Pennsylvania Code
Title 25 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Part I - Department of Environmental Protection
Subpart A - Preliminary Provisions
Article I - Administrative Provisions
Chapter 9 - ENVIRONMENTAL MASTER PLAN
Subchapter D - POLICIES FOR NATURAL AREAS
POLICIES FOR NATURAL AREAS
Section 9.317 - Future development

(a) Natural areas often represent those remnant portions of this Commonwealth least impacted by human activities. In relationship to the entire State, these areas represent a relatively small acreage and are usually located in the more remote regions. As such, they are most likely to share the surrounding environs with large scale development activities such as timber harvesting, strip mining, dams and reservoirs or energy complexes.

(b) Many of the potential conflicts between these opposing uses of the land can be resolved early in the planning stages if the value of natural areas is recognized within institutional mechanisms at the State and local level and by industry and other private concerns. Therefore, it shall be the Environmental Policy of the Commonwealth to promote environmentally sensitive land and water planning throughout all levels of government and in the private sector to ensure the protection of natural areas.