Feb07 meeting minutes

Text Box: Allegheny County Sportsmen’s League, Inc. CELEBRATING 76 YEARS OF ENHANCING THE CONSERVATION OF THE OUTDOOR RESOURCES OF PENNSYLVANIA

THE VOICE OF 200,000 LICENSED HUNTERS AND FISHERMEN IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY

Website: www.acslpa.org

MEMBER: NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION

FEBRUARY 8, 2007

The monthly meeting in the Gold Room, Courthouse began at 7:30 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance and Conservation pledge were given in unison. Delegates and alternates were present from the following clubs and agencies:

Bakerstown Beagle LFSC Penn Hills R & G

Bethel Park S. McKeesport Police R & G

Clairton McDonald TCWA

Collier Mt. Nebo West Deer

Dormont-Mt. Lebanon PMSC

Forest Grove PMSC-Youth

PFBC – Martha Mackey PGC – WCO Doug Dunkerley

Minutes of the January meeting were approved as mailed.

Treasurer’s Report – Treasurer Connors report was approved without question.

PGC Wildlife Conservation – WCO Doug Dunkerley reported on the “trap/transfer” program, stating that turkeys are traded for pheasants with South Dakota.

Sportsmen’s organizations with approved propagation facilities can augment local ring-necked pheasant chicks supplied free-of-charge by the PGC. Applications can be downloaded from the agency website (www.pgc.state.pa.us)

Some approvals at the most recent meeting:

Spring gobbler season has been extended to Memorial Day. Final figures for bear harvest, 3,122 in PA, making 2006 harvest the second highest in state history. 79 taken during three-day archery season, 474 during extended season, and 2,569 during traditional three-dayseason.

Limiting of shooting clay birds on gamelands due to lead content and lead spray.

PFBC – WCO Martha Mackey reporting ice fishing is popular; rivers are unstable ice.

The 2007 winter stocking is in progress. Trout reduced by 30% but larger in size.

Year 2007 will be heavily focused on boating safety. 25 people died in boating accidents last year, compared to 12 in 2005. Only three of the 25 victims were wearing personal flotation devices; alcohol was a possible factor in 14 deaths. There are 3 officers full-time in AC now.

Youth license issue information will be available soon on the PFBC website.

Legislative Report – Chairman Kim Stolfer reports Rendell and his cronies are coming after us. Rep. Evans has a package of 13 bills, even to the lazer etching imprints on bullets. Rendell’s statements in his budget address to see that criminals are prosecuted for a felony when they possess a stolen gun – which is already current law; urging passage of legislation making it mandatory to report the loss or theft of a gun to police, causing dramatic impact on illegal gun trafficking in PA.

There will be a pro-gun news conference, gun owners and pro-gun legislators will be introducing our package of pro-gun legislation on April 24. This legislation will contain an expanded list of bills that address last year’s uncompleted legislative initiatives as well as several new ones. A list of the bills to be discussed, will be presented at the March meeting.

Allegheny County Council decided to send to a referendum vote the issue of electing or appointing a Sheriff. Evidence presented to Council on the consistently clear intent of our founding fathers on the issue of election of representative officials by the citizens, they chose the politically expedient route of handing this controversial issue off to the ballot machine. There hasn’t been any fact finding studies or hearings to gauge the support of the people for this measure. Gunowners should be especially concerned since this office is the highest law enforcement office and is directly responsible for the issuance of concealed carry licenses.

State House Judiciary Committee will be holding 11 hearings on the issue of gun violence.

The Government is not going to allow concealed carry in National Parks. Be careful if you are driving through these lands.

A motion was made and seconded (Ragaller/Fischer) to investigate through the ACSL lawyer, the possibility of filing an injunction against Allegheny County Council disputing their actions regarding electing or appointing a Sheriff. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

Conservation – Chairman Jack Walters gave his report, stating that PA homeowners should consider testing their homes for radon gas, which is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. It is best to conduct this test during the colder months; homeowners are not required to test for radon, however if a home has been tested, the results must be disclosed upon the sale of the home.

DEP is seeking a civil penalty of $657,040 from the owners of Synd Enterprises and Vertical Resources for 98 violations of environmental laws and regulations at their oil and gas well operations.

New tools, microhole technology, have been successfully field-tested and are awaiting the final decision for use in drilling natural gas and oil wells. This can be a way to economically develop America’s vast untapped resources.

DEP has filed a complaint against Kilbuck Properties for civil penalties of $470,000 for a strict timeline of reporting requirements where a September landslide along the Ohio River occurred. Kilbuck must install additional earth movement sensors by Feb. 19.

Game – Mike Maranche reported HB13 has been introduced in the PA House. The original bill, HB3007 died in the House last session; HB13 is in response to a court decision that placed liability on a landowner for a shooting accident on his land, by a hunter. Many landowners have closed their land to hunting, in fear of liability.

Ventilation shafts will be installed on SGL 179 in Green County and SGL 245 in Washington County. The shafts are being constructed to provide safe underground mining conditions to recover coal reserves. The PGC does not own the rights to the coal and has limited surface support rights, and will be compensated for any timber impacted by this construction. In exchange, Consol Energy, Inc. is conveying to the agency, three tracts of land totaling 235 acres adjacent to SGL245.

Environmental Stewardship Plan (ESP)- Clubs should implement an ESP which may provide

legal protections against range lead, which could be termed “hazardous waste”. Liming, re-claiming lead, plantings, these can be part of an effective community relations plan. Clubs, consult your attorney and make the decision for your circumstances. Getting the testing done should be a priority. If you have a reclamation effort in place, you may be covered.

NSSF (National Shooting Sports Foundation) is a credited source and membership is suggested.

Motion was made and seconded (Stolfer/Connors) that the ACSL look into membership of the NSSF. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Banquet –Saturday, March 10, 2007/Harmar House; tickets are available from Joe Cersosimo (412.331.3412) Perhaps a fall date should be considered.

Public Relations – Dave Bagaley presented information on the “Safety Poster Contest” which will be handed out at the ASTOS, kids 9-15 can create an 8-1/2 X 11 poster; entries mailed to ACSL Poster Contest, 15 Bairdford Road, Gibsonia, PA 15044-7875. Clubs with youth of eligible age should encourage them to enter; prizes will be awarded at the ACSL YouthDay July 22, 2007.

New Business – Youth Bass Anglers Conservation School, sponsored by the DCNR and the PFBC, will be held in Huntingdon County. Students 14-17 must submit a written, one page essay explaining: “What fishing means to me; the importance of conservation; and why I want to attend the school.” Enrollment begins Feb. 1, School is July 15-19, 2007 – fee is $125.00, charged upon acceptance. The ACSL will reimburse one half of the fee upon receipt of a completion certificate. Applications can be obtained at the PFBC web site: www.fish.state.pa.us (view Youth Bass Anglers Conservation School page.)

Club News Forest Grove Sportsmen’s Club has a request. One of their families has a daughter who is majoring in Wildlife Biology and will graduate soon from college. Melanie Cegelski has done a study on Coyotes of Pennsylvania and to complete a portion of her study it is necessary that Melanie obtain blood samples of a coyote. If you can assist her, please call Doris Cegelski at 412.337.1439.