ELECTION UPDATE 

I would like to share with you the position of the gubernatorial candidates relative to the issue of gas tax funding for motorized trail programs. The short answer to the question is that they both have been asked the question. As of this writing neither side has specifically said they support or oppose this PSSA backed initiative. However, some comments are in order. Promises have been made that responses are forth coming from the candidates regarding their position on the question of whether they support or oppose using gas taxes for motorized trail projects.

I should, if you can believe a politician, have an answer for you in the October issue, still time to make a decision on who to vote for. Additional comments, the initial response from Mayor Rendell when I asked him to support this initiative his response was, " ... and what you're proposing sounds very reasonable." From an historical perspective Attorney-General Fisher as a member the Pennsylvania Senate co-sponsored legislation along with Senator Wenger that would have dedicated gas taxes generated by snowmobiles to be allocated to DER for trail projects.

For those of you who are reading this paper with out the benefit of membership and are interested in knowing the answer should join the Association to receive the October issue. More than that we all should become more involved in the political future of your sport. The pressures continue from the environmentalists, some policy makers (legislators) and entrenched bureaucrats against motorized recreation. You can't continue on the sidelines of politics, it is not a spectator sport. Sno-PAC: Thanks Contributors! I would like to once again thank the more than 100 members of PSSA the contributed in excess of $4,000 for the Sno-PAC earlier this year. Once again it's time to turn to you and to all PSSA members to contribute or to make a contribution to Sno-PAC. The committee will soon be reviewing a list of legislative candidates for consideration. Again more on this in the October issue. Needless to say, any candidate to receive Sno-Pac support shall have had to make a considerable contribution to PSSA 's policy objectives.

Below are issue statements he should consider putting before your candidates for the General Assembly both House and Senate. If you have any questions comments please feel free to contact me at your convenience. My contact information appears at the bottom of this page.

PSSA CANDIDATE QUESTIONS

FUNDING

Issue: The Pennsylvania State Snowmobile Association believes that taxes paid on the purchase of fuel and oil used in motorized recreational vehicles should be used to support the infrastructure and needs of the motorized recreational vehicle program.

In 1969, the Pennsylvania General Assembly amended the Liquid Fuels Tax Act to include a tax refund provision for the Fish and Boat Commission. A portion of the revenues generated by boaters paying the tax at the pump have been used by the Commission to improve and enhance the experience of the recreational watercraft public. The Pennsylvania State Snowmobile Association believes that snowmobilers, atv riders, motorized trail users and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources would all benefit from a similar tax refund provision.

Based on DCNR's last estimate more than $5.4 million in liquid fuels tax revenues are generated in Pennsylvania by snowmobile, ATV, off-road motorcycle and 4 wheel drive enthusiasts.

In light of the forgoing and being that motorized recreation is on the increase in the Commonwealth, and further that sufficient resources do not exist to meet the needs of the motorized trail community, would you recommend and urge the passage of legislation that would allow the Department of Conservation access to these revenues?

CONNECTIVITY

Issue: For the past seven years several Snowmobile Clubs in the center of the Commonwealth, as well as PSSA, have been working on obtaining a legal crossing of Penn's Creek in the Poe Paddy area. If a crossing of Penn's Creek could be obtained it would provide a necessary " link" to allow legal snowmobiling from Huntingdon/Altoona area to the Williamsport Area, effectively connecting three separate forest districts, namely Rothrock, Bald Eagle, and Tiadaghton.

In September of 1998 PSSA received word that the bridge would be approved by DCNR and that T 21 funds would be used to fund the project, with a possible completion date of 1999. That never happened, and was reported that opposition of the trout unlimited and other environmental organizations had stopped the project.

At the request of the Bald Eagle district forester, DCNR is considering having the Poe Paddy Area of Penn's Creek changed to a " wild area". A wild area in Pennsylvania means wilderness area, which would effectively stop any future development of a legal crossing of Penn's Creek, and may also exclude snowmobiling on current joint use roads that are now legal to ride.

Would you support linking the North and South Divisions of the Bald Eagle State Forest by constructing a bridge in the Poe Paddy area? A bridge linking Old Mingle Road to the Southern Division would provide an environmentally sound crossing that would create a destination riding opportunity for snowmobilers and others along the more than 150 mile corridor that the link would create.

POSITIVE APPROACH

Issue: Within the various state forest districts, each district determines how snowmobiles an ATV trails are built and maintained. If a particular forester favors snowmobiles we have good trails and a good working relationship in that forest.

However, if the forester is opposed to snowmobile trails are in very poor condition or do not exist. In some instances, it seems as though the forester intentionally blocks any efforts of cooperation for trail development.

Standardized policy for each state forest district for snowmobile and ATV trail development and maintenance does not exist or are not consistently applied across the forest districts.

Would you agree to review and modify any existing or proposed natural resource management document by taking a positive management approach towards motorized recreation on public lands?

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Lowell Morton, Don Clouser, or me, Fred Brown.  I can be reached at 717.234.8814, or fred-brown@home.com