance, if an individual has six preference points, but does not enter the 2009 drawing, he/she will not have any chances in the upcoming drawing. However, their preference points will remain on hold until they apply again. Once a hunter or trapper is awarded a bobcat permit, the individual’s preference points will revert to zero.

Based on the accumulation of preference points, the Game Commission will automatically award a bobcat permit to those applicants who have six preference points (five previous points plus a point for their 2009 application). Once the individuals who have automatically earned a bobcat permit are determined, the remainder will be awarded by computerized drawing.

State Game Lands escape nasty infestations; should be alright for several years

By Joe Kosack, Wildlife Conservation Education Specialist
Pennsylvania Game Commission

HARRISBURG – Heading into this past spring, it appeared stands of oaks on many Pennsylvania Game Commission State Game Lands were going to be hit hard by gypsy moth caterpillars. Limited funding for spraying from state agencies and municipalities had Pennsylvania in a bad way.

The state braced for what was forecasted to be another nasty gypsy moth caterpillar raid on oaks, conifers, hickories and other species in 25 mid-state and northeastern counties. But, the emerging caterpillars were hit by a fungus – Entomophaga maimaiga – a natural enemy, although not native to Pennsylvania; a virus – Lymantria dispar Multienveloped Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus (NPV) that appeared in America about the same time the gypsy moth did; and a biological insecticide – Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) – sprayed on forestlands by the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The caterpillars, thankfully, didn’t have a chance when this triple-threat hit them. That doesn’t mean they’re gone for good; just that they had to return to the starting block in population building.

“This is a blessing for our habitat managers because it assures them greater control over what happens to forests on State Game Lands,” said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. “It’s always our goal to manage State Game Lands on terms favorable to our wildlife. But nature obviously has a big say in what happens. This gypsy moth population collapse will be good for wildlife, good for forests and their managers and good for the folks who utilize forestlands for everything from hunting and trapping, to hiking and birdwatching.

“But as gypsy moths regroup – they always do – they are sure to resurface in the state’s woodlands some time in the next five to 10 years. It is a recurring problem Pennsylvania has endured since they arrived here in the 1930s. Just about every one of our State Game Lands has endured them at one time or another.”

Dave Henry, Southeast Region forester, considers the gypsy moth collapse a great break for the agency, but he notes that this latest outbreak and others that have occurred since the 1970s have had a serious consequences on State Game Lands and the state’s forest system.

“Although the oak resource on State Game Lands will be spared from a great deal of additional tree mortality, and past locations with moderate to severe damage will have a reasonable chance to recover from the stress of losing most of their leaves, oak resource losses from numerous rounds of gypsy moth caterpillar defoliation have been substantial,” Henry said. “I really wonder about how many more times our oaks and other desirable hardwoods can endure the next rise of gypsy moths or oak-leaf rollers, emerald ash borers or other devastating forest pests.”

The state’s forests have had more than they can handle when it comes to forest pests, tree diseases and invasive plants over the past century. At one time, the Commonwealth’s forests were dominated by thriving stands of American chestnut trees. The blight – also not native to North America – that would claim them struck in the early 1900s. But before it would smother our native chestnuts, gypsy moths would surface in Pennsylvania. So oaks, the mighty mast-producing chestnut’s successor, were already in trouble – at least in the Poconos – when the state’s blighted chestnuts died, the canopy cleared and they got their big moment in the sun.

Of course, a point could be made that deer, wild turkeys, cottontails and other wildlife benefit from the canopy consumption of gypsy moth caterpillars. It allows sunlight to reach the forest floor and spurs the growth of many plants that will provide food and cover. However, such analysis should factor in the reduction/loss of fall mast crops and important shade-loving understory plant species, and the immediate competition for open space that will erupt between native plants and incredibly aggressive, invasive non-native species, such as mile-a-minute weed and ailanthus. It most cases, native species don’t have a chance unless the landscape is sprayed with special herbicides.

In 2008, more than 400,000 forested acres were sprayed with Bt in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. And still, the gypsy moth expansion was expected to steamroll in 2009. It had momentum, and Pennsylvania’s attention, even if the state didn’t have the resources it needed to respond more aggressively. Then Entomophaga maimaiga, NPV and 300,000-plus gallons of Bt hit the emerging caterpillars. Now at the height of the gypsy moth’s egg-laying period – July and early August – many of Pennsylvania’s once imperiled oaks are pushing acorns, not daisies.

Most kept their leaves. That’s good news for oaks, wildlife and Pennsylvanians, particularly hunters.

Deer hunters who find the acorns in coming months should have a good chance of finding deer, because deer and many other wildlife species seek out acorns – loaded with carbs, fats and protein – in the fall to store energy in preparation for winter. Last fall, deer hunting was different for many Pennsylvanians, because the oak stands they usually hunted were defoliated earlier by caterpillars and consequently devoid of acorns and deer. Hunters found out at the last minute deer weren’t in their usual places and had to work hard to find where they went. Some never did.

“This unexpected reprieve from serious forest defoliation will hopefully make it somewhat easier for hunters to find deer activity centers in the state’s heartland and the northeastern counties,” said Robert C. Boyd, agency Bureau of Wildlife Management assistant director. “These were the areas where gypsy moth caterpillars were poised to do the most damage this year. But this reprieve doesn’t mean it’ll be easier to shoot a deer this fall. Hunting deer is almost always a challenging pursuit.”

This spring, the Game Commission’s gypsy moth suppression efforts in southcentral counties included spraying about 3,000 acres of State Game Lands in Juniata, Perry and Snyder counties. In the Northeast Region, the agency focused on State Game Lands in Luzerne, Monroe and Pike counties. In the Southeast, State Game Lands in Berks, Dauphin, Lebanon, Lancaster and York counties were targeted.

On State Game Lands in the state’s northeastern counties, the previous three years were worse than this spring, according to agency forester Warren Harris.

“The last round of gypsy moth defoliation was not as devastating to State Game Lands in the northeast as some of the previous outbreaks,” Harris explained. “There was a lot of defoliation over the past three years, but many of our State Game Lands were not hit and where caterpillars were found in large numbers we sprayed. Last year, parts of Columbia, Luzerne, Monroe and Pike counties had the largest populations. When the caterpillars emerged this spring, they continued to cause moderate to heavy damage until their population collapse occurred.”

Wherever gypsy moth caterpillars have caused damage on State Game Lands there still is considerable potential for habitat to rebound as it has in some northeastern counties. Many of the defoliated trees can recover. The same applies to understory that suddenly found itself in direct sunlight. But whenever habitat changes, there are always winners and losers among the area’s flora and fauna. Such is life; and death.

“It’s important to remember our State Game Lands have been through this before, and our losses this time weren’t as great as they could have been,” explained Bill Capouillez, agency Wildlife Habitat Management Bureau director. “Where gypsy moths have hit us hard the past couple years, we have salvage cut and started new forested areas. Where caterpillar damage was only moderate, we hope the trees will recover and forest interior species can make do.”

Southeast Regional Forester Henry noted that hard mast trees have a propensity to respond vigorously after gypsy moth population crashes.

“Trees stressed by gypsy moth caterpillars will attempt to produce more mast while attempting to survive,” Henry said. “The response of oak trees will depend on the level of stress the trees experienced. Trees subjected to lower levels of impacts, along with less drought stress, will respond more quickly and potentially produce more acorns.”

If you decide to keep score in afflicted areas, please note that red, black, pin and scarlet oaks produce acorns that mature only every two years. White and chestnut oak acorns mature annually. Consequently it could be one to three years until you see an average or better acorn crop in the area(s) you’re watching.

Southcentral Region Forester Tom Lewis pointed out that salvage operations were conducted Bedford and Fulton counties to harvest stands of trees that were dead or dying from gypsy moth defoliation. Additional oak mortality salvage cuts will be made in Blair, Franklin and Perry counties.

“Some of these areas are already stocked with sufficient levels of regeneration, which will eventually develop into quality sources of food and cover for wildlife,” Lewis said. “However, a few areas either lack sufficient desirable regeneration or contain a high proportion of less-desirable plant species and may require remedial silvicultural treatments to enhance the establishment and development of beneficial trees and shrubs for wildlife. Either way, the forest we want will grow, one just requires a little more of our attention.”

Sometimes, removing trees isn’t an option. But that’s not always such a bad thing either, according to Harris, the Northeast Region forester.

“Dead trees that are left standing provide an abundance of snags that are used by insects and nesting songbirds,” Harris said. “I have worked areas where my ears were ringing at the end of the day after listening to the constant calling of juvenile birds in cavities that had mistaken the sound of my footsteps for their mother returning to their nest with food.”

Trees are important to wildlife. In fact, the overwhelming majority of wild birds and mammals that inhabit or pass through this state on migratory routes depend on or use trees, their fruits or the shady places they create at one point or another in their lifecycle. Trees matter. So does forest composition. That’s why the agency’s foresters work so hard to manage the hundreds of thousands of forested acres found on State Game Lands. It also explains why gypsy moths can wreak so much havoc in forestland by killing/severely stressing trees, giving sunlight access to the forest floor, and promoting unwanted changes in forest composition.

Facts from the Pennsylvania Game Commission: The gypsy moth was introduced from Europe into Medford, Massachusetts, in 1869, by Leopold Trouvelot, who was attempting to breed the insect for silk production. Unfortunately, some of the caterpillars escaped from his backyard rearing facility, and by the early 1900’s they began defoliating large areas of New England. Gypsy moth was first discovered in Pennsylvania near Pittston, in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties in 1932. During the 30’s and 40’s it continued to spread to Pike, Lackawanna, Wayne, Monroe, and Carbon counties. By 1969, it had spread west of the Susquehanna River, and by 1980, 38 Pennsylvania counties were infested. The gypsy moth has now moved beyond our state. It is now found as far west as Minnesota, with populations reaching outbreak levels every 5-10 years.

Randal O’Toole

07.23.09 Last week, Gov. Rendell submitted an application to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for a share of the $8 billion of stimulus money Congress allocated for high-speed rail.

This raises a question for Pennsylvanians: Are you willing to pay $1,000 so that someone—probably not you—can ride high-speed trains less than 60 miles a year? That’s what the FRA’s high-speed rail plan is going to cost: at least $90 billion, or $1,000 for every federal income taxpayer in the country.

That’s only the beginning. Expect billions more for cost overruns. Taxpayers will also likely have to cover operating losses; Amtrak currently loses $28-$84 per passenger in most of its short-distance corridors.

The FRA plan also has huge gaps, such as Dallas to Houston, Jacksonville to Orlando, and the entire Rocky Mountains. Once states start building high-speed rail, expect local politicians to demand these gaps be filled at your expense. And don’t be surprised when the government asks for billions more in 30 years to rebuild what will then be a worn-out system.

What would taxpayers get for all this money? Unless you live in California and maybe Florida, don’t expect superfast bullet trains. In most of the rest of the country, such as between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, the FRA is merely proposing to boost the top speeds of Amtrak trains from 79 mph to 110.

A top speed of 110 mph means average speeds of only 60-70 mph, which is hardly revolutionary. Many American railroads were running trains that fast 70 years ago.

The pro-rail Center for Clean Air Policy predicts that, if the FRA’s system is completely built, it will carry Americans 20.6 billion passenger miles a year in 2025. That sounds like a lot, but, given predicted population growth, it is just 58 miles per person.

Pennsylvania’s portion of the plan will cost more than $1.2 billion, or nearly $100 for every Pennsylvania resident, plus more than $30 million annually in operating subsidies. Pennsylvania taxpayers will get little return for any state funds invested in this project: the average Pennsylvanian will take a round trip on these trains less than once every 20 years.

Most of your $1,000 will go to California, which wants you to help pay for a costly bullet train. Even this train will do little to relieve congestion or save energy; mainly it will just fatten the wallets of rail contractors.

Who will ride these trains? We can get an idea by comparing fares between New York and Washington, D.C. As of this writing, $99 will get you from Washington to New York in two hours and fifty minutes on Amtrak’s high-speed train, while $49 pays for a moderate-speed train ride that takes three hours and fifteen minutes.

Meanwhile, relatively unsubsidized and energy-efficient buses cost $20 for a four-hour-and-fifteen-minute trip with leather seats and free Wi-Fi. Airfares start at $119 for a one-hour flight.

Who would pay five times the price to save less than 90 minutes? Those wealthy enough to value their time that highly would pay the extra $20 to take the plane. The train’s only advantage is for people going from downtown to downtown.

Who works downtown? Bankers, lawyers, government officials, and other high-income people who hardly need subsidized transportation. Not only will you pay $1,000 for someone else to ride the train, that someone probably earns more than you.

Finally, high-speed rail is bad for the environment. The Department of Energy says that, in intercity travel, automobiles are as energy-efficient as Amtrak, and that boosting Amtrak trains to higher speeds will make them less energy-efficient and more polluting than driving.

An expensive rail system used mainly by the wealthy elite is not “change we can believe in.” Pennsylvania should use its share of rail stimulus funds for safety improvements, such as grade crossings, not for new trains that will obligate taxpayers to pay billions of dollars in additional subsidies.

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Randal O’Toole (rot@cato.org) is a senior fellow with the Cato Institute and an adjunct scholar with the Commonwealth Foundation, an independent, nonprofit public policy research and educational institute based in Harrisburg.

Includes $13 Million Payment and Transfer of 1,200 Acres to Game Commission

HARRISBURG – The Department of Environmental Protection in conjunction with other state and federal agencies signed an agreement with five companies to compensate the Commonwealth and the United States for significant environmental damages associated with the Palmerton Zinc Pile Superfund Site in Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties.

“This is the largest natural resources damage settlement ever in Pennsylvania and it represents a significant financial assessment and the transfer of valuable property to the commonwealth,” said Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger. “We are proud to have participated with the other state and federal organizations to finalize this historic settlement.” The settlement includes a cash payment of nearly $10 million from CBS/Westinghouse of Pennsylvania Inc., the current owner of a portion of the site; CBS Operations Inc.; TCI Pacific Communications Inc.; HH Liquidating Corp.; and HRD Liquidating Corp., successor companies of the zinc smelting and zinc recovery operations in Palmerton Borough and Lower Towamensing Township, Carbon County; Washington Township, Lehigh County; and Lehigh Township, Northampton County..

In addition, these companies will also pay $2.5 million for damage assessment costs, discharge a $300,000 mortgage on the Wildlife Information Center at Lehigh Gap Nature Center and transfer 1,200 acres of valuable property known as Kings Manor to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. This property is valued at over $8 million.

The settlement was developed by a Natural Resource Damage Assessment Team formed under the auspices of the federal Superfund law, the Clean Water Act and Pennsylvania’s Hazardous Sites Cleanup Program. The trustees of the team were authorized to seek compensation for damages to the resources that were impaired by releases of hazardous materials from the former New Jersey Zinc and successor company’s operations.

The Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustees for this case are DEP, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the Fish and Boat Commission, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The area surrounding the site, including the Blue Mountain, Aquashicola Creek and the Lehigh River, was impacted by historic zinc smelting and recovery operations, which emitted contaminants such as lead, arsenic and cadmium to the environment. The monetary payments and property transfer will be used by the state and federal agencies restore, replace or acquire equivalent natural resources impacted as the result of operations at the site. A restoration plan will be developed for public comment by the trustees. “On behalf of Governor Edward G. Rendell and the residents of the commonwealth, the department is pleased to announce this settlement. We feel it is equitable compensation for past environmental damages in the Palmerton area,” added Hanger.

A consent decrees has been filed with the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is subject to a 60-day public comment period. It is available online at www.usdoj.gov/enrd/consent_decree.html.

For more information, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us, keyword: “Natural Resource Damage Assessment.”

BOWMANSTOWN, July 30 – Citing Pennsylvania’s commitment to protecting the environment with the help of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger joined local officials today to break ground for a $3.8 million sewer project in East Penn Township, Carbon County.

“This is the type of local infrastructure improvement project Governor Rendell envisioned with President Obama’s recovery program,” Hanger said. “These recovery funds will enable East Penn Township to solve on-lot sewage problems for nearly 100 of its residents, protect the environment and provide jobs during construction.”

The project consists of the installation of a sewage collection system for approximately 100 homes and businesses. The sewage will be treated at the Bowmanstown sewage treatment plant. DEP approved the township’s planning that would address documented malfunctioning on-lot sewer systems in September 2007.

On April 20, the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority awarded a $3.8 million grant and loan package to East Penn Township. The project is scheduled to be completed by December 2010.

“I am pleased to break ground today for this environmental infrastructure improvement project and congratulate East Penn Township,” Secretary Hanger said. “There are similar projects across Pennsylvania improving our quality of life, putting Pennsylvanians to work and upgrading our aging infrastructure.”

Pennsylvanians will receive approximately $16 billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) signed by President Obama on Feb. 17, including billions of dollars in direct relief for Pennsylvania taxpayers and more than $9.9 billion in formula-driven funding for health care, education, infrastructure, job training, housing and other aid.

The act is helping thousands of children and families in Carbon County. This includes tax relief for nearly 30,000 individuals and households; additional benefits and weeks of benefits for 1,600 unemployed county residents; a new healthcare subsidy that will cover 65 percent of monthly premiums for 2,700 residents; healthcare for nearly 9,000 children and adults through the Pennsylvania Medical Assistance Program and an additional 1,081 county children will continue to receive health insurance through the Pennsylvania Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and the Cover All Kids Program; and an increase in Food Stamp benefits for 5,588 county residents.

For more information, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us and click on the ARRA link.