The Canyon: It's Not a Done Deal
July 28, 2009 — As you likely saw in the Centre Daily Times, Rep. Babbette Josephs has told Reps. Benninghoff and Hanna to take their competing bills to transfer Rockview Penitentiary lands to either the Game Commission or to Penn State back home and work out a grassroots compromise.
There only two alternatives to transferring the Rockview lands — the PA Game Commission or Penn State. There are no other alternatives. Supporters of the Master Plan favor Penn State getting the land.
The PA Game Commission and Rep. Kerry Benninghoff have met with Benner Township (go to Benner Township’s web site, click on NEWS, scroll to the bottom and click on ARCHIVES, and then click on June 4, 2009) and discussed their plans for the 1,200 acres of uplands if they were given the opportunity to purchase the property. The Game Commission has the funds, expertise and mandate to hold and manage the land for wildlife and can never sell it. They don't need $12 million to implement a plan nor do they need the $250,000 annual fee that ClearWater would get to manage the easement.
We need to come together and support the Game Commission getting the land. If they get this land, our kids and grand kids will be assured this land will remain in public ownership forever.
Before the year is out, this issue will come to a head. Senator Corman is still a key to this land transfer. Please take the time to call his office in Harrisburg (717-787-1377) and tell him you want the land transferred to the Game Commission. If Senator Corman supports Penn State getting the Rockview land, he will find a way to get it to them - without his involvement so that he does not get blamed by the voters. He is the key player.
Those who live in Benner Township should contact the Benner Township Supervisors (email at BENNERTWP@aol.com or at 355-1419) — identify yourself as a township resident — and tell them you oppose giving the land to Penn State and support giving the land to the Game Commission.
In the past, there have been debates about who the landowner should be. The time has come to end those debates and support the only state agency who has expressed an interest in the land and will maintain it for public use in perpetuity.
With your continued involvement in this, I believe we will prevail if we can continue to put pressure on local officials, Senator Corman, and Rep. Scott Conklin.
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Ed Perry
National Wildlife Federation
Global Warming Campaign
Phone - 814-880-9593
paglobalwarmingoutreach@gmail.com