Implementation of the Provisions of Act 24 of 2008 The Pennsylvania Appalachian Trail Act
With the recent passage of the Act 24 of 2008 (amending the 1978 Pennsylvania Appalachian Trail Act) the fifty-eight Pennsylvania municipalities within which the Appalachian National Scenic Trail runs will be required by law to use their zoning authority to preserves the trail and protect the natural, scenic, historic and aesthetic values along the trail. If the municipality does not currently have a zoning ordinance, the legislation requires the municipality to pass one (at least covering the area of the trail.) In order to provide municipalities with assistance on implementing this legislation an interagency task force with representation from the Pennsylvania Departments of Community and Economic Development (DCED), Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Environmental Protection (DEP) and their non-governmental partner, The Appalachian Trail Conservancy, was convened. The AT Zoning Task Force recommends engaging a consultant to develop of a set of resource materials and to assist with developing a strategy to implement the provisions of Act 24 of 2008.
