July 27, 2004
Allegheny National Forest Bicycle Ride
Posted by jkleissler at 04:16 PM | Comments (3)
April 23, 2004
Rendell Comments on Eco-Tourism
Does Governor Rendell get it? I wonder if it takes someone coming in from outside of our area to actually understand that recreation and tourism is our number one industry tied to the Allegheny National Forest (even though the facts have pointed this out for some time) and that there is tremendous potential for growth. From the Warren Times-Observer (subscription required):
Rendell: ANF untapped opportunity for tourismBy DEAN WELLS Times Observer Staff Writer
Gov. Ed Rendell returned to Warren County on Wednesday to present a $200,000 check to the Northern Alleghenies Vacation Region's new visitor center located on Rt. 6 in Starbrick.
Rendell also discussed the First Industries Fund, part of his recently passed economic stimulus program that will utilize $150 million in loans, grants and guarantees to promote the state's tourism and agriculture industries.
"We have the ability to become the number one (destination) east of the Mississippi in eco-tourism," Rendell said. "We haven't tapped into the incredible opportunity in the Allegheny (National) Forest region."
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The visitor center, which is scheduled to officially open on Memorial Day, is the largest visitor center currently located on scenic Rt. 6.
"This is a great step, a great step for Warren," Rendell said. "This fits in with our plans. In addition to the natural beauty (as a draw), we need an infrastructure. And that is a visitor center. We need this."
According to Rendell, he is scheduled to return to Warren County in the near future to shoot a television commercial at the Allegheny Reservoir that will promote the region in the Philadelphia area.
"Over 4.7 million people live in the Philadelphia area," Rendell said. "They spend a lot of money to leave the state to see things. For one-tenth of the price, they can see things in their own state. We think the returns can be absolutely phenomenal."
Now we appropriately criticized Rendell for his administration's baseless praise of Collins-Pine's status quo industrial tree farming operations. But this dedication to our leading industry tied to the national forest is a great positive. If you were to join these types of infrastructure projects with our Allegheny Wild! proposal which incorporates an appropriate balance of infrastructure projects and conservation on the Allegheny National Forest you will have created a fundamentally vital service to the future of our local economies.
Posted by jkleissler at 11:18 AM | Comments (0)
January 02, 2004
Snowmobile Rules Changed
We have this in today's Warren Times-Observer thanks to Victoria Barone. Apparently the Forest Service has approved the new proposed rules that would allow minors to operate snowmobiles on public roads. The issue is obviously public health safety.
A U.S. Forest Service policy that will allow young people from ages 10 to 15 to operate snowmobiles on joint use roads on the Allegheny National Forest has been approved by Forest Service headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisc.According to Forest Supervisor Kevin Elliott, the Forest Service's law enforcement division has reviewed the policy and cleared the way for its implementation.
The policy allows persons 10 to 15 years old to drive snowmobiles on joint use forest roads as long as they hold a valid snowmobile safety certificate and are accompanied by someone at least 18 years old. The Forest Service plans to implement the policy in the 2003-2004 season.
Now, how crazy is that. Allowing 10 year olds to operate snowmobiles isn't just a hazard to them, they are a hazard to other forest users. Fortunately, at least some snowmobilers recognize the inherent problems associated with this proposal.
Tionesta Snowmobile Club Secretary Karen Atwood, who has taught snowmobile safety courses for nearly 30 years, has been in touch with the Forest Service since the idea was proposed.She strongly opposes the plan, saying it is dangerous. She pointed out that Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code does not allow 10-to 15-year-olds to legally operate a snowmobile on any state or township road and says there is good reason for that - people under the age of 16 do not have the experience or maturity to handle machines that often can exceed 100 miles per hour. According to Atwood, if someone is too young to legally drive a car, he or she is too young to drive a snowmobile.
In Pennsylvania, snowmobile drivers must carry liability insurance, wear helmets and those between age 10 and 15 years old must take a safety class to operate a snowmobile on any property other than their own or within a state forest system. Atwood noted that there is a big difference between state and national forest roads. The national forest roads are much more heavily used, she said. Oil and log trucks use national forest land and the general population can enter national forest areas free of charge. State roads are unplowed and not used by regular vehicles in the winter, she said. Joint use of the roads by snowmobilers and other vehicles increases the risk factor, Atwood noted.
Atwood said it also poses a problem because the young drivers cannot legally operate the snowmobiles outside of the national forest and the trails on the ANF connect to township joint use roads. Very often, snowmobilers are going to use township roads to get to services, food and lodging. Atwood thinks unless the areas are constantly patrolled, it will lead to 10- to 15-year-olds driving illegally on township roads.
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Mead Township Supervisor Al Fox pointed out that the township has no roads designated as joint use for snowmobiles and other vehicles. They have been approached about this in the past, Fox said, "but it has never happened, for one reason or another."
Knowing the Forest Service will allow children as young as 10 to operate a snowmobile would definitely affect any decision like that in the future, according to Fox. "Snowmobiles are fun. I don't have a problem with them, but you're supposed to have a driver's license when you're on the highway," Fox said. "...I find it quite distressing that they would allow 10-year-olds to drive on even a semi-private trail."
The Times-Observer keeps new articles up for only about a week. Discuss this one here if you wish. You can also comment on their website.
Posted by jkleissler at 01:04 PM | Comments (2)
October 21, 2003
Risky policy change on snowmobile use
The Forest Service has proposed a policy change in snowmobile use in the Allegheny National Forest -- this change, which they are saying is simply codifying prior direction, would allow children from ages 10 to 15 to drive snowmobiles in the Allegheny.
Forest Service spokesman Dale Dunshie, apparently unconcerned about the safety of children, said that the decision was simply "good business management".
Karen and Ed Atwood, snowmobile safety instructors for nearly 30 years, have a different view:
"They (children) may be riding in a line but still they have to react to things that are unexpected out there. Kids don't have that kind of maturity. We have people in our club who will not ride on the weekend because of some of the things that happen out there...You don't have a lot of time to get the snowmobile out of the way. You have to respond like an adult," she said.
So, we can support the Forest Service's policy 'revision' that considers allowing 10 year old children to drive snowmobiles "good business management" or support the Atwoods who know better than most of us what constitutes reasonable safety measures.
Posted by Ryan at 02:15 PM | Comments (1)