Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. November 2011

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1 ANTHRACITE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE AREA Northumberland County, Pennsylvania November 2011 P A S H E K A S S O C I A T E S in conjunction with Pennoni Associates

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3 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This project was financed in part by grants from the Community Conservation Partnerships Program, Snowmobile/ATV Fund, under the administration of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Special thanks goes to all of the citizens of Northumberland County region, State, County, and Local law enforcement and emergency responders, local municipal officials, all individuals and agencies who participated in public meetings, focus group meetings, and key person interviews during the course of this study. Further, the contribution and input of the following individuals and organizations was also critically important to the development of the plan. Steering Committee Members Northumberland County Commissioners Commissioner Frank J. Sawicki, Chairman Commissioner Vinny Clausi Commissioner Merle H. Phillips State Representative Kurt Masser...State Representative / Former Northumberland County Commissioner / Hunter Ms. Kathy Jeremiah...Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Project Coordinator/Grants Manager/Tourism Mr. Patrick Mack... Northumberland County Planning Director Mr. Barry Yorwarth...Full Size OHV Representative / Private Citizen Park Development Liaison Mr. Jeff Nye... Full Size OHV Enthusiast, Private Citizen Electronic Data Management/Security Liaison Mr. Joe Picarelli... Northumberland County Human Resources, Biking/Walking Representative Mr. Dave Crowl...Northumberland County Conservation District, Environmentalist, Snowmobile Representative / Safety Trainer Mr. Howard Hetzendorf...Hunter / ATV Representative Mr. Steve Minker...Brush Valley Chamber of Commerce Representative / Local Business Mr. Bill Rosini Jr.... Adjacent Land Owner / Coal Community Representative Mr. Bernie Rumberger... Local Business Owner / Emergency Response Representative Mr. Gene Welsh... Coal Township Commissioner / Local Business Owner / ATV Enthusiast Mr. Jim Backes... ATV Enthusiast / Local Business Representative / Hunter Mr. Lance Schwartz... Off Road Community Representative (Non-County) / Zerbe Township Representative Ms. Louise Mensch...Equestrian Community Representative Mr. Tom Hetzendorf...Hunter / ATV Enthusiast Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

4 Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Recreation and Conservation Mr. Wes Fahringer...Williamsport Regional Office Recreation and Parks Adviser Mr. Alex MacDonald...Recreation and Parks Adviser Ms. Vanyla Tierney... Chief, Greenways, Trails and Rivers Section Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Ms. Kim Wheeler...Community Planner prepared by Pashek Associates, Ltd. 619 East Ohio Street Pittsburgh, PA (412) In conjunction with Pennoni Associates R E G I S T E R E D P E NNS Y JOHN O. REGISTRATION NUMBER L V A N BUERKLE I A L ANDS CAP E, J R. I T E C T AR C H Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

5 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1: Background, Site Information, & Analysis Background Introduction to the Site Site Inventory and Analysis Acreage Topographic Features Surrounding Land Uses Geology Soils Ecological Resources Hydrologic Features Site Access Weather Noise Deed Restrictions and Legal Agreements Overhead Electricity Transmissions & Pipeline Rights-of-Ways Sanitary Sewer Service Analysis Water Service Analysis Mineral Extraction Abandoned Mine Lands Transportation Permits Wind Energy Considerations Site Features and Points of Interest Chapter 2: Needs Assessment, Market & Demand Analysis, Public Participation and Economic Analysis Needs Assessment & Demand Analysis Market Area Inventory of OHV Facilities Federally Owned OHV Trails State Owned OHV Trails Private OHV Facilities in Pennsylvania Admission Comparisons Reading Anthracite Properties in the Region Business Impacts of Reading Anthracite Properties OHV Facilities Outside PA but within 250 Miles of AOAA Summary of Impact of Other Facilities Needs Assessment ATV User Survey ATV needs in the AOAA Region Needs Assessment Conclusions Demand Analysis Potential Demand for the AOAA Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

6 TABLE OF CONTENTS Demand Analysis Conclusions Equestrian Demand Public Participation Steering Committee Meetings Public Meetings Focus Group and Municipal Meetings Summary of Key Person Interviews Economic Development Interests OHV Facilities OHV Interests and Businesses Non-Motorized Recreation Interests Environmental Interests Other Interests Economic Development Anticipated Impact of the AOAA Economic Comparisons with Similar Facilities Economic Impact Study of the AOAA Economic Development Vision Economic Development Recommendations Organizing for Successful Implementation Case Study: Hatfield and McCoy Trail System, West Virginia Case Study: Black Mountain Off-Road Adventure Park, Kentucky Economic Impact Studies Reviewed During this Planning Effort Current Land Management Controls and Recommendations Principles to Shape Public Policy Public Private Partnerships Chapter 3: Design Considerations and Process Activities and Facilities Analysis Off Highway Vehicle Design Guidelines General Facility Design Guidelines Summary of OHV Laws & Regulations Related to Liability Concerns Off Highway Vehicle Program Guest Services and Office Building Camping Facilities Camp Sites Trail System Layouts One Way Versus Two Way Trail Systems Synopsis on Multi-Use (Motorized & Non-Motorized) Trails Trail Level of Difficulty Off Highway Vehicle Challenge Course Youth and Adult Training Areas Advance Skill Training and Practice Areas Hill Climbs Rock Climb Areas Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

7 TABLE OF CONTENTS Drag Racing Areas Safety and Security Facilities Maintenance Office, Garage, and Storage Yards Wash Stations Participant Parking Areas Signs Maps Environmental Protection Non-Motorized Facility Program Equestrian Considerations Equestrian Trail Design Considerations Single Track Mountain Bike / Hiking Trails Geocaching Hunting Rock Climbing Canopy Torus / Zip Line Tours / Adventure Tours Paintball Model Aeronautics Field Concept Plan Eastern Reserve Area East of State Route Western Reserve Area West of State Route Concept Plan Facility Naming Chapter 4: Master Plan Introduction Master Plan Description Eastern Reserve King Coal Road Commercial Outparcels The Breaker Burnside Colliery Henry Clay Colliery Eastern Reserve Trails Burnside Patch Upper Excelsior Patch Enterprise Colliery Helfenstein Patch Western Reserve Western Reserve Connector Whaleback Mahanoy Mountain, Bear Valley, and Big Mountain Trevorton Patch The Flats and Coal Hill Mahanoy Mountain West Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

8 TABLE OF CONTENTS Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area Trail System Conservation PA DEP BAMR Mine Hazard Priorities Sustainable Design Proposed Rules and Regulations Opinion of Probable Construction Costs Phasing Recommendations Phasing Plan Opinion of Probable Cost Summary Chapter 5: Business Plan Introduction Management of the AOAA Current Ownership and Management Existing and Anticipated Site Uses Management and Operations Systems Option 1: County Ownership/Operation Option 2: County Ownership/Other Operation Option 3: Ownership and Operation by Others Recommended Ownership and Management Structure Option Proposed General Roles, Rights, & Responsibilities of the Authority Steps for Creating the Authority Creation of a Municipal Authority to Operate the AOAA Business Models Private Ownership State and National Parks and Forests Club Management/Ownership Business Model Conclusion Property Feasibility Business and Operations Staff Plan Management Staff Operations Staff Maintenance Staff Safety and Security Staff Volunteers Start-up Staffing Season and Hours of Operation Primary Market Segments Financial Recommendations and Projections AOAA Usage Now and Into the Future Pricing and Marketing Strategies Financial Projections Major Sources of Revenue and Expenses Startup Costs Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

9 TABLE OF CONTENTS Five Year Pro-Forma of Income & Expense and Break Even Analysis Five Year Pro-Forma Cash Flow Projection Communications Between Northumberland County Commissioners & the Authority Safety and Security Controlling Access Safeguarding People and Possessions Communication Volunteer Safety Team Incident and Accident Reports Education Safety and Security Program Risk Management Plan Staffing Safety Planning Team Maintenance Trail Management Objectives Preventative and Routine Maintenance Routine Inspections Reporting Hazards and Maintenance Needs Summary of Recommendations Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

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11 CHAPTER 1: Background, Site Information, & Analysis Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 1-1

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13 CHAPTER 1: CHAPTER 1: Background, Site Information, & Analysis BACKGROUND Northumberland County is located within the Middle Susquehanna River Valley and along the central tier of Pennsylvania s counties. At one time in its history Northumberland County encompassed one-third of the Commonwealth s land area, but has been subdivided over time, yielding 28 of Pennsylvania s counties. Indeed, Northumberland was, and is still referred to as the Mother of Counties. Northumberland County is now bounded by several of those counties of which it was once comprised, including: Columbia, Dauphin, Juniata, Lycoming, Montour, Perry, Schuylkill, Snyder, and Union Counties. Of Pennsylvania s 67 counties, Northumberland is the 32nd most populous, numbering 91,311 persons in year The most recent decennial census figures are 94,556 persons in the year Northumberland County encompasses approximately 460 square miles, containing 36 municipalities, which includes 11 boroughs, two cities, and 23 townships. The City of Sunbury is the county seat and is the most populated municipality with 10,610 persons enumerated in the year 2000 Census. The County s population density is approximately 199 persons per square mile, classifying it as a rural county. According to the 2000 Census, Northumberland County had 43,164 total housing units with an average density of 93.9 housing units per square mile. Historically, the development of Northumberland County has been associated with the development of its transportation systems, beginning with the trade routes of its indigenous peoples and the Susquehanna River. For a short time the Pennsylvania Canal system contributed to trade and development, ultimately giving way to the influence of the railroads, which burgeoned along with the coal mining industry. For the past century, the history of the County has been associated with the mining of coal. In the 19th century coal was extracted through deep mines, but in the 20th century most anthracite coal has been extracted through strip mining. There are four distinct anthracite coal fields encompassing ten counties in Pennsylvania, including Northumberland County. The Shamokin District covers 50 square miles, and includes portions of the southern tier of Northumberland County including the municipalities of Mt. Carmel, Zerbe, and Coal Townships, along with part of East and West Cameron Townships. Approximately 92 percent of the County s total land area is undeveloped, but boasts a dynamic agricultural industry throughout the northern tier of the County with 87.2 percent of this total devoted to crop and pastureland. Northumberland County s agricultural industry ranks slightly above the state s average with dairy and poultry farming comprising the largest market share. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 1-3

14 Developed areas comprise the balance of the County s total land area and largely consist of residential development. Today, the County s largest employer is the manufacturing industry, which employs 17 percent of the County s workforce, followed closely by the health care (14.6%), and retail trade (13%) industries. Rural and Urban Areas In 2003, the Center for Rural Pennsylvania adopted a definition of rural and urban based on population density. According to the 2000 Census, Northumberland County had 43,164 total housing units with an average density of 93.9 housing units per square mile. Therefore the County is classified as a rural county in Pennsylvania. Rural County or School District A county or school district is rural when the number of persons per square mile within the county or school district is less than 274. Counties and school districts that have 274 persons or more per square mile are considered urban. INTRODUCTION TO EXISTING COMMUNITY PLANNING Northumberland County has a Comprehensive Plan, as well as a Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance in place. Of the municipalities within which the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area will be located, Coal Township has a Comprehensive Plan, Mount Carmel Township has a Zoning Ordinance, and Zerbe Township has a Zoning Ordinance. Those ordinances each contain provisions for the development of recreational facilities within municipal boundaries. The format of the Northumberland County Comprehensive Plan was developed to inventory the features and characteristics of pertinent planning categories such as Land Use or Community Facilities, followed by a listing of Goals and Objectives for those categories. These Goals and Objectives are then followed by an Implementation Plan for each category. The following sections of the Comprehensive Plan were reviewed for congruity between proposed Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area (AOAA) development and pertinent Goals and Objectives. In the Comprehensive Plan, IV. Land Use, Northumberland County states that its Environment and Open Space Goal is to: Preserve natural features and conserve environmental resources throughout Northumberland County, to protect and improve environmental quality, and to preserve open space in suitable locations and quantities. The salient Objectives associated with this goal articulated by the Comprehensive Plan are: Preserve and protect wetlands and floodplains. Conserve forested lands and steep slopes. Use natural features and environmental and physical factors and development boundaries. 1-4 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

15 Establish a continuous, interconnected network of stream valleys, slopes, and wooded areas in an open space system. This goal and these objectives are consistent with the County s plan for the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area. Currently, the land is used for hunting and trail riding. However, these uses are conducted without carefully analyzed and planned consideration for environmentally sensitive areas, with the result that wetlands and floodplains as well as steep slopes and forested areas may be eroded and otherwise damaged with potentially irreversible consequences. The development of the AOAA will require the construction, operation, and maintenance of all facilities, whether a welcome center, bathhouses, camping areas, or trails, to be consistent with Federal and State environmental and other regulations. This conformance to regulations will ensure the preservation of environmentally sensitive areas by identification, avoidance, or mitigation. Further, the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area is ultimately to be a system of trails. Knitting together a patchwork of parcels to achieve a premier recreation facility is of highest priority for project planners. The result will meet the open space recreational system objective articulated in the Comprehensive Plan. In the Comprehensive Plan, V. Community Facilities, Northumberland County states that its Community Facilities Goal is to: Provide facilities and services to Northumberland County residents in the areas of health, protection, cultural enrichment, education, recreation, and social services, commensurate with the needs of the population. The salient Objectives associated with this goal articulated by the Comprehensive Plan are: Provide recreation facilities in types and abundance to meet the needs of Northumberland County residents. Implement the Rails to Trails program. Enjoyment of the forest is, and is expected to continue to be of high priority to the residents of Northumberland County, and beyond. Whether the particular activity is hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, bicycling, or off-highway vehicle riding, many of the region s residents look to the forest for recreation. The development of this facility will encompass most of the activities people look to the forest for. Many people currently use Northumberland County s forestland for recreation, but their activities may currently be illicit or unsafe for people and the environment. The Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area will permit those same activities, but in a way that increases their safety to users and the environment, expanding the enjoyment for all participants. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 1-5

16 There are two other Community Facilities Objectives that will not be directly fulfilled by the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area, but are worth mentioning here because of the value this facility may have on their ultimate fulfillment. Those Objectives are: Increase and maintain health service and emergency facilities to meet the present and future needs of the population. Develop, maintain, and coordinate modern fire, police, and emergency medical service systems. Many of the recreational activities in which residents engage in Northumberland County s forestland are inherently dangerous. Finding and quickly aiding injured people is sometimes difficult. The development of the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area will improve emergency services to recreational users in two ways. The increased rationality of development, which will include safe trail development, and rules and policies designed to improve safety, should limit the need for emergency services responding to recreational injuries, freeing those services for response elsewhere. In the Comprehensive Plan, VII. Economic Development, Northumberland County states that its Economic Development Goal is to: Maintain and improve the economic base of Northumberland County and to provide maximum employment opportunities for all residents of Northumberland County. The salient Objectives associated with this goal articulated by the Comprehensive Plan are: Maintain and strengthen the tourist industry. Maximize the effectiveness of all Federal, State, and private funds and programs. Seek and support regional cooperation in planning for economic development. Not only will the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area meet the needs of the residents of Northumberland County, but the draw of a premier Off-highway vehicle riding facility will reach well beyond the region, and the state. The success of the Hatfield-McCoy facilities in West Virginia and similar facilities across the US manifest the possibilities for economic development. Off-highway vehicle riders will travel to ride at a quality facility. When they do so, they will stay at local motels and hotels, eat at local restaurants, buy fuel and parts, and have repairs made at local shops. Further, Northumberland County has a heritage rich beyond just off-highway vehicle riding. As families are drawn to the AOAA, their attention may divert to the historic and cultural interests of the region, expanding tourism to other sectors than recreation. Finally, the development of a facility encompassing approximately 6,000 acres will require the cooperation and coordination of local government. Coal, Mount Carmel, East Cameron, West Cameron, and Zerbe Townships will become partners in the planning and development of the facility through their local ordinances. However, they too will benefit from the economic benefit afforded by the success of the AOAA. 1-6 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

17 INTRODUCTION TO THE TRAIL SYSTEM The Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area will accommodate a wide variety of motorized and non-motorized recreational opportunities. These include motorized activities such as off-road vehicle (ORV), all-terrain vehicle (ATV), and motorcycle riding, as well as non-motorized uses such as equestrian uses, bicycling, and hiking. While many facilities can be found that offer one or two of these opportunities, this diversity to be offered here is available in very few existing ORV facilities. Public facilities such as National and State Forests in Pennsylvania typically offer trails for non-motorized uses, and have been increasingly opening trails for ORV use. At many of these facilities ORVs are typically limited to Class I ATVs, which are off-highway vehicles that travel on three or more inflatable tires, with a maximum width of 50 inches and a maximum dry weight of 1,000 pounds. Class II ATVs are those vehicles with three or more inflatable tires that are greater than 50 inches in width or a dry weight exceeding 1,000 pounds. Public facilities in Pennsylvania that permit Class II ATVs typically limit those to vehicles with a maximum width of 58 inches or a dry weight of 1,200 pounds. The proposed AOAA will not limit the types of off highway vehicles, off-highway motorcycles, all terrain vehicles, or utility terrain vehicles based on their size and / or weight. OHVs are typically classified into three general categories: - OHM (includes all offhighway motorcycles) - ATV (includes ATVs, UTVs, and other similar type vehicles) - ORV (off-road vehicles, including full-size vehicles whether registered or not for on-road use including, specialty rock crawling vehicles, and hand built vehicles) Motorized off-highway vehicles are classified into several general but distinct categories. ATVs are one of those categories, the others being full-size four wheel drive vehicles and motorcycles. Motorcycles, in off-highway terms, are those two-wheeled vehicles intended to carry one rider, and are outfitted with suspension systems that allow their riders to traverse diverse terrain including rocks, smaller downed trees, and water. Full-size vehicles that may or may not be registered for on-road use including sport-utility vehicles (SUV), pick-up trucks, four wheel drive vehicles, specialty rock crawling vehicles, and hand built vehicles. Because of their size and weight and the resulting stress they place on the terrain, they are typically excluded from public motorized trail facilities. Indeed, ORVs tend to be barred from many private facilities, as well. An important feature of the AOAA is that accommodation for full-size ORV will be made, offering a rare, legal riding facility for those enthusiasts. Trails permitting OHV use in public facilities in Pennsylvania tend to be relatively short, with a range of 7 miles at the Burnt Mills trail in the Delaware State Forest to 45 miles at the Whiskey Springs trail in the Sproul State Forest. The trail mileage total for National Forests in Pennsylvania is miles at five locations, while the trail mileage total for Pennsylvania State Forests is at eleven locations. None of the public facilities in Pennsylvania permit the use of ORVs. Private facilities in Pennsylvania are difficult to categorize due to their differing business models. While some facilities are operated as businesses offering the use of their facilities to customers paying their fees, others are clubs with grounds available to members only, or are Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 1-7

18 opened to limited public use. Several of the facilities in Pennsylvania are primarily attractions other than off-highway vehicle use, such as historic lodges or camping and boating facilities that have added small-scale ATV facilities to diversify their businesses. Of twelve advertised facilities in Pennsylvania, only two permit ORVs. One of these, Rausch Creek Off-Road Park, permits only ORVs on its 30 miles of trails, barring ATVs and motorcycles. The second is Rock Run Recreation Area, which permits group ORV use at its facility; ORVs are admitted to Rock Run in groups of two or more for safety and security reasons. While the facility advertises 50 miles of trails for ATV use, its ORV trails are shorter but more technical in the challenges they offer. Beyond these two ORV use opportunities, private off-highway recreational facilities in Pennsylvania generally limit their uses to ATVs and motorcycles, with three advertising snowmobile uses. Advertised trail lengths range from four miles at Slippery Rock Dunes Outdoor Park in Butler County to 100 miles at Mountain Ridge Trails Resort in Somerset County. Of the twelve advertised facilities in Pennsylvania, nine advertised their trail mileage, totaling 343 miles. Outside of Pennsylvania, the bordering states of Maryland, New York, Ohio, and West Virginia have off-highway riding opportunities. Maryland and New York have facilities located within four hours driving time of Northumberland County, while the driving time to the facilities in Ohio and West Virginia range from five to eight hours. The business models of these facilities manifest similar diversity to those in Pennsylvania. Advertised trail lengths range from five miles at the Camden ATV Trail in New York to 100 miles at the Oswego County ATV Club in New York and at the Burning Rock Outdoor Adventure Park in West Virginia. However, the premier facility is the Hatfield-McCoy Trail System in West Virginia. As the name suggests, the Hatfield-McCoy facility is a system of six trail facilities totaling 432 miles of trails. Located in the southern tier of West Virginia, driving times to the Hatfield-McCoy trails from Northumberland County may range from six to eight hours. Of the off-highway facilities reviewed, the Hatfield-McCoy Trail System offers the largest and most comprehensive facility in the Northeast, but is nearly eight hours driving time from Northumberland County. Rock Run Recreation Area offers the most comprehensive trail use opportunity in Pennsylvania in that ORVs are welcome. The driving time from Northumberland County to the Rock Run facility in Cambria County is two to three hours. Given the popularity of ORV riding in the Northumberland County region and beyond, as well as the dearth of opportunities for ORVs, establishing a premier recreational facility in Northumberland County would fill the need for such a facility in the northeast Pennsylvania region. Location The proposed Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area is situated in southeastern Northumberland County in the corner between Columbia and Schuylkill Counties. The parcels that comprise the proposed AOAA form an elongated and linear series of properties that stretch nearly 13 miles (72,339 feet) from their western most point to the easternmost point. The parcels are not 1-8 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

19 entirely contiguous and are spread through the Townships of West Cameron, East Cameron, Zerbe, Coal, and Mount Carmel. The City of Shamokin is situated just north of the group of OHV parcels. The table to the right indicates the distance to the proposed AOAA from the following population centers: Although the OHV parcels themselves do not contain any managed lands, several state managed land areas are situated nearby: State Game Land #84 This game land is located to the south of the OHV parcels. It runs along the border of Upper Mahanoy Township and East and West Cameron Townships. State Game Land #165 This game land is located to the north of OHV parcels #2 and #3. It is situated at the corner of Coal, Zerbe, and Shamokin Townships. Wyoming State Forest Parts of the State Forest are situated to the northeast and southeast of the OHV parcels. Proximity to County Distance (miles) Harrisburg Dauphin 58 Allentown Lehigh 72 Lancaster Lancaster 80 Scranton Lackawanna 83 York York 84 State College Centre 85 Philadelphia Philadelphia 124 Altoona Blair 130 Pittsburgh Allegheny 231 Erie Erie 270 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 1-9

20 DESCRIPTION OF FIT Any discussion of fit must begin with a discussion of need. That a recreational facility focusing on motorized off-highway vehicle riding is needed in the region is evidenced by the volume of off-highway vehicle riding in the area. This volume is difficult to quantify because the riding is not monitored in any way, but the evidence exists in vehicle sightings and well-worn trails. There are over 130 miles of existing trails located on the County lands being studied. Absent monitoring vehicle and trail usage, the best approach to quantifying need is number of vehicle registrations. Motorized off-highway vehicles may be separated into several distinct, but general categories: ORVs, or full-size vehicles; ATVs and UTVs; and motorcycles. The demand for the facility being considered is analyzed in Chapter Two Needs Assessment. ORVs are full-size vehicles, and include sport-utility vehicles, pick-up trucks, and Jeeps. Many of these are registered for use on public highways and are used most of the time for conventional private transportation. However, these vehicles are typically outfitted with multiple-wheel drivetrains that allow their use off-highway. Other ORVs are full-size vehicles that are not registered for use on public highways and often have been highly modified for use in rock crawling, hill climbing, or trail riding. ATVs are three or four-wheeled vehicles intended for use off-highway. Typically these are smaller vehicles carrying one rider. Recently, larger versions of ATVs have become popular for utility use, known as UTVs, that may roll on four to six wheels and typically carry a driver and a passenger seated side-by-side. Off-highway motorcycles are two-wheeled vehicles intended to carry one rider, and are typically equipped with specialized suspension systems that allow them to traverse trail obstacles such as rocks and downed trees. Discerning the numbers of ORVs or motorcycles that might be used on Northumberland County lands using their registrations is difficult because they are either registered as general use vehicles, or are unregistered. For example, a pick-up truck that is used for driving to work during the week, and used for trail riding on the weekend is registered as a light-duty truck with no way to discern from the registration that the truck is used for trail riding. Likewise, an old Jeep that is no longer registered or used on-highway, but is highly modified for trail use does not exist from the standpoint of registration records. A similar challenge exists for discerning off-highway motorcycle usage. However, the PA DCNR does register ATVs. Because these vehicles may not be registered for use on public highways, they may only be used off-highway either on the property of the ATV owner, or at a public or private trail riding facility. This DCNR registration makes discerning the numbers of ATVs possible, albeit imperfect due to unregistered ATVs. ATV ownership in Pennsylvania is at an all-time high. As of June 1, 2010, the PA DCNR ATV Registrations include 2,336 registered ATVs (Active and Limited) in Northumberland County 1-10 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

21 (Limited vehicles are those confined to the property of the owner). This number does not include unregistered vehicles, the number of which is unknown. The popularity of ATV riding extends beyond just Northumberland County. As of the same date there were 21,417 ATVs registered in the counties surrounding Northumberland County, and over 253,700 registered ATVs in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. There is one legal riding area in the County, as Reading Anthracite sells recreation access permits for their properties. There are also several small public and private trail facilities in the counties that surround Northumberland County. While there is an expectation that all these ATVs are being transported to legal riding areas for use, the reality is that they are, for the most part, being ridden where convenient to their owners. This illicit riding causes environmental degradation and a generally unsafe condition in which many individual perspectives of appropriate behavior are applied. The development of this motorized-focused recreation facility in Northumberland County will provide a regulated, safe atmosphere offering environmentally responsible motorized recreation opportunities. Northumberland County s regional location is excellent - within a day s drive or less of most of the population centers of the Northeastern US. According to Fogg (2002), site developers, when considering the population of possible users, should consider the population within a three-hour drive time of the proposed facility site. Further, facilities that offer sufficient trail activity for a weekend can be expected to draw users from a four to six-hour drive time. (Fogg, G., Park Guidelines for Off-highway Vehicles. National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council) Of significant interest to off-highway enthusiasts is the terrain of the trails. Variation is the key. While some enthusiasts may prefer just flatland or slopes, many will be interested in riding over differing topography to test their riding skills. The Northumberland County tracts offer that desired variability. Just about every kind of riding challenge is presented in these tracts from flatlands to mountain slopes, from forested areas and scenic vistas, to rock climbing and abandoned mining operations. The topography of the proposed facility will also appeal to other uses beyond motorized uses. Hiking, bicycling, and equestrian uses will also be attracted to the AOAA because of the topography. An important value of the expanse of the property is that the multiplicity of uses can be accommodated simultaneously. Another value of the Northumberland County tracts for an OHV facility is that many suitable trails exist; appreciable amounts of new trails need not be cut into forest areas of the AOAA. The illicit trail riding has, over time, resulted in a number of trails worn into the landscape in locations trail riders want to ride. What trail planning and development will add to these trails is appropriate engineering in their existing locations to mitigate potential erosion and other environmental impacts, and maintenance and operations, thus preserving the existing trails in a sustainable manner, without continued environmental impact. Finally, an important value of the Northumberland County tracts for a recreational facility is that there is sufficient property to provide sufficient buffers between developed areas and the facility. With off-highway vehicles can come noise and dust; locating this kind of a facility near Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 1-11

22 commercial and residential areas can create new challenges for those areas. This facility has sufficient area to allow for significant natural buffers between active trails and differing uses. INTRODUCTION TO THE SITE The Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area is proposed to be located on county owned lands in Zerbe, Coal, Mount Carmel, East Cameron, and West Cameron Townships in the southern third of the county. The county s holdings lie in a valley approximately 12.5 miles wide, west to east, and three miles deep, south to north. The county holds 94 parcels, totaling 6,596 acres in this area. The parcels are generally bounded by State Route 2044 on the south, and the parcels lie south of the municipalities of Trevorton, Shamokin, and Kulpmont. State Game Land No. 165 lies to the north of the Zerbe Township parcels, while State Game Land No. 84 lies to the south of the entire area. The Weiser State Forest lies to the south of the Mount Carmel Township parcels. OVERVIEW OF TOPOGRAPHIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES The topography of the parcels varies, given the area they encompass. Slopes range from nearly level to greater than 50 percent. For the purposes of planning, slopes have been divided into four categories: 0 to 15 percent; 15 to 25 percent; 25 to 50 percent, and; greater than 50 percent. Generally, the county s land lies within a triangularly shaped valley, with steep slopes to the north and the south. The valley floor is punctuated by clusters of small but steeply sloped hills. Mining interests within the county s parcels includes active, abandoned, and inactive mining operations. Seven active mining operations are located on the County land being considered for the AOAA, along with two inactive mines and one abandoned mine. These mining activities include surface coal mining activities, refuse piles, and spoil areas. Development of the proposed AOAA will not limit mining on properties. The County will continue to encourage legal mining activity on the property through lease agreements with interested parties. All mining activities, current and future, are regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection permit program. The county s land is largely forested; predominantly deciduous forests, containing small sections of evergreen and mixed forest areas. While areas of cultivated crop land and grasslands are extant, they are relatively small and scattered throughout the area. Topographic Features by Watershed The county s land designated for the OHV recreational area lies within five watersheds: Carbon Run Locust Creek Mahanoy Creek Shamokin Creek Zerbe Run 1-12 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

23 Zerbe Run flows east to west toward the Susquehanna River through a very narrow valley and along the northern edge of Trevorton. A tributary creek passes through a gap in the southern ridge of this narrow valley, draining the portions of the western reaches of the larger valley to the south. The reaches of this watershed near Trevorton lie along very steep slopes, portions of which may reach greater than 50 percent. County land on the lower portions within this watershed contains hydric soils with small, scattered wetlands. The lower portions of this watershed also contain designated FEMA 100-year floodplain. The steep slope portions of this watershed are forested, while the more level sections contain open grasslands and cultivated sections. Just east of the Zerbe Run watershed is the Carbon Run watershed. Carbon Run drains the area immediately south and west of Shamokin, flowing west to east, joining the Shamokin Creek as it flows through Shamokin and on to the north through a gap in the ridgeline. County land within the Carbon Run watershed contains hydric soils with narrow FEMA 100-year floodplain areas along the stream. Most of the county s land within this watershed is relatively flat with short, steep slopes along the rills that punctuate the southern portions of the valley. Most of this watershed is forested with small, scattered areas that are open grasslands or cultivated. The Shamokin Creek flows east to west from Mount Carmel, passing to the south of Kulpmont, and then turning north passing through the center of Shamokin and joining Carbon Run to pass through the gap in the ridge to the north of Shamokin. The largest tract of contiguous parcels of county land lies within the Shamokin Creek watershed. This tract of land is relatively flat, containing mostly 0 to 15 percent slopes. As such, this tract also contains the largest area of hydric soils. FEMA 100 Year floodplains are present just south of Marshallton and around Excelsior. This tract is mostly forested with some cultivation in its easternmost section, and light to medium intensity urbanized areas near Excelsior and along PA Route 125 between Gowen City and Burnside. The Mahanoy Creek watershed lies in an east/west orientation draining the southernmost of the county s land holdings. The county s land within this watershed lies along its northern ridge, so these tracts tend to be more steeply sloped, with slopes in the 25 to 50 percent, and greater than 50 percent categories. These tracts also tend to be forested, with very small areas of medium intensity urbanization and cultivation. Locust Creek drains the area around Locust Gap in Mount Carmel Township. The Locust Creek watershed only minimally impacts the county s land holdings. This watershed is relatively flat and presents slopes in the 0 to 15 percent, and 15 to 25 percent categories. These areas are predominantly forested. The site s features are described in detail later in this Chapter. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 1-13

24 SITE INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS When planning for future development of a site it is important to understand the site as a whole, and the various features that are contained within the site. Information on the area in which the site is located, and its demographics, establishes the context of the site. Equally important are the physical characteristics of the site such as topography, hydrology, vegetation, soils, adjacent land use, surrounding traffic conditions, geologic and groundwater resources, mineral resources, mining features, and existing site features. These characteristics of the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area are discussed in this Chapter, and conclusions are made about the opportunities and constraints the site presents to future development of the AOAA. ACREAGE The proposed Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area is comprised of 94 individual parcels. Combined, these parcels cover 6, acres. The smallest of these parcels is 0.31 acres while the largest is acres. The average size of the 93 parcels is acres. These parcels are identified on the Parcel Map and in Table 1. To date a comprehensive boundary and topographic survey has not been completed of the parcels. Therefore, we recommend a boundary and topographic survey be completed as phases of improvements are undertaken. It is important to establish accurate property lines, mark and sign property corners to: Ensure AOAA activities are being conducted on property under control of the County Ensure facility and trail improvements are being constructed on property under control of the County Mark AOAA property boundaries to assist in enforcement efforts Completing a survey of the County s 94 parcels, and those parcels which may be leased, at the onset is not feasible. Therefore, we recommend surveys be completed on an as needed basis, such as: 1. Where boundary discrepancies are known 2. When improvements are proposed to a particular parcel or group of parcels 3. Where trail or facility development is proposed near boundaries of County parcels 1-14 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

25 Table 1: Potential AOAA Parcels County Parcels Potential AOAA Parcels Number Acres 94 6,596.6 County Parcel ID # Map Parcel ID # Acres County Parcel ID # Map Parcel ID # Acres 00H H A A A H H H H A A C A C H H H H H H H Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 1-15

26 County Parcel ID # Map Parcel ID # Acres County Parcel ID # Map Parcel ID # Acres 00H H H H A A D A A H H H C A H H A Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

27 TOPOGRAPHIC FEATURES Northumberland County is situated within the Ridge and Valley Province. This province is characterized by long even ridges, with long continuous valleys in between. Being that the site is comprised of 93 non-contiguous parcels, the topography ranges from nearly level and gently sloped areas to hilly and very steeply sloped areas. The site sits mainly within what is locally known as the bowl. This area is defined by a valley between Little Mountain and Mahanoy Mountain. These two ranges come together west of the site to create the bowl like feature. Slopes on the site were classified into four categories based on level of potential for development. These categories included 0-10%, 10-30%, 30-45%, and greater than 45%. The majority of the slopes on the site range from zero to thirty percent, with 29% of the slopes between zero and ten percent, 40% between ten and thirty percent, 15% between thirty and forty-five percent and 16% greater than forty-five percent slopes. Within close proximity to the site parcels there are four stream corridors and the watershed boundaries of those streams. These boundaries are defined by the steep slopes that rise up Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 1-17

28 from the stream valleys. All of the streams within and around the site eventually flow west to the Susquehanna River. The properties located on the southern face of Mahanoy Mountain all flow into Mahanoy Creek. This creek flows from east to west through the valley between Mahanoy Mountain and Line Mountain. The majority of the site within the Mahanoy Creek watershed is greater than forty percent with some areas between thirty and forty-five percent and a small portion less than thirty percent in the southeast. The bulk of the properties for this site are situated within the Shamokin Creek and Carbon Run watersheds, in the valley between Big Mountain and Mahanoy Mountain. The eastern section of the valley contains the Shamokin Creek watershed. Shamokin Creek flows from the east into the town of Shamokin. Nearly all of this land is less than thirty percent slope, including a great deal of land with less than ten percent slope. In the western half of the valley is the Carbon Run watershed. Carbon Run flows from the west and joins with Shamokin Creek in Shamokin. The land in this watershed is also relatively flat with the majority in the valley being less than thirty percent and some of the land along the northern face of Mahanoy Mountain being greater than thirty percent, down to ten to thirty percent. The far western section of the valley is within the Zerbe Run watershed. Zerbe Run flows east to west between Big Mountain and Little Mountain ranges. Two linear section of land along Big Mountain and Mahanoy Mountain contain land with mostly steeper slopes greater than thirty percent. The portion of land in the Zerbe Run watershed in the valley is mostly zero to thirty percent. Slope Analysis Slopes Number of Percent of Acres Total < 10 % 1, % % 2, % % % > 45 % % Based on topographical features, areas that can be developed most easily include the flatter areas within the valley between Big Mountain and Mahanoy Mountain Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

29 The site varies in elevation from low points along the streams and tributaries that flow through the valleys to high points on mountain and ridge tops. The lowest elevation of approximately 940 feet occurs along Carbon Run in the western portion of the site. The highest point is found near Boyers Knob on Mahanoy Mountain just east of Route 125, at an elevation near 1,780 feet. SURROUNDING LAND USES Development immediately adjacent to the site varies greatly due to the fact that the site is not contiguous, and is spread out over such a large area. In order to best identify the surrounding land use of the properties adjacent to the proposed site, the site will be broken down into a series of six maps. The key map on the following page identifies the location of each successive map. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 1-19

30 Section 1 is the western most property of the proposed site. It is situated on the ridgeline and southern face of Mahanoy Mountain and is surrounded by eight parcels. This parcel is surrounded by agricultural parcels to the east, two exempt parcels which appear to be undeveloped, as well as commercial and industrial parcels to the west Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

31 Section 2 is situated on the northern face of Big Mountain across the valley from section one. This section is surrounded by mostly residential to the north as well as some vacant land to the east. To the south is industrial land. Section 3 is situated in Bear Valley west of Shamokin. This section is surrounded by industrial to the north, east, and west and residential with a mix of agriculture to the south. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 1-21

32 Section 4 Section Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

33 Section 6 GEOLOGY The AOAA is located entirely within the Appalachian Mountain Section of the Ridge and Valley Province. The Ridge and Valley Province is characterized by long, even ridges, with long, continuous valleys in between. The AOAA is also situated within the Ridge and Valley ecoregion. Ecoregions denote areas of general similarity in ecosystems and in the type, quality, and quantity of environmental resources. This northeast-southwest trending, relatively low-lying, but diverse ecoregion is sandwiched between generally higher, more rugged mountainous regions with greater forest cover. As a result of extreme folding and faulting events, the region s roughly parallel ridges and valleys have a variety of widths, heights, and geologic materials, including limestone, dolomite, shale, siltstone, sandstone, chert, mudstone, and marble. Springs and caves are relatively numerous. Present-day forests cover about 50% of the region. The ecoregion has a diversity of aquatic habitats and species of fish. ( Ecoregions are directly applicable to the immediate needs of state agencies, including the development of biological criteria and water quality standards, and the establishment of management goals for non-point source pollution (Woods et al., 1999). Rock layers that are exposed at the surface of the property are classified by their age of origin into three formation types: the Pottsville Formation (Pp), the Llewellyn Formation (Pl), and the Maulk Chunk Formation (Mmc). They are composed of sandstone, siltstone, shale, Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 1-23

34 mineable anthracite coal, and conglomerate. Much of the central portions of the OHV area are comprised of Llewellyn Formation bedrock. These areas of the site are more flat than the northernmost and southernmost parts. The bedrock along the steeply sloped ridges that traverse the northernmost and southernmost parcels are typically Pottsville or Maulk Chunk Formations. SOILS Soil types for the site were identified using The Northumberland County Comprehensive Plan, statewide geographical information system (GIS), data and data from the National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). In addition to the NRCS soil survey, we reviewed the list of hydric soils for Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. Those soils designated as hydric, or those containing hydric components, may be classified as jurisdictional wetlands if they exhibit two other requirements: the presence of hydrology and the presence of hydrophytic vegetation. Furthermore, the ability of soil to infiltrate stormwater runoff can be evaluated based on the soils hydrological group. Those soils with a soils hydrologic group of A or B may be conducive to infiltration techniques as stormwater management best practice (BMP) solutions. Those soils with a classification of C or D are unlikely to meet the BMP infiltration requirements Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

35 Soils Unit Soils Name Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area Soils Slopes Soils Group Presence of Hydric Soils Limita ons AsB Alvira very stony silt loam 0 to 8 % slopes C Partially hydric Somewhat poorly drained BxB BxD DeB DeD DeF Buchanan very stony silt loam Buchanan very stony silt loam Dekalb extremely stony sandy loam Dekalb extremely stony sandy loam Dekalb extremely stony sandy loam 1 to 8% slopes C Partially hydric 8 to 25% slopes C Partially hydric 0 to 8% slopes C Not hydric 8 to 25% slopes C Not hydric steep C Not hydric Du Dumps, mine Not hydric Dy Dystrochrepts Not hydric HuB Hazleton and Clymer 0 to 8%slopes B Not hydric extremely stony sandy loams HuD Hazleton and Clymer 8 to 25% slopes B Not hydric extremely stony sandy loams HuF Hazleton and Clymer 25 to 80% slopes B Not hydric extremely stony sandy loams Hv Holly Silt Loam B/D All hydric LdD Laidig and Meckesville 8 to 25% slopes C Not hydric extremely stony soils LdF Laidig and Meckesville steep C Not hydric extremely stony soils MkB Meckesville silt loam 3 to 8% slopes C Not hydric MkC Meckesville silt loam 8 to 15% slopes C Not hydric MkD Meckesville silt loam 15 to 25% slopes C Not hydric SmB Shelmadine very stony silt 0 to 8% slopes D All hydric loam Uf Udifluvents C Partially hydric Uh Udorthents Not hydric WkE Weikert and Klinesville shaly silt loams steep C Not hydric Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 1-25

36 Soils Unit Woodland Management & Productivity Soils Capabilities Soil Name Erosion Woodland Management and Productivity Seedling Trees to Plant Mortality AsB Alvira very stony silt loam Slight High Northern red oak, Yellow-poplar, Eastern white pine, White spruce BxB BxD DeB DeD DeF Buchanan very stony silt loam Buchanan very stony silt loam Dekalb extremely stony sandy loam Dekalb extremely stony sandy loam Dekalb extremely stony sandy loam Slight Low Northern red oak, Yellow-poplar, Eastern white pine, Sugar maple Slight Low Northern red oak, Yellow-poplar, Eastern white pine, Sugar maple Slight Low Northern red oak, Eastern white pine, red pine Moderate Low Northern red oak, Eastern white pine, Virginia pine, White spruce Very Severe Low Northern red oak, Eastern white pine, Virginia pine, White spruce Du Dumps, mine Not Rated Not rated Dy Dystrochrepts Not Rated Not rated HuB Hazleton and Clymer extremely stony sandy loams Slight Low Northern red oak, Black cherry, Eastern white pine HuD HuF Hazleton and Clymer extremely stony sandy loams Hazleton and Clymer extremely stony sandy loams Moderate Low Eastern white pine, Northern red oak, Yellow-poplar, Black cherry, Virginia pine Very Severe Low Eastern white pine, Northern red oak, Yellow-poplar, Black cherry, Virginia pine Hv Holly Silt Loam Slight High Black cherry, Eastern cottonwood, Green ash, Pin oak, Red maple, Swamp white oak, American sycamore, Baldcypress, Sweetgum LdD LdF Laidig and Meckesville extremely stony soils Laidig and Meckesville extremely stony soils Moderate Low Black cherry, Black locust, Northern red oak, Sugar maple, White ash, White oak, Yellow-poplar, Eastern white pine, Black walnut Very Severe Low Black cherry, Black locust, Northern red oak, Sugar maple, White ash, White oak, Yellow-poplar, Black walnut, Eastern white pine 1-26 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

37 Soils Unit Woodland Management & Productivity Soils Capabilities (continued) Soil Name Erosion Woodland Management and Productivity Seedling Trees to Plant Mortality MkB Meckesville silt loam Slight Low Northern red oak, Yellow-poplar, Black cherry, Eastern white pine MkC Meckesville silt loam Slight Low Northern red oak, Yellow-poplar, Black cherry, Eastern white pine MkD Meckesville silt loam Moderate Low Northern red oak, Yellow-poplar, Black cherry, Eastern white pine SmB Shelmadine very stony silt loam Slight High Black cherry, Northern red oak, Eastern white pine, Red maple Uf Udifluvents Slight Low Uh Udorthents Not Rated Not Rated WkE Weikert and Klinesville shaly silt loams Severe Low Northern red oak, Virginia pine, Eastern white pine, Shortleaf pine, Pitch pine, Red pine Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 1-27

38 Soils Unit AsB BxB BxD DeB DeD DeF Soil Name Alvira very stony silt loam Buchanan very stony silt loam Buchanan very stony silt loam Dekalb extremely stony sandy loam Dekalb extremely stony sandy loam Dekalb extremely stony sandy loam Potential for Development Soils Capabilities Paths & Trails Somewhat Limited: Depth to saturated zone; Large stones content Somewhat Limited: Large stones content; Depth to saturated zone Somewhat Limited: Large stones content; Depth to saturated zone Very Limited: Large stones content Very Limited: Large stones content; Slope Very Limited: Large stones content; Slope Potential for Development Septic Tank Absorption Fields Very Limited: Slow water movement; Depth to saturated zone Very Limited: Slow water movement; Depth to saturated zone Very Limited: Slow water movement; Depth to saturated zone Very Limited: Filtering capacity; Seepage, bottom layer; Depth to bedrock; Large stones content Very Limited: Filtering capacity; Seepage, bottom layer; Depth to bedrock; Slope; Large stones content Very Limited: Filtering capacity; Slope; Seepage, bottom layer; Depth to bedrock; Large stones content Roads Very Limited: frost action, depth to saturated zone Somewhat Limited: Depth to saturation zone Somewhat Limited: Slope; Depth to saturation zone; Frost action Somewhat Limited: Depth to hard bedrock; Large stones content Very Limited: Slope; Depth to hard bedrock; Large stones content Very Limited: Slope; Depth to hard bedrock; Large stones content Du Dumps, mine Not Rated Not Rated Not Rated Dy Dystrochrepts Not Rated Not Rated Not Rated HuB Hazleton and Clymer extremely stony sandy loams Very Limited: Large stones content HuD Hazleton and Clymer extremely stony sandy loams Very Limited: Large stones content; Slope Very Limited: Seepage, bottom layer; Filtering capacity; Large stones content; Depth to bedrock Very Limited: Seepage, bottom layer; Filtering capacity; Large stones content; Depth to bedrock; Slope Somewhat Limited: Frost action; Large stones content Very Limited: Slope; Frost action; Large stones content 1-28 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

39 Soils Unit HuF Soil Name Hazleton and Clymer extremely stony sandy loams Potential for Development Soils Capabilities Paths & Trails Very Limited: Large stones content; Slope Hv Holly Silt Loam Very Limited: Depth to saturated zone; flooding LdD LdF MkB MkC MkD SmB Laidig and Meckesville extremely stony soils Laidig and Meckesville extremely stony soils Meckesville silt loam Meckesville silt loam Meckesville silt loam Shelmadine very stony silt loam Very Limited: Large stones content; slope Very Limited: Large stones content; Slope Not Limited Not Limited Somewhat Limited: Slope Very Limited: Depth to saturated zone; Large stones content Uf Udifluvents Somewhat Limited: flooding Potential for Development Septic Tank Absorption Fields Very Limited: Slope; Seepage, bottom layer; Filtering capacity; Large stones content; Depth to bedrock Very Limited: Flooding; Depth to saturated zone; Seepage, bottom layer; Slow water movement Very Limited: Depth to saturated zone; Slow water movement; Slope Very Limited: Depth to saturated zone; Slow water movement; Slope Very Limited: Depth to saturated zone; Slow water movement Very Limited: Depth to saturated zone; Slow water movement; Slope Very Limited: Slow water movement; Slope; Depth to saturated zone Very Limited: Slow water movement; Depth to saturated zone Very Limited: Flooding; Seepage, bottom layer; Depth to saturated zone Roads Very Limited: Slope; Frost action; Large stones content Very Limited: Depth to saturated zone; Frost action; Flooding Very Limited: Slope; Frost action Very Limited: Slope; Frost action Somewhat Limited: Frost action Somewhat Limited: Slope; Frost action Very Limited: Slope; Frost action Very Limited: Depth to saturated zone; Forst action Very Limited: Frost action; Flooding Uh Udorthents Not Rated Not Rated Not Rated WkE Weikert and Klinesville shaly silt loams Very Limited: Slope Very Limited: Depth to bedrock; Slope; Seepage, bottom layer Very Limited: Slope; Depth to bedrock; Frost action Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 1-29

40 Soils Unit AsB BxB BxD DeB DeD DeF Soil Name Potential for Building Development Soils Capabilities Alvira very stony silt loam Buchanan very stony silt loam Buchanan very stony silt loam Dekalb extremely stony sandy loam Dekalb extremely stony sandy loam Dekalb extremely stony sandy loam Potential for Building Development Shallow Excavation Small Commercial Building Very Limited: Depth to saturation zone; Cutbanks cave Very Limited: Depth to saturation zone; Cutbanks cave Very Limited: Depth to saturation zone; Cutbanks cave; Slope Very Limited: Depth to hard bedrock; Cutbanks cave; Large stones content Very Limited: Depth to hard bedrock; Slope; Cutbanks cave; Large stones content Very Limited: Depth to hard bedrock; Slope; Cutbanks cave; Large stones content Very Limited: Depth to saturated zone Somewhat limited: Depth to saturated zone Very Limited: Slope; Depth to saturated zone Somewhat Limited: Depth to hard bedrock; Slope; Large stones content Very Limited: Slope; Depth to hard bedrock Very Limited: Slope; Depth to hard bedrock; Large stones content Du Dumps, mine Not Rated Not Rated Dy Dystrochrepts Not Rated Not Rated HuB Hazleton and Clymer extremely stony sandy loams Very Limited: Cutbanks cave; Slope; Large stones content Somewhat Limited: Large stones content; Slope HuD HuF Hazleton and Clymer extremely stony sandy loams Hazleton and Clymer extremely stony sandy loams Very Limited: Cutbanks cave; Slope; Large stones content Very Limited: Slope; Cutbanks cave; Large stones content Hv Holly Silt Loam Very Limited: Depth to saturated zone; Cutbanks cave; Flooding LdD LdF Laidig and Meckesville extremely stony soils Laidig and Meckesville extremely stony soils Very Limited: Slope; Depth to saturated zone; Cutbanks cave Very Limited: Slope; Depth to saturated zone; Cutbanks cave Very Limited: Slope; Large stones content Very Limited: Slope; large stones content Very Limited: Flooding; Depth to saturated zone Very Limited: Slope Very Limited: Slope 1-30 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

41 Soils Unit MkB MkC MkD SmB Soil Name Potential for Building Development Soils Capabilities Meckesville silt loam Meckesville silt loam Meckesville silt loam Shelmadine very stony silt loam Potential for Building Development Shallow Excavation Small Commercial Building Very Limited: Cutbanks cave; Depth Somewhat Limited: Slope to saturated zone Very Limited: Cutbanks cave; Depth Very Limited: Slope to saturated zone; Slope Very Limited: Slope; Cutbanks cave; Very limited: Slope Depth saturated zone Very Limited: Depth to saturated zone; Cutbanks cave Uf Udifluvents Somewhat Limited: Flooding; Depth to saturated zone; Cutbanks cave Very Limited: Depth to saturated zone Very Limited: Flooding Uh Udorthents Not Rated Not Rated WkE Weikert and Klinesville shaly silt loams Very Limited: Depth to bedrock; Slope Very Limited: Slope; Depth to hard and soft bedrock Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 1-31

42 1-32 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

43 ECOLOGICAL RESOURCES The Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) was established in 1982 as a joint effort of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (formerly the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources), the Bureau of Forestry, and the Pennsylvania Science Office of The Nature Conservancy. PNHP is part of a network of Natural Heritage Programs that utilize common methodology developed by The Nature Conservancy and refined through NatureServe the organization that represents the network of Natural Heritage Programs and the individual programs themselves. Natural Heritage Programs have been established in each of the 50 United States and in Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean. PNHP collects and stores locational and baseline ecological information about rare plants, rare animals, unique plant communities, significant habitats, and geologic features in Pennsylvania. Presently, the PNHP database is Pennsylvania s chief storehouse of such information with approximately 15,500 detailed occurrence records that are stored as computer files. Additional data are stored in extensive manual files documenting over 150 natural community types, more than 5000 plant and animal species, and about 1100 managed areas. PNHP is valuable for its ability to supply technically sound data that can be applied in making natural resource decisions, thereby streamlining the decision making process. Information on the occurrences of elements (species and natural communities) of special concern gathered from museums, universities, colleges, and recent fieldwork by professionals throughout the state is used by Western Pennsylvania Conservancy to identify the areas of highest natural integrity and significance in Northumberland County. In 2008 the Northumberland County Natural Heritage Inventory Update was published. A County Natural Heritage Inventories (NHI) are designed to identify and map areas that support species of special concern, exemplary natural communities, and broad expanses of intact natural ecosystems that support important components of Pennsylvania s native species biodiversity. Their purpose is to provide information to municipal, county, and state governments, private individuals, and business interests so that they may plan development with the preservation of an ecologically healthy landscape for future generations in mind. Fifty-two Natural Heritage Sites have been identified in Northumberland County. Of the fiftytwo sites, three are located in proximity to the proposed Northumberland County OHV Park. The Natural Heritage Sites are ranked in approximate order of priority from the most important (rank = 1) to the least (rank = 5). The three sites in proximity to the proposed park are each ranked as priority 4 sites. The three natural heritage areas are as follows: Bear Valley Strip Mine (Coal, West Cameron, & East Cameron Townships) During 1993 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 1-33

44 and 1994, two sensitive species of concern were identified in this scarred strip mine landscape. The mammal species, one of which is Pennsylvania-Threatened, are using abandoned mine openings and underground mines during the fall and winter months. These animals are probably traveling to nearby wooded stream valleys to forage for food, roost, and breed. Blocking or collapsing the mine openings is a threat to these species. Barred gates on the mine openings would minimize human disturbance. The landowners may also wish to do this for safety reasons. This site is ranked as a 4 within Northumberland County. Big Mountain (Coal Township) This site on Big Mountain has a history of mining and disturbance to the landscape. The state-imperiled esther moth (Hypagyrtis esther) that was documented here overwinters in the leaf litter and the larvae feed on pines. The use of Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) to control gypsy moths should not harm the species of concern, but the spraying of the pesticide Dimlin could extirpate this species. Additional surveys of this area are needed. Big Zerbe Strip Mine (Zerbe Township) During 1993 and 1994, the PA Game Commission identified two separate locations of a mammal species of concern in this scarred strip mine landscape. The mammal species are using abandoned mine openings and underground mines during the fall and winter months. These animals are probably traveling to nearby wooded stream valleys to forage for food, roost, and breed. Blocking or collapsing the mine openings is a threat to these species. For safety reasons, the mine openings could be gated to exclude human interference, and still allow the animals to enter the mine. PENNSYLVANIA NATURAL DIVERSITY INVENTORY During the initial stage of the planning process Northumberland County submitted planning project and environmental review requests to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, and the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The purpose of this review is to determine whether there may be potential impacts to species of special concern, and / or rare, threatened, or endangered species. The agencies responded as follows: Pennsylvania Game Commission March 5, 2010 response Species of Special Concern include: Northern Myotis Bat (species of special concern) Eastern Small-footed Myotis Bat (threatened species) Next Steps All trees or dead snags greater than five inches in diameter at breast height, which need to be harvested to facilitate the project) (including any access roads or landings), should 1-34 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

45 occur between November 1 and March 31. In addition no old deep mine entries or openings in old highwalls should be closed or sealed without contacting the Pennsylvania Game Commission to discuss these potential bat hibernacula prior to closure. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission March 23, 2010 response Species of Special Concern include: Timber Rattlesnake In their response the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission identified their primary area of concern as Mahanoy Mountain as the timber rattlesnake is known in the vicinity of the proposed project site. The Commission has requested that upon completion of the master plan that site plans and descriptions indicating proposed work, planned trails / roads, project impacts, alternates considered, and general habitat conditions be submitted to the Commission for further review. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources May 28, 2009 response PNDI records indicate that the following Pennsylvania plant species of special concern under DCNR s jurisdiction are known to occur in the vicinity of proposed project areas: Bartonia paniculata (Screwstem) Currently unlisted: Often found in bogs and peaty lake margins; flowering from August to October. Lactuca hirsuta (Downy lettuce) Currently unlisted: Often found in dry open woods, thickets and rocky ledges; flowering from August to September. Juncus biflorus (Grass-leaved rush) Currently unlisted, Proposed PA Threatened: Often found in moist, open woods, boggy fields, gravel pits and ditches; flowering and fruiting in the summer. Platanthera ciliaris (Yellow fringed orchid) Currently unlisted, Proposed PA Threatened: Often found in bogs, moist meadows and woods; flowering from July to August. PNDI records indicate that the following Pennsylvania invertebrate species of special concern under DCNR s jurisdiction is known to occur in the vicinity of proposed project areas: Hypagyrtis esther (Esther moth) Currently unlisted: Often in or near pines or in strip mines with patches of disturbed woods. The larvae of this species feed on pines and are found from July to August. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 1-35

46 In November 2010, at the request of PA DCNR, the Consultant forwarded the current Concept Plan for review. This review resulted in PA DCNR identifying seven areas of concern. These areas are identified on the Ecological Resources Inventory map, and are as follows: Area of Concern 1 Locust Creek: This Area of Concern encompasses the headwaters of Locust Creek and is located adjacent to the eastern portion of the proposed project area. The property on which this resource is located is privately held. The property currently has trails located on it, and it may present an opportunity to lease the property to expand the trail offerings for the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area. There appears to be a mix of forest cover and small openings along Locust Creek. Depending on the conditions along the headwaters and creek banks, this could be potential habitat for Bartonia paniculata, Juncus biflorus and Platanthera ciliaris. If this area becomes available for ATV Trails, DCNR recommends that a 500 foot no-disturbance buffer be placed along the stream and its headwaters. In addition, steps should be taken to try to limit access of ATV drivers to the stream-side habitats. These measures will ensure that any direct disturbance due to trampling, crushing are minimized in this area. Area of Concern 2 Known Habitat of Hypagyrtis esther: This Area of Concern encompasses a known location for Hypagyrtis esther (Esther Moth) and areas in the vicinity that could also be utilized by the Esther moth. A minimal amount of information exists regarding this species ecology and habitat utilization. It is recommended that this area not be subject to large-scale tree clearing or high impact activities, such as OHV Play Areas. Limited motorized use on established (preferably pre-existing) trails or roads is unlikely to severely impact this species. If a certain acreage is to be set aside as buffer zones, it is recommended that this Area be chosen. Large, contiguous conifer forests, especially those dominated by Pine species, could also be targeted as buffer zones across the project area to provide more habitat for Hypagyrtis esther. Area of Concern 3 This Area of Concern encompasses an existing right-of-way within the project site. Since the known habitat for the PA Plant Species of Concern in the vicinity of the project site is along an existing right-of-way, this area could also be potential habitat for Bartonia paniculata, Juncus biflorus, Lactuca hirsuta, and Platanthera ciliaris. DCNR recommends that no new ATV trails are created within this ROW. If possible, roads or trails that divert OHV riders away from this right-of-way could help protect this potential habitat area. It is also suggested that somehow gating or blocking access to this right-of-way be explored. DCNR personnel would be willing to conduct a botanical survey during the 2011 Field Season if impacts are anticipated to this right-of-way or if it is to be used as a major OHV travel corridor. Area of Concern 4 Unnamed Tributaries to Carbon Run: This Area of Concern encompasses two Unnamed Tributaries of Carbon Run and is located in the western portion of the proposed 1-36 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

47 project area. There appears to be a mix of forest cover and small openings along these Tributaries. Depending on the conditions along the headwaters and creek banks, this could be potential habitat for Bartonia paniculata, Juncus biflorus and Platanthera ciliaris. If this area becomes available for OHV trails, DCNR recommends a 500 foot nodisturbance buffer be placed along the stream and its headwaters. In addition, steps should be taken to try to limit access of OHV drivers to the streamside habitats. These measures will ensure that any disturbance due to trampling, crushing are minimized in this area. Area of Concern 5 This Area of Concern encompasses two existing parallel right-of-ways within the project site. Since the known habitat for the PA Plant Species of Concern in the vicinity of the project site is along an existing right-of-way, this area could also be potential habitat for Bartonia paniculata, Juncus biflorus, Lactuca hirsuta, and Platanthera ciliaris. DCNR recommends that no new OHV trails are created within these ROWs. If possible, roads or trails that divert OHV riders away from these right-of-ways could help protect these potential habitat areas. DCNR also suggests consideration be given to gating or blocking access to these right-of-ways. DCNR personnel would be willing to conduct a botanical survey during the 2011 Field Season if impacts are anticipated to these rightof-ways or if they are to be used as major OHV travel corridors. Area of Concern 6 This Area of Concern encompasses two small ponds and the surrounding forest habitat and is located in the western portion of the project site. Depending on the conditions at the lake margins, potential habitat for Bartonia paniculata and Juncus biflorus could be present. If the surrounding area becomes available for OHV Trails or OHV Play Areas, DCNR recommends that a 500 foot no-disturbance buffer be placed around these ponds. In addition, steps should be taken to try to limit access of ATV drivers to the ponds and pond margin habitats. These measures will ensure that any disturbance due to trampling, crushing are minimized in this area. Area of Concern 7 Whaleback Formation: This Area of Concern includes the Whaleback anticline formation as well as the surrounding area. This area has a very high cultural and education significance. Some geologic experts consider it one of the best examples of exposed, folded rock structure in the United States. DCNR geologists would welcome the opportunity to discuss the best means to preserve this formation and develop the site as an education resource. This site is recognized by the PA DCNR as a Heritage Geology Site. Heritage geologic features are recognized special places of intertwined geology and landscape. Heritage geologic features may include unique or exemplary outcrops, scenic views, or other geologically significant features that together represent the geologic diversity of the Commonwealth. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 1-37

48 Arguably one of the best exposures of folded rock structure in the United States, the Whaleback site includes all the structural elements and six stages of deformation for the Valley and Ridge Province. It is considered the type locality for examining the style, mechanics, and stages of structural development for the rocks in the Appalachian folded mountain belt. Individual structural elements such as faults (three types), folds, joints, cleavage, lineations, and slickenlines can be examined in a hands on setting. The site is visually engaging because of the size and preservation of the folds. Heritage value: Site is scientific, educational, scenic, and historical. Heritage status: Because site is privately owned, heritage status is in the hands of the owner. Access: This site is located on private property. Permission to access the property must be obtained from the property owner. Status: Potentially threatened - If land owner changes the land use conditions, or if vandalism continues to occur, degradation of values is likely, and loss of the resource could ultimately occur. References: Nickelsen, R.P., 1979, Sequence of structural stages of the Allegheny orogeny, Bear Valley strip mine, Shamokin, Pa.: American Journal of Science, v. 279, p Edmunds, W.E. and Eggleston, J.R., 1984, Field Guide to the Pennsylvania Anthracite Region. The PA DCNR Bureau of Forestry is willing to discuss these areas and/or visit this site during the 2011 Field Season to examine these sites to further determine their conservation value Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

49 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 1-39

50 HYDROLOGIC FEATURES Hydrologic features include floodplains, wetlands, hydric soils, and water quality. The project area is located within five watersheds: 1. Zerbe Run 2. Mahanoy Creek 3. Shamokin Creek 4. Carbon Run 5. Locust Creek Zerbe Run flows east to west toward the Susquehanna River through a very narrow valley and along the northern edge of Trevorton. A tributary creek passes through a gap in the southern ridge of this narrow valley, draining the portions of the western reaches of the larger valley to the south. The reaches of this watershed near Trevorton lie along very steep slopes, portions of which may reach greater than 50 percent. County land on the lower portions within this watershed contains hydric soils with small, scattered wetlands. The lower portions of this watershed also contain designated FEMA 100-year floodplain. The steep slope portions of this watershed are forested, while the more level sections contain open grasslands and cultivated sections. Zerbe Run is classified in the PA DEP Chapter 93 Water Quality Standards as a coldwater fishery and suitable for migratory fish. Just east of the Zerbe Run watershed is the Carbon Run watershed. Carbon Run drains the area immediately south and west of Shamokin, flowing west to east, joining the Shamokin Creek as it flows through Shamokin and on to the north through a gap in the ridgeline. County land within the Carbon Run watershed contains hydric soils with narrow FEMA 100-year floodplain areas along the stream. Most of the county s land within this watershed is relatively flat with short, steep slopes along the rills that punctuate the southern portions of the valley. Most of this watershed is forested with small, scattered areas that are open grasslands or cultivated. Carbon Run is classified in the PA DEP Chapter 93 Water Quality Standards as a coldwater fishery and suitable for migratory fish Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

51 Of the five watersheds in which the project is located, Carbon Run is the only stream physically located within the project area. It is located in the western portion of the project area, southeast of Trevorton. The Shamokin Creek flows east to west from Mount Carmel, passing to the south of Kulpmont, and then turning north passing through the center of Shamokin and joining Carbon Run to pass through the gap in the ridge to the north of Shamokin. The largest tract of contiguous parcels of county land lies within the Shamokin Creek watershed. This tract of land is relatively flat, containing mostly 0 to 15 percent slopes. As such, this tract also contains the largest area of hydric soils. FEMA 100 Year floodplains are present just south of Marshallton and around Excelsior. This tract is mostly forested with some cultivation in its easternmost section, and light to medium intensity urbanized areas near Excelsior and along PA Route 125 between Gowen City and Burnside. The main stem of Shamokin Creek is classified in the PA DEP Chapter 93 Water Quality Standards as a warmwater fishery and suitable for migratory fish while tributaries to Shamokin Creek are classified as coldwater fisheries and suitable for migratory fish. Furthermore Shamokin Creek is designated by the PA DEP as an impaired waterway, meaning it has not achieved the water quality standards, established by PA DEP, as required by the Federal Clean Water Act. The Mahanoy Creek watershed lies in an east/west orientation draining the southernmost of the county s land holdings. The county s land within this watershed lies along its northern Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 1-41

52 ridge, so these tracts tend to be more steeply sloped, with slopes in the 25 to 50 percent, and greater than 50 percent categories. These tracts also tend to be forested, with very small areas of medium intensity urbanization and cultivation near Gottshalls. The main stem of Mahanoy Creek is classified in the PA DEP Chapter 93 Water Quality Standards as a warmwater fishery and suitable for migratory fish while tributaries to Mahanoy Creek are classified as coldwater fisheries and suitable for migratory fish. Furthermore Mahanoy Creek is designated by the PA DEP as an impaired waterway, meaning it has not achieved the water quality standards, established by PA DEP, as required by the Federal Clean Water Act. Locust Creek drains the area around Locust Gap in Mount Carmel Township. The Locust Creek watershed only minimally impacts the county s land holdings. This watershed is relatively flat and presents slopes in the 0 to 15 percent, and 15 to 25 percent categories. These areas are predominantly forested. Locust Creek is classified in the PA DEP Chapter 93 Water Quality Standards as a coldwater fishery and suitable for migratory fish. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) designated one hundred year floodplains for each of the streams and are identified on the Hydrologic Resources Map. A review of the National Wetland Inventory Mapping for the property indicates that wetlands have been identified within the project area. Before development occurs on the properties the permitting process will require the properties be reviewed and that when wetlands are present wetland delineations and jurisdictional determination be completed with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Water Quality and Fisheries Resources The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, through the PA Code, Chapter 93, categorizes the aquatic water quality of streams within Pennsylvania into one of the following classifications: Cold Water Fishes (CWF) Maintenance or propagation, or both, of fish species including the family Salmonidae and additional flora and fauna which are indigenous to a cold water habitat. Warm Water Fishes (WWF) Maintenance and propagation of fish species and additional flora and fauna which are indigenous to a warm water habitat. Migratory Fishes (MF) Passage, maintenance and propagation of anadromous and catadromous fishes and other fishes which move to or from flowing waters to complete their life cycle in other waters. Trout Stocking (TSF) Maintenance of stocked trout from February 15 to July 31 and maintenance and propagation of fish species and additional flora and fauna which are indigenous to a warm water habitat. The classification of each stream within the project area is as follows: 1-42 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

53 Zerbe Run... Cold Water & Migratory Fishes Mahanoy Creek... Warm Water & Migratory Fishes Shamokin Creek... Warm Water & Migratory Fishes Carbon Run... Cold Water & Migratory Fishes Locust Creek... Cold Water & Migratory Fishes There are no special protection waters, High Quality or Exceptional Value, within the study area. SITE ACCESS Public vehicular access to the properties being considered for the AOAA is limited due to locations where property adjoins public rights-of-way. A review of the County parcels and adjacent public roads identified the following access points to the properties being considered for the AOAA. State Route 125 provides access to the center of the properties, should be considered for primary access State Route 2044 or Shamokin Street, in the Helfenstein neighborhood providing access to the western portion of the properties following the former rail corridor which extends up the mountainside, only suitable for secondary access to the southside of the Mountain, and non-motorized access. State Route 2044 access could be provided to the County properties through the Flats provided an easement is secured from the owner of the property between State Route 2044 and the County parcels. West Coal Street / former trolley line corridor - may provide secondary access from the Trevorton neighborhood following the former trolley line corridor up the mountain. This location provides direct access to the AOAA and would eliminate the need to trailer machines from Trevorton to a main access location. State Route 901 / Upper Excelsior Road currently provides access to the proposed AOAA properties through the Excelsior neighborhood to the eastern portion of the County properties. The site is also accessed from a number of adjacent private properties. EXISTING TRAILS For at least the past forty years the site has been utilized unofficially for OHV activities. These activities occur on former coal access and haul roads and user created trails. An analysis of Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 1-43

54 aerial photography reveals over 130 miles of existing trails throughout the parcels owned by the County. The existing trails are identified on the map of existing conditions. The 130 miles of existing trails does not include trails obscured in the aerial photography, or those trails that continue outside of the boundaries of the County parcels. Continuity of many existing trails is provided as the trails extend off of the County parcels and onto and through adjacent parcels owned by others. WEATHER Weather patterns, temperature, precipitation, and snowfall in Northumberland County are typical of Central Pennsylvania. Weather data retrieved from The Pennsylvania State Climatologist, a service to the Commonwealth by the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences and Penn State, indicates the following seasonal and monthly averages. Seasonal Temperature Seasonal Precipitation Season Avg. Temperature Season Inches Spring 49.4 Summer 71.1 Fall 51.9 Winter 31 Annual 50.9 Spring Summer Fall Winter 9.05 Annual Monthly Average Temperature Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Dec SNOWFALL While weather patterns and temperatures have little impact to the activities being proposed for this project, snowfall is of interest. Sustaining snowmobiling opportunities requires a minimum depth of 12 of compacted snow on the ground. Therefore, a review was conducted of monthly snowfall averages to determine whether sufficient snowfall occurs to develop, market, and maintain snowmobiling opportunities at the AOAA. Traditionally snowmobile season begins around Thanksgiving and extends through mid- March. To determine whether sufficient snowfalls can be expected to sustain snowmobiling as a featured component of the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area, we completed an analysis of snowfall in Northumberland County. For this analysis we reviewed the monthly snowfall averages for the past 10 years Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

55 Annual Snowfall Analysis Annual Snowfall October November December Not Recorded Not Recorded Not Recorded Averages January February March April Seasonal Total Source: Bear Gap Northumberland County Cooperative Observation Program Site A network of groomed snowmobile trails requires a minimum depth of 12 of snow. Further, this network of trails must be accessible throughout the snowmobile season so that user fees can be generated to cover the costs of grooming and otherwise maintaining the snowmobile trails. The highlighted months are the months where the recorded snowfall was 12 or greater. Of the forty months of snowmobiling season over the past ten years, 11 months (27.5%) had snowfall totals of 12 or greater. We know the snow didn t fall all at once, but came over the span of 30 days. Therefore, it seems unlikely that there was 12 of snow on the ground at any one time, with the exception of possibly February 2010 and February In each of those months there was approximately 28 of snowfall. Utilizing this analysis, our conclusion is there will be insufficient snow for snowmobiling during any given month of the season and is it very unlikely sufficient snow will be remaining on the ground for the duration of the season. Based on this analysis, we have concluded there will not be sufficient snowfall to sustain a marketable snowmobile trail network at the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area. That said, snowmobiling will not be prohibited in the AOAA. Nor will trails be groomed or maintained for snowmobiling. Given the limited potential to accommodate snowmobiling and the cost associated with facilitating snowmobiling is not in the County s financial interest to do so. This does not preclude opportunities for special events, or snowmobiling opportunities to be included in the future of the AOAA. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 1-45

56 NOISE By its very nature, motorized use of the AOAA will inevitably generate noise. The Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area will be primarily dedicated for use by motorized recreation enthusiasts, and increased noise levels can be expected. The noise generated by OHVs have the potential to impact other users of the facility, adjacent landowners, and wildlife. A significant amount of research has been conducted by the National Park Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, into the occurrence of noise in natural settings. Additional research by other public agencies has been conducted while preparing environmental impact statements for other recreational facilities. Much of the research conducted in areas can be extrapolated to the local area and used as a predictor of what could be expected in the future. Existing noise levels are usually discussed in terms of decibels (db), a measure used to express the relative level of sound in comparison with a standard reference level. Typically, noise levels are calculated in dba, a weighted measurement corresponding to the A-scale on a standard sound level meter. As an example, sound levels for common noise sources are as follows: 30 dba Quiet rural nighttime 50 dba Quiet urban daytime 70 dba Vacuum cleaner from 10 feet away 80 dba Car traveling at 65 mph from 25 feet away 90 dba Diesel truck from 50 feet away 100 dba Lawn mower from 3 feet away 120 dba Jet take-off from 200 feet away General research conducted by the Forest Service in California has shown that from 400 feet away, motorized recreation vehicles that do not exceed 101 dba will not cause sounds loud enough to impair the hearing of people. Pennsylvania state law prohibits ATVs from exceeding 99 dba when measured from 20 inches away. Snowmobiles cannot exceed 82 dba. The research has also shown that the sound of motorized recreation vehicles is detectable from as far away as 1,100 feet when the terrain, vegetative cover, and weather conditions allow noise to travel great distances. At distances beyond 1,900 feet, however, such vehicles are not detectable to the human ear. Research conducted in Oregon has shown that where the presence of off-road vehicles are considered present, sound levels of 85 dba were considered acceptable to all users from as far away as 50 feet. Consequently, because one of the primary purposes of the AOAA is to serve the need for increased motorized recreational opportunities, non-motorized users will expect to hear OHVs when visiting the site, regardless of their location. The impact of noise on the human environment can be mitigated by proper design and placement of riding trails and other facilities. The impact of noise on wildlife has been studied 1-46 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

57 on a limited basis by a number of agencies including the U.S. Forest Service. Unfortunately, this research is inconclusive and the number and sample sizes of past studies have been too small to draw any real conclusions. Therefore animal behavioral response has not been definitively determined. Nonetheless, studies have indicated that many animals will gradually relocate their habitat away from motorized trails to avoid disturbances from off-road vehicles. In 2005, a noise analysis was conducted for the Rock Run Recreation Area located in Patton, PA. That analysis included establishing a baseline sound reading in four locations without OHV activity on the site. Baseline sound readings ranged from 44 dba to 57 dba depending on the site s respective location and proximity to roadway vehicle traffic. A second reading was taken at each location during a poker run in which approximately 300 OHVs were present. Readings during the poker run ranged from 53 dba to 65 dba. Generally, an increase of 10 dba or less is not considered significant. Although all of the locations saw an increase in sounds levels during the poker run, none of the increases were greater than 9 dba. DEED RESTRICTIONS Based on discussions with County Planning Department staff and the County solicitor, there are no known deed restrictions associated with properties being considered for the AOAA. Zerbe Township maintains a court appointed receivership which is responsible for collecting and distributing royalties on coal extracted from county owned lands in Zerbe Township. LEASE AGREEMENTS During this study Northumberland County provided the Consultant with six lease agreements and eight contractual consent of land owner to conduct exploratory mining. These leases between the County and the respective parties are for mineral and coal extraction. There is a total of approximately 3405 acres being leased by the County. The County receives the financial benefit of royalties received on the tonnage of coal that is extracted from the leased lands. The following table summarizes the lease agreements. The exploratory permits are of limited duration, therefore, they are not included in this analysis. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 1-47

58 Agreement Type With Property Regarding Memorandum of Mining Lease Blaschak Coal Corporation Strip Mine Operation 798 Coal Land Lease Michael Guarna, Inc. Various parcels, 5 total Coal Land Lease Coal Land Lease Coal Land Lease Empire Coal and Mining Development Company Keystone Coal Company Black Diamond Mining, Inc. Salvage Operation W-204, Part of 192 and 450 acres in West Cameron Township. Salvage Operation C-800, part of 376 acres in Coal Township. Strip Mine Operation M-565 Mining Lease UAE CoalCorp See Lease description, situate in Mt. Carmel Township. Surface, subsurface mineral and coal rights covering acres. Digging and mining anthracite coal, on various parcels, 122 acres, 165 acres, 153 acres, 115 acres, and 79 acres. Right to salvage mine refuse on part of 192 and 450 acres. Right to salvage mine refuse on part of 376 acres Strip mining activities on ±20 acres. Deep mining only, 115 acres. A review of the lease agreements brings concern as there is lack of detail and information included in the County Coal Leases and the Exploratory permits. The primary concern is with the lack of information regarding the specific locations of the leased/ permitted areas. Without being able to easily identify the location of these areas it is impossible for the County to enforce the provisions of the lease with the lease holder. This includes ensuring the leasee is only conducting activities within the boundaries of the lease and not outside it, and that the County is being compensated appropriately. As the County moves forward with planning and development of the AOAA, it s important that county staff have the ability to quickly identify the lease locations so they can be enforced. Moving forward we recommend the County require the lease provide boundaries of the lease by assigning coordinates to the corners of the leased areas which in turn can be used by County staff to easily identify the locations and areas of the leases Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

59 OVERHEAD ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION AND PIPELINE RIGHTS- OF-WAY Northumberland County s lands are traversed by several overhead power transmission lines rights-of-way and one pipeline right-of-way. Based upon satellite mapping applications, these corridors were observed and noted. There are six primary overhead electricity transmission corridors, with their descriptions following: 1. One corridor running north-south, just east of Kulpmont; 2, 3. Two corridors running southeast from Shamokin; 4. One corridor running north-south just west of Shamokin; and 5, 6. Two corridors running east-west between Shamokin and Zerbe Township, south of Trevorton. 1. Originating north of Kulpmont, passing approximately 1,000 to the east of Kulpmont and extending south, crossing Chestnut Street and Brennan s Farm Road, then continuing by these courses: South/southeast, approximately 1,600 ; South, approximately 7,800 ; East/southeast, approximately 1,700 ; South, crossing SR 2044 at Helfenstein, and beyond the study area. 2. Originating in south central Shamokin, and running in a south/southeast direction, and crossing SR 125 approximately 1,000 from its intersection with Market Street. From there the corridor turns southeast at an intersection with an overhead line extending to the west. From this corridor intersection, the line continues by these courses: Southeast, approximately 6,900 ; South, approximately 9,200 and crossing SR 2044/High Road, east of Gowen City and out of the study area. 3. Originating near a curve on SR 125 and crossing the roadway approximately 1,160 south of the intersection with Bear Valley Road, and then continuing along these courses: East/southeast to a substation just north of SR 125 east of Burnside; East/southeast, approximately 2,000 to an intersection with the corridor described above. 4. Originating north of SR 225/Corporal David Whitmer Highway, and extending south/ southeast, crossing SR 225 and continuing to the foot of Big Mountain, then turning south/southwest to a point just north of the school campus just west of Fairview- Ferndale. The corridor then continues by these courses: Southeast, approximately 4,100, and crossing the school campus; Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 1-49

60 South/southeast, 1,400 to a point just north of Bear Valley Road; South, approximately 2,200, and crossing Bear Valley Road approximately 3,400 west of its intersection with SR 125; Southeast, approximately 3,000 ; South/southwest, approximately 1,500 ; South/southeast, and crossing SR 2044 and beyond the study area. 5, 6. This paragraph describes two parallel corridors running approximately east-west through the study area. The description focuses on the north corridor. The south corridor roughly parallels the north, lying approximately 400 south at its greatest separation, and approximately 40 south at its least separation. The north corridor originates at an intersection with the corridor described in 2 above, and is the corridor that extends to the west in that description. From that corridor intersection the corridor continues by these courses: West/southwest, approximately 2,600, and crossing SR 125 approximately 680 south of its intersection with Bear Valley Road; West/southwest, approximately 7,000 ; Northwest, approximately 1,400 ; West, approximately 1,000 ; West, southwest, approximately 2,600 ; West, approximately 8,400 ; Northwest, approximately 4,000 and beyond the study area. There is one major pipeline corridor in the study area, which traverses generally north-south in orientation, lying to the west of Shamokin. This pipeline corridor also shares a corridor with the electricity transmission line described in paragraph 4, above. Originating north of SR 225/Corporal David Whitmer Highway, and extending south/southeast, crossing SR 225 approximately 3,600 west of the overhead utility corridor described in paragraph 4, and continuing to the foot of Big Mountain, then turning southeast to a point just north of the school campus just west of Fairview-Ferndale. The corridor then continues by these courses: South, approximately 2,000 to the overhead utility corridor described in paragraph 4; Southeast, approximately 4,100, and crossing the school campus; South/southeast, 1,400 to a point just north of Bear Valley Road; South, approximately 2,200, and crossing Bear Valley Road approximately 3,400 west of its intersection with SR 125; Southeast, approximately 3,000 ; South/southwest, approximately 1,000 ; South/southeast, and crossing SR 2044 and beyond the study area Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

61 UTILITIES SANITARY SEWER SERVICE ANALYSIS The anticipated number of visitors to the AOAA each year during years 1-5 is anticipated to be 15,000 over a 9-1/2 month period. In years 6-8 the number is anticipated to double to around 30,000 visitors. A national riding event is anticipated over a long weekend that could draw as many as 5000 visitors. This type of event would most likely be handled by providing privies for that weekend as this would not be the normal sewage flows anticipated throughout the year. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area Users Days/Year People Per Day Gallons Per Day Per Person Total GPD Peaking Factor Anticipated Flow Years , , ,300 gpd Years , , ,500 gpd *50 GPD is based on DEP Title 25 for campgrounds with Central Comfort station The Ideal way to service the AOAA would be by the extension of existing public sewers. The Coal Township Act 537 Plan was updated in 2007; however, a copy was not able to be reviewed. Conversations with the Coal Township SEO and Zoning Officer determined that there are currently no plans to sewer the current village of Burnside, which is the closest residential area to the Welcome Center. Small Community Treatment would also be an option for this type of facility. The varying flows throughout the year would make it difficult to operate such a plant and additional research into possible discharge points that meet DEP criteria would also be necessary. Costs for Small Community Treatment Plant $700,000-$1,000,000 On-lot septic and holding tanks were discussed with the Township SEO and the following was noted. The concern with conventional systems is the types of soils that would be found in the area due to the heavy mining that was performed within the area over the past 70 years. He noted the only way to determine if adequate soils would be available, is to complete test pits. Holding tanks were also discussed and he mentioned that holding tanks have been used for other projects within the Township; however, there was concern over the number of visitors for this particular project. Holding tanks are usually not considered a permanent fix to sewer disposal, but are rather considered a means of disposal until public sewer is extended. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 1-51

62 Item No. Description Quantity Unit Unit Price Cost 1. Wastewater Holding Tank Wastewater Holding tank, 3000 gallon concrete w/high water alarm Installed 15,000 6 EA $12,000 $72, Cost to Pump 3000 gallon tank Conventional On-Lot System 1 EA $440 $ GPD On-lot System 1 EA $50,000 $50,000 A phased approach to the sanitary sewer would be the most likely way to handle sanitary sewer service for the AOAA. Phase 1, years 1-3, would use a combination of holding tanks and/or on-lot system. If larger flows are anticipated for a large event, privies could be used to supplement the sanitary sewer service. Phase II, after years1-3, would be a small flow community treatment plant. WATER SERVICE ANALYSIS Water service in the area is provided by Aqua Pennsylvania. Aqua s service in Burnside is an existing 6 water main with booster station. The AOAA Office and Trailhead is approximately 268 feet +/- in additional elevation and 4300 lineal feet in distance from the existing 6 water main. Two different options for public water main extension could be considered: Option 1 is to upgrade the existing booster station and provide additional 6 main. This option is not preferred due to possible main leaks in the existing 6 water main. Option two would require an additional booster pump and 6 main extension to the AOAA. If the public water service is unable to be extended, some combination of on-site water and water brought and stored at the site will be needed due to the fact that the site most likely lies over the existing mine pool in Northumberland County. If mine pool water is encountered through the well drilling process, this water can only be used for wash down of vehicles and if more than 100,000 gpd is pumped, then a permit would be required through the Susquehanna River Basin Commission. Potable water could be transported and stored in a tank onsite if the well is non-potable Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

63 Item No. Description Quantity Unit Unit Price Cost Public Water Option 1: 1. 8 Dia. Ductile Iron water main 4,350 LF $100 $435, New Booster Station 1 EA $250,000 $250,000 Total for Option 1: $685,000 Option 2: 1. 8 Dia. Ductile Iron water main 4,350 LF $100 $435, Upgrade Existing Booster Station 1 EA $400,000 $400,000 Total for Option 2: $835,000 On- Site Well 1. Water Wells 1 EA $8,500 $8, Tank for Potable Water, 3000 Gallon 1 EA $7,700 $7, Cost to Fill 3000 Gallon Potable Water Tank 1 EA* $650 $650 *Note: This would be a reoccurring cost to fill MINERAL EXTRACTION The properties currently owned by Northumberland County and that are being considered for the proposed Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area have long been associated with anthracite coal surface and deep mine operations. Furthermore, in 1979 the U.S. Department of Energy contracted with the Pennsylvania State University s Department of Mineral Engineering to prepare a Site Selection and Financial Analysis of Deep Surface Mining of Anthracite Coal. A review of Volume III Bear Valley, indicates that at the time there was an estimated 511,784,000 tons of coal remaining in Bear Valley at that time, and further estimated the mine pools below the valley held 38 billion gallons of water. That said, current mining technology and economics limit mining a large portion of the coal identified in the study. ABANDONED MINE LANDS INVENTORY The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation (PA DEP BAMR) maintains a database of locations of abandoned mine lands in Pennsylvania. The purpose of this database is to provide the information needed to implement Title IV of the Abandoned Mine Reclamation, of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA), Public Law This database identifies abandoned mine lands and also represents point features such as dangerous high walls. This data is a subset of the data contained in the Department of the Interior s Office of Surface Mining (OSM) Abandoned Mine Land Inventory. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 1-53

64 Surface Mining Control & Reclamation Act Federal legislation regulating surface coal mining enacted 1977 Latest amendments December 2006 SMCRA Title V deals with regulation of active surface mining post 1977 SMCRA Title IV addresses problems associated with the poor coal mining practices occurring prior to 1977 SMCRA established a per ton reclamation fee on every ton of coal mined the in U.S. This fee is currently $0.315/ton surface mined, $0.135/ton deep mined. It will decrease 10% in October 2012 ($0.28 & $0.12). Reclamation fees collected through 2021 then cease. Funds deposited in Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund. Funds from fees are distributed to states as annual grants. The Federal Office of Surface Mining (OSM) administers AMRF and SMCRA program. In Pennsylvania the OSM works closely with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Abandon Mine Reclamation to distribute these funds. SMCRA Title IV establishes the following priorities for abandon mine reclamation: (c) PRIORITIES.-Expenditures of moneys for lands, waters, and facilities referred to in subsection (b) shall reflect the following objectives and priorities in the order stated (in lieu of the priorities set forth in section 403): (1) The protection of public health, safety, general welfare, and property from extreme danger of adverse effects of mineral mining and processing practices. (2) The protection of public health, safety, and general welfare from adverse effects of mineral mining and processing practices. (3) The restoration of land and water resources and the environment previously degraded by the adverse effects of mineral mining and processing practices. Given the limited funding received for abandoned mine reclamation in Pennsylvania, the OSM and PA DEP BAMR limit Title IV funding to Priority One features, those of extreme danger where loss of life has occurred, and Priority Two features, those of extreme danger but where no fatalities have occurred. In some instances Priority Three Hazards can be consolidated with Priority Two Hazards where they are associated with one another. At the time of this writing BAMR has one active project on the County property. The project is OSM 49(3237) Boyers Knob Lookout. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is proposing a 90-acre Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) reclamation project in Coal Township, Northumberland County Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

65 The reclamation project will eliminate the following AML problems that endanger human health, safety and general welfare: 55 acres of abandoned coal stripping pits containing dangerous highwalls, hazardous mining equipment & facilities, eight dangerous mine openings and 27 acres of mine spoil & refuse material. The project will consist of backfilling the strip pits using materials obtained on-site, demolition & removal of the equipment & facilities, closure of three mine openings by backfilling and routine installation of bat-friendly gates within five mine openings. The site topography will be re-contoured to more closely approach the original configuration prior to mining. Immediately following earth disturbance activities, the site will be stabilized with permanent vegetation that best match the surrounding environment. In addition, stormwater management facilities and conveyance systems will be constructed to reduce erosion problems and safely convey stormwater runoff from the reclamation site to the nearest stream or watercourse. The PA DEP BAMR Abandoned Mine Lands GIS database, dated April 2010, was utilized to identify the locations of all Priority One and Priority Two features located on or in proximity to the potential AOAA properties. These features are mapped on the Abandon Mine Land Features Inventory map. All of the features identified are Priority Two features, with the exception of the highwalls in the vicinity of the Whaleback, which is privately owned, have been designated as Priority One Features. These features identified include: Mine Openings Dangerous Highwalls Dangerous Piles and Embankments Hazardous Water Bodies Hazardous Water Bodies, Dangerous Highwalls Hazardous Water Bodies, Dangerous Impoundments Subsidence Areas Surface Burning Areas Slumps, Dangerous Highwalls Underground Mine Fires Vertical Openings Vertical Openings, Industrial/Residential Waste Areas The designation of these Priority One and Priority Two features provides the County with potential to access Title IV funding to remediate these abandoned mine land priorities. If the County desires to move forward with remediating any of these features, they should submit a formal request to the PA DEP BAMR for consideration of Title IV funding. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 1-55

66 Data collected for this study identifies a number of mining related features that do not appear in the PA DEP BAMR Abandoned Mine Lands GIS database. These are documented in the following table. This information was provided to PA DEP during the course of this study. We recommend Northumberland County make a formal request to PA DEP BAMR and OSM to determine if they meet the Title IV requirements. Before these features could be eligible for Title IV funding PA DEP BAMR and the County needs to officially petition OSM to add those features to the National OSM Abandoned Mine Lands database Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

67 Additional Mining Concerns ID No. Identification Latitude Longitude Comment 38 Big Mine Shaft Major area of concern - mine entrance portal 85 Death trap Major area of concern - deep mine sink holes 129 Mine ? - off site 130 Mine ? - off site 131 Mine Acid Lagoon Mine Acid Lagoon Mine Shaft Major area of concern 135 Mine Site Unknown 137 Mine with water Major area of concern 138 Mine with shaft Major area of concern - off site 139 Mining Appears to be non-issue Equipment 147 Old mine site Unknown 149 Open Shaft Major area of concern 155 Pit with sink hole Major area of concern 156 Pit with sink hole Major area of concern 166 Reclamation Site Appears to be non-issue 203 Shaft opening Off site - shaft opening Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 1-57

68 TRANSPORTATION The primary entrance and trailhead for the AOAA lies along SR 125 midway between Burnside and Gowen City, and is approximately three miles south of the intersection of SR 125 and SR 61 in the northern region of Shamokin. Visitors to the AOAA from outside the region will likely use one of two primary routes; Interstate 80 (I-80) and Interstate 81 (I-81). Visitors using I-80 will likely exit the highway at exit 224 onto SR 54/Continental Boulevard in Valley Township near Franklin Furnace. Traveling south on SR 54, visitors will cross the Susquehanna River at Danville, immediately turning southeast onto SR 54/Elysburg Road. At Elysburg, visitors will likely turn southwest onto SR 487, continuing to SR 61 at Paxinos. They may then continue south on SR 61 to Shamokin. Visitors using I-81 will likely exit the highway at exit 116 onto SR 901/Sunbury Road in Foster Township. Traveling north on SR 901/Sunbury Road and SR 901/Fairgrounds Road, visitors may turn left onto SR 901/Locust Gap Highway at Locust Summit. Proceeding on SR 901/Locust Gap Highway to the northwest, visitors will arrive at an intersection offering two potential routes into Shamokin. Turning left onto SR 901, travelers may proceed west/northwest to its intersection with SR 61 at Ranshaw, just east of Shamokin. By not turning left and proceeding north instead, travelers may proceed on SR 54/Locust Gap Highway to its intersection with SR 61 at Locust Gap. From this intersection, travelers may turn left and proceed along SR 61 to the west, passing through Kulpmont and entering Shamokin from the east. Whether arriving at Shamokin on SR 61 from the east or west, travelers will likely proceed south through Shamokin on SR 125. The trailhead lies on SR 125 approximately three miles south of the intersection of SR 61 with SR 125. Generally these roadways are rural arterial or collector highways and are sufficient for current traffic demands. Local municipalities might consider improvements to several particular locations to better accommodate higher demand from road users towing trailers or campers. Of particular need for consideration are increased left turn movements and acute turning angles. These locations are: Intersection of SR 61 with SR 125 in Shamokin, particularly the westbound to southbound left turn movement; Intersection of SR 125/Bear Valley Road with SR 125, just south of Shamokin; Intersection of SR 54/Locust Gap Highway with SR 901; Intersection of SR 901/Locust Gap Highway with SR 2023 at Locust Summit. A third route is available, though less desirable, particularly for travelers towing a trailer or camper. SR 125 extends south to across several ridgelines to Hegins. SR 25/Main Street, lying in an east/west orientation, connects exit 112 on I-81 with Hegins, while SR 125, lying in a southwest, northeast orientation, connects exit 107 on I-81 with Hegins. This route is difficult due to the grades of certain roadway segments, and the acute turning angles at several 1-58 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

69 switchbacks. The parcels that make-up the AOAA are generally situated south of State Routes 225 and 901 and North of State Route 2044, with State Route 125 bisecting the properties. Table 2: Average Daily Traffic Volumes near the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area Roadway Name Average Daily Traffic Count Local Name State Route 225 4,600 Corporal David Whitner Highway/E. Shamokin Street State Rounte 901 3,300 State Route ,100 State Route 61 14,000 Mt. Carmel Street State Route 125 2,700 S. Market St./Bear Valley Road Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 1-59

70 PERMITS Development of the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area will require review and approval of a variety of Federal and State Permits. Further, Northumberland County s intention to continue coal, mineral, and gas extraction activities within the project area required compliance with the corresponding agencies and permit requirements. PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PennDOT is authorized under Sections 411 and 420, of the State Highway Law, to issue Highway Occupancy Permits (HOP) for opening access to a state roadway. If a current access point to the property is not issued, a HOP must be issued by PennDOT. At a minimum, the application for an occupancy permit will require completion of the PennDOT form M-950 (which basically is a site plan for the new access point). PennDOT may also require, at its discretion, that a traffic control plan, a drainage impact report, or a traffic impact study be submitted with the application. U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS PERMITS Section 404 of the Clean Water Act- Requires approval of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USCOE), prior to the discharge of any fill material into the waters of the United States, including wetlands. This approval may be sought through the use of an individual Section 404 permit, a Joint Section 404/Chapter 105 permit, or, if the project qualifies, through nationwide permits (NWP). Impacts to wetlands or streams greater than the limits set for the nationwide permits require an individual Section 404 permit. Section 401 Water Quality Certification- Permits granted under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act require certification that the activity does not violate the state s water quality standards. Water Quality certification authorized by PADEP is required for all Section 404 permits. The section 401 Water Quality Certification may be obtained with a Joint Section 404/Chapter 105 permit or through coordination with the USCOE. PA DEP BUREAU OF WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PERMITS Title 25, Chapter 102 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) - All construction activities disturbing five acres or more require a NPDES permit from the PADEP. NPDES permits are also required for construction activities that disturb one acre or more involving a point source discharge. To secure this approval, a soil erosion and sedimentation plan must be prepared in accordance to the PADEP s Erosion and Sediment Pollution Control Program Manual and submitted to the appropriate County Conservation District for review and approval. Title 25, Chapter 105 Water Obstruction and Encroachment Permit- Construction activities resulting in impacts to surface water resources with a drainage area greater than 100 acres require a Water Obstruction and Encroachment permit issued by the PADEP. All construction 1-60 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

71 activities resulting in impacts to wetlands require a permit, regardless of the drainage area size. The project may qualify for a waiver for impacts to streams with drainage areas less than 100 acres. For all other impacts, they may be obtained through a General Permit or a Joint Section 404/Chapter 105 permit application. PA DEP BUREAU OF LAND RECYCLING AND WASTE MANAGEMENT Waste Management - Sewage Facilities Planning Module Component 1, Exception to the Requirement to Revise the Official Plan Waste Management - Sewage Facilities Planning Module Component 2, Individual & Community Waste Management - On-Lot Disposal of Sewage Waste Management - Facilities Planning Module Component 3, Sewage Collection & Treatment Waste Management - Sewage Facilities Planning Module Component 3m, Municipal or Authority Sponsored Waste Management - Minor Sewage Collection Project Waste Management - Sewage Facilities Planning Module Component 3s, Small Flow Treatment System Waste Management - Sewage Facilities Planning Module Component 4A, Municipal Planning Agency Review Waste Management - Sewage Facilities Planning Module Component 4B, County Planning Agency Review Waste Management - Sewage Facilities Planning Module Component 4C, County or Joint Health Department Review Waste Management - Sewage Facility Planning Module Application Mailer Waste Management - Planning Approval Under the Sewage Facilities Act-Base Planning Waste Management - Storage Tank Company Certification Application Waste Management - Storage Tank Installer and Inspector Certification Application Waste Management - Storage Tank Site-Specific Installation Permit Application Waste Management - Tank Training Course Approval Application Waste Management - Storage Tanks Registration and Permitting Application Waste Management - General Permit for Sewer Extensions and Pump Stations Waste Management -Water Quality Management General Permit for Small Flow Treatment Facilities Waste Management - Water Quality Management Permit Waste Management - Water Quality Management Permit Application Package Waste Management -Water Quality Management Post Construction Certification PA DEP BUREAU OF MINING AND RECLAMATION PERMITS Coal Mining - Anthracite Surface Mine Permit Application Coal Mining - Anthracite Underground Mine Permit Application Coal Mining - Application for Bituminous Underground Mine, Coal Preparation Plant and-or Refuse Disposal Area Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 1-61

72 Coal Mining - Application-Waiver for the Anthracite Underground Mine Request to Conduct Exploration by Alternate Methods Coal Mining - Coal Mining Activity Permit Renewal Application Coal Mining - General Permits Coal Mining - Surface Mining Near Underground Mines - MSHA Coordination Coal Mining - General Permits Coal Mining - Anthracite Coal Ash & Biosolids Coal Mining - Bituminous Surface Mine Permit Coal Mining - Bituminous Underground Mines, Preparation Plants & Refuse Disposal Coal Mining - Coal Mining Activity Permit Renewal Coal Mining - Contract Operator Approval Coal Mining - Information Form Approval Coal Mining - Coal Mine Operators License Coal Ash Beneficial Use - Coal Ash Beneficial Use Certification Coal Ash Beneficial Use - Six-Month Submittal for Coal Ash Beneficial Use Certification Deep Mine - Safety Deep Mine - Employee Certification Deep Mine Letter of Authorization Explosives - Blasting Activity Permit Explosives - Blaster s License Explosives - Explosives Storage Permit Industrial Minerals - General Permits Industrial Minerals - Bluestone Small Noncoal (Industrial Minerals) Surface Mine Permit Industrial Minerals - Small Noncoal (Industrial Minerals) Surface Mine Permit Industrial Minerals - Noncoal Exploration Notice of Intent to Explore or Request for Permit Waiver Industrial Minerals - Large Noncoal Mine Permit Industrial Minerals - Industrial Minerals Mine Operators Reclaim PA - Environmental Good Samaritan Project Proposal PA DEP BUREAU OF MINING AND RECLAMATION PERMITS Oil and Gas - General Permits Oil and Gas - Oil & Gas Well Bond Oil and Gas - Clean Out & Plug or Re-Plug a Non-Producing Gas Well Under Section 13(c) of Act 214 Oil and Gas - Coal Pillar Permit Oil and Gas - Drilling or Altering a Well Permit Oil and Gas - Inactive Well Status Oil and Gas - Orphan Well Classification Oil and Gas - Pit Approval for Control, Handling or Storage of Production Fluids Oil and Gas - Plugging Oil & Gas Wells, Notice of Intent to Plug Oil and Gas - Roadspreading Plan Approval Request Oil and Gas - Transfer of Well Permit or Registration Oil and Gas - Oil & Gas Well Registration 1-62 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

73 Oil and Gas - Underground Injection Control (UIC) Permit Oil and Gas - NPDES Permits for Stormwater Discharges from Construction Activities Oil and Gas - National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Oil and Gas - Water Management (Part II) Permit WIND ENERGY CONSIDERATIONS Northumberland County has entered into a lease agreement with Penn Wind, LLC to construct and operate a wind farm on property also being considered for the proposed AOAA. Penn Wind, LLC proposes to construct seven 2.5 megawatt wind turbines of which three will be located on County property and the remaining four turbines will be constructed on adjacent property. GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR GRANTEE LAND USE CONVERSION REQUESTS FOR WIND ENERGY DEVELOPMENT In 2007 PA DCNR adopted General Guidelines for Grantee Land Use Conversion - Requests for Wind Energy Development. These policies address wind energy development being proposed on properties that have been acquired or developed with PA DCNR funding. To date no PA DCNR funding has been applied for or utilized in the development of proposed AOAA. In order to be eligible for DCNR funding for improvements to the properties containing the proposed wind turbines, Northumberland County must follow PA DCNR s Guidelines for Grantee Land Use Conversion Requests for Wind Energy Development. In their Guidelines PA DCNR states the following: Background The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) provides grants to local communities, profit and non-profit organizations for land acquisition and development to support the Action Plan goals and the department s mission of conservation. Funds are derived from a variety of state and federal sources. Projects target land acquisition/ development for park and recreation areas; greenways, trails and rivers conservation; railsto-trails; natural and critical habitat areas; and for snowmobile and all-terrain vehicle use. Lands purchased or developed using DCNR funding must be managed for the purposes specified in the grant agreement through which DCNR provided funding. The restrictions on use of the property are also typically set forth in the deed at the time of acquisition. In order to convert the use of the property to another purpose, DCNR must consent to the change and, where necessary, legislative authorization must be obtained. Requests for alternative uses are considered on an individual site basis. Land Use Conversion For Wind Energy Development Pennsylvania s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard Act of 2004 (AEPS), mandates that 18 percent of all electricity sold at retail in Pennsylvania be derived from renewable/ alternative energy sources by the year Wind power is one of the primary clean Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 1-63

74 renewable energy sources being driven by the AEPS. Wind power developers therefore are actively seeking lands suitable for wind farm development. In turn, land managers are also looking at the potential revenue stream a wind facility may provide to augment operation and maintenance budgets. DCNR supports the development of properly-sited wind energy as an important alternative energy source to address global climate change, air pollution, and other environmental impacts associated with fossil fuel-fired electricity generation. Wind power produces no emissions detrimental to human and environmental health, and does not require continued input of fuels with their associated environmental, economic and social costs. To the extent a wind farm development is proposed on land acquired for conservation, recreation or similar purposes using DCNR funding, such development would be a conversion that requires DCNR consent and possibly other approvals. Conversion requests by grantees for wind farm development pose a new challenge for DCNR in balancing the positive displacement of carbon dioxide and toxic emissions with reuse of lands that were acquired for purposes such as conservation and public recreation and appropriate siting to protect biological and recreational resources. To appropriately consider such requests within the context of the agency s mission, DCNR has developed these guidelines to provide a framework for evaluating the impact of potentially converting lands from the original stewardship intent to development of a wind farm. For DCNR to determine whether a conversion request for a wind energy project is appropriate, the following information, as described in more detail in the remainder of this document, is necessary to ensure timely consideration of the request: 1. Wind Energy Project Description and Impacts These guidelines describe the types of information that DCNR will need to understand the nature of the proposed project and its potential impacts on the conservation and recreational purposes for which the property was acquired using funds provided by DCNR. 2. Conservation Protection Measures These guidelines describe the measures that DCNR will consider in determining whether the conservation and recreational purposes for which the property was acquired can be adequately protected if the conversion occurs. PA DCNR Conservation Protection Measures 1. All Federal, state, and local jurisdictional agencies have been consulted and the appropriate comments, clearances, permits, and approvals for the proposed Wind Energy Project have been obtained. These agencies include but are not limited to: US Fish & Wildlife Service, PA Game Commission, PA Fish & Boat Commission, PA Historical and Museum Commission, the Department of Environmental Protection, DCNR Ecological Services, and all applicable local/municipal/county planning/zoning jurisdictions. 2. A Wind Energy Voluntary Cooperation Agreement between the Facility Owner/ 1-64 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

75 Operator and the Pennsylvania Game Commission has been fully executed after being provided to DCNR for review and incorporating changes, as necessary, to address DCNR concerns. 3. A draft of the contract or other form of written agreement between the Grantee and the Facility Owner/Operator for the Wind Energy Project has been reviewed by DCNR and changes have been incorporated, as necessary, to address DCNR concerns prior to execution. 4. Replacement Land/Mitigation 4.1 Replacement acreage acceptable to DCNR has been proposed for all lands leased, sold, or otherwise conveyed for the erection of Wind Turbines and ancillary support structures, plus their respective setbacks The replacement land is in the same geographical area or contiguous to the affected parcel depending on the type of facility and/or recreational use on the impacted property or the Grantee has worked with DCNR to determine the location of suitable replacement land The replacement land is equal to or greater in value, both in terms of monetary value and the original intent of the converted land (conservation, recreation, etc.) than the Impacted Land as determined by DCNR in its sole discretion. 4.4 Other customized or alternative mitigation has been deemed acceptable to DCNR and the Grantee. 5. Recreational Facilities To the extent any recreational infrastructure and/or facilities developed with DCNR grant funds are located on the Impacted Land, a plan to relocate and/or replace such infrastructure and/or facilities has been approved by DCNR. 6. Setbacks 6.1. Occupied Buildings 6.1.a. Wind Turbines have been set back from the nearest Occupied Building a distance not less than the normal setback requirements for that zoning classification or 1.1 times the turbine height, whichever is greater. The setback distance has been measured from the center of the Wind Turbine base to the nearest point on the foundation of the Occupied Building. 6.1.b. Wind Turbines have been set back from the nearest Occupied Building located on a Non-Participating Landowner s property a distance of not less than five times the Hub Height, as measured from the center of the Wind Turbine base to the nearest point on the foundation of the Occupied Building Property Lines: All Wind Turbines have been set back from the nearest Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 1-65

76 property line a distance of not less than the normal setback requirements for that zoning classification or 1.1 times the Turbine Height, whichever is greater, as measured from the center of the Wind Turbine base, unless the property owners have signed a written waiver. Such waivers include an acknowledgement of the setback recommended in these guidelines and specifically waive the recommended setback. These waivers have been recorded in the Recorder of Deeds Office for the County in which the property is located to provide notice to future purchases of the property of the waiver Public Roads: All Wind Turbines have been set back from the nearest public road a distance of not less than 1.1 times the Turbine Height, as measured from the right-of-way line of the nearest public road to the center of the Wind Turbine base Recreation Facilities: All Wind Turbines have been set back from all recreational facilities including trails, buildings, tracks, and other recreational infrastructure a distance of not less than 1.1 times the Turbine Height. As measured from the center of the Wind Turbine base. 7. Decommissioning 7.1. The Facility Owner and Operator has developed a decommissioning plan that complies with all applicable local requirements for decommissioning of the Wind Energy Project In the event that the local jurisdiction does not have in force any decommissioning requirement as of the date of the request for conversion, the Facility Owner and Operator has developed a decommissioning plan committing to complete, at its expense, decommissioning of the Wind Energy Project, or individual Wind Turbines, within (12) twelve months after the end of the usual life of the project or individual turbines. The end of the useful life of a project or turbine has been defined in the decommissioning plan to mean when no electricity has been generated for a continuous period of twelve (12) months The decommissioning plan includes removal of Wind Turbines, buildings, cabling, electrical components, roads, foundations to a depth of 36 inches, and any other associated facilities The decommissioning plan includes grading and re-seeding disturbed areas with native plants. Any access roads or other land surface areas that will not be restored have been identified Some form of financial security (e.g., performance bond, surety bond, letter of credit, corporate guarantee) to ensure future performance of the decommission plan has been provided to the Grantee. 8. Reversion The Facility Owner has provided a right of first refusal to the Grantee for any and all acreage purchased/leased from within the grant project boundaries to prevent in-holdings in the property Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

77 9. Public Access 9.1. The Wind Energy Project does not reduce access to any property or recreational facility for which DCNR has provided funding to conserve, protect, and/or develop recreational opportunities for the citizens of the Commonwealth, excluding any converted property. Public access to the nonconverted property will be available at reasonable hours and times of the year consistent with the nature and intended use of the property The Facility Owner and Operator will make every effort to plan, construct, and operate the Wind Energy Project without interference with public s access to natural resources or recreational facilities acquired with the support of DCNR funding. To the extent it may be necessary to temporarily restrict access to such resources or facilities to protect the recreating public, DCNR has been advised of such restrictions prior to making a determination on the conversion request. 10. Public Inquiries and Complaints The Facility Owner and Operator has provided a phone number and identified a responsible person for the public to contact with inquiries and complaints throughout the life of the project The Facility Owner and Operator has made reasonable efforts to respond to the public s inquiries and complaints. Application of these guidelines to AOAA is in question due to the fact the proposed wind farm is not located on property acquired or improved with PA DCNR funding. In reviewing the guidelines, Northumberland County is in compliance with the requirements. That said, one requirement, Setbacks, may eliminate the ability of the County to connect non-motorized ad motorized trails in the center of the proposed AOAA properties with the AOAA properties to the east. We recommend that before applying for development funding from the PA DCNR for improvements to AOAA properties associated with the proposed wind energy development, that Northumberland County ask PA DCNR for an interpretation of whether the County is subject to meet the requirements of their guidelines, particularly the setback requirements. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 1-67

78 1-68 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

79 SITE FEATURES AND POINTS OF INTEREST Prior to and during the course of this project local OHV enthusiasts provided an inventory of site features and points of interest throughout the project area. This data included recording features and points of interest, as well as existing trails with handheld Global Positioning Satellite equipment. In addition, the consultant conducted a review of aerial photography and plotted additional trails that were evident during this review. Further, locations of existing trail entrances and points of access, both authorized and unauthorized, were identified and recorded. Each of these elements appear on the Features and Points of Interest Map prepared for the project area. Significant features of note include: Whaleback and Whaleback Overlooks described earlier Potential Abandoned Mine Hazards described earlier The Caves The Project Heart Lake Mine Portal and Ruins Mud Road Excelsior Springs The Pines The Sand Pits Stone Spring Pole Line Hill Pole Line Ridge The North Slope The Flats off site, on adjacent property The Mile off site, on adjacent property These features, along with the potential mining hazards identified earlier, are shown on the Existing Conditions Map. The following table keys the assigned ID number with each site feature and point of interest identified on the Features and Points of Interest Map. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 1-69

80 Table 3: Site Features & Points of Interest ID Feature Latitude Longitude ID Feature Latitude Longitude Ruins st Patch Rock trail nd Patch rd Patch Points Alaska Site Gate Awesome Rocks Alaska Site Gate Awesome Rock Bat Cave Big Dump Site Big Mine Shaft Big Reclaimed Big Rocks Big Rocks East Big Rocks East Big Rocks East Big Rocks Blaschack Garage Blaschack Gate Blocked Blocked Blue Trailer Boundary Mark Boundary Mark Boundary Mark Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

81 ID Feature Latitude Longitude ID Feature Latitude Longitude 53 Boundary Marker Brush fire Area Brush fire Area Building Foundation Building Ruins Building Ruins Building Ruins Burnside Camp area Camper Campsite Campsite FTR Canyon Canyon Camp Site Canyon Cliff Canyon Lookout Caves Entrance Caves Lookout Circles Claypit Clearcut Boundary Coal Bank Creek Spot DCNR Bat Cave Dead End Dead End Dead End Dead End Dead End Dead End Pit Dead end- Moss Dead End Sink Holes - DT Doutyville Dump East Rock Cliffs East Rock Cliffs End of Caves End of Rd End of Road Entrance to Mile Excelsior Reservoir Excelsior Spring Excelsior Mine Shaft Excelsior Spring Excelsior Swamp Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 1-71

82 ID Feature Latitude Longitude ID Feature Latitude Longitude 99 Fairview Boundary Fairview Gate Fairview Gate Fairview Gate - West Fan House Fan House Fan Ruins Foundation Ruins Foundation Ruins Freeman Campsite Gate Goat Path Great Rock Area Half Pipe Heart Camp Site Heart Camp Site Heart Lake Helfrick Gate HFW Sign Great Rocks Great Rocks Intersection Honorable Pit Log Shanty Long Pit Look Out Lower Flats Main Rd Intersection MC Wreck Mile Gate Mine Mine? Lagoon Lagoon Mine Shaft Mine Shaft Mine Site Mine Site? Mine W /water Mine Mining Equipment Moss Trench Mt Ridge Line Mt top Mud Mud Pit Mud Pit Mud Rd Old mine site Open Area Open Shaft Party Spot Pineys Pineys Mud Pineys Pit # Pipeline Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

83 ID Feature Latitude Longitude ID Feature Latitude Longitude 155 Pit W/ Sink h Pit W/ Sink hole Pizza Rock Poleline Hill PoleLine Ridge Pond Private Property Project Quarry Gate RAC Sign Radio Towers Reclamation Site Ridge Ridge Line Ridge Line Ridge line Ridge Line Ridge Line Ridge Line Rock Cliffs Rock Den Rock Ridge Rock slide Rocks Rocks Rocks Rocks Rocks Rocks Rocks Rocks Rocks Rocky Ridge Rockzilla Dead End Round Foundation Round Foundation Ruins Ruins Ruins Sand Pits SCRA Gate - Ea SCRA Gate - East SCRA Gate - We SCRA Gate - West 199 SCRA Ponds Secluded Lagoon 201 Secluded Lagoon Sediment Pond Shaft opening Shangra La Shangra La Shingara s M Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 1-73

84 ID Feature Latitude Longitude ID Feature Latitude Longitude Shingara s 207 Mine 209 Shingara s Mine Shingara s Mine Shooting Range SS Look Out SS Pond StairStep Rock StairStep Rocks Stone Pillar Stone Quarry Gate Stone Ruins Stone Spring Stone Wall Swamp Entrance Tin Rd Ton Ridge Trailhead Trash Alter Trash Dump Trash Rd Tree Fossil Trev Lot Upper Excelsior Upper Flats Valley Lookout Vulture Rock Whaleback Whaleback Entrance Whaleback Look Out Whaleback Wetlands Yik Yuc Hill Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

85 CHAPTER 2: Needs Assessment, Market and Demand Analysis, Public Participation, & Economic Impact Analysis Northumberland Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 2-1

86

87 CHAPTER 2: Needs Assessment, Market and Demand Analysis, Public Participation, & Economic Impact Analysis NEEDS ASSESSMENT & DEMAND ANALYSIS INTRODUCTION Understanding the needs and demand of current and potential users of the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area helps to establish the development and financial plans for the resort. The needs assessment determines the appropriate types of facilities and amenities that are needed. The demand analysis provides an understanding of who will use the AOAA, how often they will use it, and for what purpose. Critical information was gathered for each of these components by analyzing the population of the anticipated service area; inventory of similar facilities in the state and wider region; and review of public input. MARKET AREA For purposes of analysis, potential market areas are defined according to their proximity to the proposed AOAA. The four counties of Northumberland, Montour, Columbia, and Schuylkill are considered to be local users. These residents have the easiest and quickest access to the AOAA. Some live immediately adjacent to the site and all are within about a forty-five minute drive of AOAA. Over the long-term, these will be the most frequent users of the facility. Beyond the local area, five concentric circles beginning at a radius of 50 miles for AOAA and extending to 500 miles are used to identify varying use levels of the potential service area. The first area includes the 12 counties that are beyond the local area but within a 50-mile radius of the AOAA. These residents are within about a ninety minute drive of AOAA. The second area ranges from fifty to one hundred miles, and the third from one hundred to two hundred miles. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 2-3

88 Those within the fifty mile radius of the AOAA are all located within Pennsylvania. They will be among of the most frequent uses. Many will purchase annual membership passes and ride several times per week. Those within 100 miles will be the next most frequent users of AOAA. Many of these users will ride at the AOAA several times per month. They will frequently be there on weekends. The greatest majority of these potential users are still located in Pennsylvania although some will come from Maryland, New Jersey and New York. The next group falls within 150 miles of the AOAA. Most of the group is still within a three and a half to four hour drive of the AOAA although many of them are located outside of Pennsylvania. They will be primarily weekend users. Some will come for a day while others will stay for the entire weekend. The AOAA will draw users from up to 500 miles or more away. They will tend to come for less frequently but most of these potential users will be coming for multi-day trips or large special events. Travel distances of 6 to 10 hours mean that they will have high expectations of the AOAA in terms of quality and variety of facilities, overnight accommodations, and events. The PA ATV Survey results indicate that there are approximately 250,000 ATV riders in Pennsylvania. That amounts to two percent of Pennsylvania s population. If this percentage of users is assumed across the various AOAA market areas, it can be used to reasonably project the estimated total market from which AOAA anticipates its user market. The chart to the right indicates that using this method of estimation there are 757,314 ATV users within about a four hour drive of the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area. INVENTORY OF OHV FACILITIES Potential ATV Market Market Area Population Estimated Number of ATV Users* 50 miles** 1,999,063 39, miles 11,627, , miles 37,865, , miles 58,882,065 1,177, miles 108,128,208 2,162,564 Source: 2010 US Census Data provided by Demo Reports 1/26/11 * assumes 2% of the population ride ATVs as found in the 2004 PA ATV Study ** based on the 2000 populations of counties located within 50 miles of the site. An inventory of all OHV facilities within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was conducted to assist in comparing existing supply the expressed demand. The inventory also is used to evaluate a variety of business related functions including competition, user fees, programming, marketing, hours of operation, season of operation, and others. With the type of facilities being planned at the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area, it can be expected to draw visitors from as much as 500 miles away. The following inventories describe 2-4 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

89 the major facilities that can be found within that area. Facilities that are closer to the AOAA will be the most competitive by drawing from the largest pool of regular users of the facility. Generally speaking, the further a competitive facility is from the AOAA the less impact it will have. Therefore, the inventories provide a greater level of detail for those facilities located within Pennsylvania than for those that are further away. INVENTORY OF PA FACILITIES The inventory of facilities within PA is broken into two classifications private sector OHV facilities and state or federally operated parks. There are 14 private sector OHV facilities and 17 state or national facilities that provide OHV riding opportunities. All of the facilities fall within the 200-mile radius of the proposed Anthracite outdoor Adventure Area. Federal and State Operated OHV Trails in Pennsylvania The trails identified in this section are generally multi-use trails available to non-motorized users and to ATV s. The US Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) facility located at the Shenango Reservoir is also open to off-road motorcycles. The federal or state government operates each of these facilities. There are five trails located in National Forests totaling miles, eleven trails within state forests totaling 246 miles. Total mileage of these trails is A series of trails with undetermined mileage are located on US Army Corps of Engineers property. Although there is a market niche for this type of trail, these facilities will present little competition to the proposed Northumberland County facility. There are a limited number of trails at each, many are difficult to reach, and few, if any, amenities are provided. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 2-5

90 Federally Owned PA OHV Trails Location Trail Type Length Level of Difficulty Other Permitted Uses Allegheny National Forest Marienville Allegheny National Forest Marienville Allegheny National Forest Timberline ATV Trail Allegheny National Forest Willow Creek ATV Trail Allegheny National Forest Rocky Gap ATV 21.9 ATV Trail National Forest Land Trail Subtotal ATV 14.2 More Difficult Bike 23.1 Most Difficult ATV 38 Easiest ATV 10 More Difficult Most Difficult Loop Easiest Loop ATV s, Trail Bikes, Horses, Mountain Bikes Trail Bikes, Horses, Mountain Bikes Trail Bikes, Snowmobiles, Horses, Mountain Bikes Trail Bikes, Horses, Mountain Bikes Trail Bikes, Horses, Mountain Bikes miles Location Trail Type Trail Length Level of Difficulty Other Permitted Uses USACE Shenango Reservoir Bayview ORV Area ATV undetermined Not Rated ATV and Motorcycles Total Miles for all State and Federal Trails miles State Owned PA OHV Trails Location Type Length Level of Difficulty Other Permitted Uses Michaux State Forest ATV 36 Easy More Difficult Most Difficult ATV Class I; non-motorized uses of hiking, biking, and horseback riding Buchanan State Forest - Martin Hill Buchanan State Forest - Sideling Hill Susquehannock State Forest ATV 18 Not Rated ATV 15 Not Rated ATV 43 Not Rated ATV Class I; non-motorized uses of hiking, biking, and horseback riding ATV Class I; non-motorized uses of hiking, biking, and horseback riding ATV Class I and Class II Restricted, 1200 pounds max, width 58 inches or less, non motorized uses of hiking, biking, and horseback riding 2-6 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

91 State Owned PA OHV Trails (continued) Location Type Length Level of Difficulty Other Permitted Uses Tiagaghton State Forest Bald Eagle State Forest Delaware State Forest Dixon R. Miller Recreation Area Delaware State Forest - Maple Run Tract ATV 17 Not Rated ATV 7 Not Rated ATV 13 Not Rated ATV 8 Not Rated ATV Class I; non-motorized uses of hiking, biking, and horseback riding ATV Class I; non-motorized uses of hiking, biking, and horseback riding ATV Class I; non-motorized uses of hiking, biking, and horseback riding ATV Class I and Class II Restricted, 1200 pounds max, width 58 inches or less; non-motorized uses of hiking, biking, and horseback riding Delaware State Forest - Burnt Mills ATV 7 Not Rated Sproul State Forest - Clinton County Whiskey Run ATV 45 Not Rated Sproul State Forest - Bloody ATV 37 Not Rated Skillet State Forest Trail Subtotal ATV Class I and Class II Restricted, 1200 pounds max, width 58 inches or less; non-motorized uses of hiking, biking, and horseback riding ATV Class I; non-motorized uses of hiking, biking, and horseback riding ATV Class I; non-motorized uses of hiking, biking, and horseback riding 246 Miles Total Miles for all State and Federal Trails miles Sources: Matt Beaver PA Bureau of State Forests ( ), Richard J. Egger, USACE Shenango Reservoir (Richard.J.Egger@lrp02.usace.army.mil), Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 2-7

92 PRIVATE OHV FACILITIES IN PENNSYLVANIA There are at lease fourteen private or club operated OHV facilities across Pennsylvania that provide riding opportunities of various types. These facilities provide varying levels of recreational and competitive riding. The fourteen facilities offer trails of all types, a variety of kinds of tracks; racing opportunities, play areas, programs, and a wide array of amenities. The largest of these facilities, with 2,000 acres or more include Mountain Ridge Trail Resort, Rock Run Recreation Area, Tri-County ATV Club, and Rausch Creek ATV Riders. The remainder of the facilities each have less than 1,000 acres. Rausch Creek ATV Riders, Tri-County ATV Club, and Mountain Ridge Trail Resort each have 100 or more miles of trails. The number of miles of trails at each of the other facilities ranges from 4 miles at Slippery Rock Dunes to 55 miles at Mines and Meadows. All of the facilities except the Rausch Creek OHV Park have a full range of ATV/OHM trails that range from easy to difficult. Most offer a variety of supplemental amenities that include hill climbs, water play areas, tracks, camping facilities and more. Only Rock Run and Rausch Creek OHV Park have trails and facilities available for full size off-road recreational vehicles (ORV). Rausch Creek OHV Park only permits full-size ORVs. Twelve of the fourteen facilities are more than 100 miles away from the AOAA. The Snow Shoe Rails-to-Trails and Willow Camp and Trail are each about 80 miles from AOAA. The Rausch Creek facilities are the closest in proximity to the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area at about 30 miles away. The charts and map, on the following pages, depict the facilities, fees, and locations of each of these facilities. These should be used by AOAA to understand the competition from other facilities in the state. 2-8 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

93 Admission Comparisons to Other OHV Areas in Pennsylvania 2010 Daily Admissions Mountain Ridge Lost Trails ATV Adventures Majestic Kamp and Lost Trails Rock Run Mines & Meadows Willow Hill Tri-County (Club) Day Pass $25 $30 $20 $18 $25 $30 Members Child Day Pass - $30 $ $20 Only Two Day $ $ Three Day $ Weekly Pass $40 - Group of 6-9 $ Group of 10 or more Passenger Day Pass/Spectator Weekday Discounted Pass $ $5 $10 $ $ $ Mountain Ridge Lost Trails ATV Adventures 2010 Annual Pass Majestic Kamp and Lost Trails Rock Run Mines & Meadows Willow Hill Tri-County Single Pass $150 None $100 $125 $320 $300 $110 Two person Pass $300 - $ $115 Three Person Pass Four Person Pass (Family) $ $120 $400 None $200 $280 $475 - $125 Youth Pass $200 - ORV Individual $ ORV Family $ Campsite Fees Mountain Ridge Lost Trails Majestic Rock Run Mines & Meadows Willow Hill Tri-County Primitive $15 Off-site $10 $10 $25 $20 None With electric $25 Off-site $20 $10 $ Seasonal site w full hook-ups *Must be a registered guest at the Resort + four months $2,000 Off-site - - $1, Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 2-9

94 Admission Comparisons to Other OHV Areas in Pennsylvania (continued) Indian Creek Valley (Club) Mason Dixon Trail Riders (Club) 2010 Daily Admissions Rausch Creek ATV (Club) Rausch OHV Park Slippery Rock Dunes Four Seasons Resort Snow Shoe Rails to Trails Day Pass Members Members Members $35 $15 $25 - Child Day Pass Only Only Only Two Day Three Day Weekly Pass $25 Group of Group of 10 or more Passenger Day Pass/ Spectator - - $7 - - Weekday Discounted Pass Indian Creek Valley Mason Dixon Trail Riders 2010 Annual Pass Rausch Creek ATV Rausch OHV Park Slippery Rock Dunes Four Seasons Resort Snow Shoe Rails to Trails Single Pass $80 $35 $330 None None $35* $15 Two person Pass $160 - $ $28 Three Person Pass $240 - $ $39 Four Person Pass (Family) - - $ Youth Pass ORV Individual ORV Family Indian Creek Valley Mason Dixon Trail Riders 2010 Campsite Fees - - Slippery Rock Dunes Four Seasons Resort Snow Shoe Rails to Trails Primitive Off-site None Free $28 None With electric Off-site - - $34 - Seasonal site w full hook-ups Off-site - - $ *Must be a registered guest at the Resort + four months 2-10 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

95 Comparison to Privately Operated OHV Areas in Pennsylvania Mountain Ridge Trail Lost Trails ATV Majestic Kamp and Resort Adventures Lost Trails Rock Run Location Somerset County Monroe County McKean County Cambria and Clearfield Counties Acres 2,500 Unknown 940 6,000 Miles of Trail 80 New site is under construction in Primary uses ATV and motorcycles ATV and ATV and ATV, Motorcycles, and Motorcycles on Motorcycles full-size 4x4s tracks only Green Trail x x x Blue Trail x x x Black Trail x x x Single Track Motocross Trail x x Hill Climb x x Water Play Area x x x Motocross/ATV Track x x x Pewee Motocross/ATV x x Track Drag Strip x Special Features x Quad Storage Quad Rentals x ATV/Bike Wash OHV Trails x Non-motorized Recreation x Special Events x x x Showers Tent Camping x x x RV Camping x x Electricity for Camping x Office/Info Center x x x x Concessions x x x x Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 2-11

96 Comparison to Privately Operated OHV Areas in Pennsylvania (continued) Mines & Meadows Willow Hill Camp and Indian Creek Valley Tri-County ATV Club Trail ATV Club Location Lawrence County Franklin County Armstrong County Indiana County Acres 600 Unknown 2000 Miles of Trail Primary uses ATV and ATV and ATV and ATV and Motorcycles Motorcycles Motorcycles Motorcycles Green Trail x x x x Blue Trail x x x x Black Trail x x x x Single Track Motocross Trail x Hill Climb x x Water Play Area x x x Motocross/ATV Track x x Pewee Motocross/ ATV Track x Drag Strip x Special Features x x Quad Storage x Quad Rentals x ATV/Bike Wash x OHV Trails Non-motorized Recreation x Special Events x x x Showers x Tent Camping x x x RV Camping x x Electricity for Camping x Office/Info Center x x x Concessions x x x 2-12 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

97 Comparison to Privately Operated OHV Areas in Pennsylvania (continued) Mason Dixon Trail Riders Association Rausch Creek ATV Trails Rausch Creek OHV Park Location Greene County Schuylkill County Schuylkill County Acres 8,700 1,700 Miles of Trail Primary uses ATV and Motorcycles ATV and Motorcycles Full-size 4x4 only Green Trail Blue Trail Black Trail Single Track Motocross Trail Hill Climb Water Play Area Motocross/ATV Track Pewee Motocross/ATV Track Drag Strip Special Features Quad Storage Quad Rentals ATV/Bike Wash OHV Trails Non-motorized Recreation Special Events Showers Tent Camping RV Camping Electricity for Camping Office/Info Center Concessions x x x x x x x x x x x x x x Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 2-13

98 Comparison to Privately Operated OHV Areas in Pennsylvania (continued) Slippery Rock Dunes Four Seasons Resort Snow Shoe Rails to Trails Location Butler County Washington County Centre County Acres Unknown Miles of Trail Primary uses ATV and Motorcycles ATV and Motorcycles ATV and Snowmobiles Green Trail x x Blue Trail x Black Trail x Single Track Motocross Trail Hill Climb x x Water Play Area x x Motocross/ATV Track x Pewee Motocross/ATV Track x Drag Strip Special Features x Quad Storage Quad Rentals ATV/Bike Wash OHV Trails Non-motorized Recreation x x Special Events x x Showers x x Tent Camping x x RV Camping x Electricity for Camping x Office/Info Center x x Concessions x 2-14 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

99 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 2-15

100 Reading Anthracite Properties in Schuylkill and Northumberland Counties Reading Anthracite has been issuing Access Permits to their properties for the past several years. They began to issue these permits to assist with their efforts in curbing vandalism of their equipment and facilities by putting more individuals on their properties with the intent that with more people on the property the less likely it will be for people to be isolated and tempted to vandalize their property. According to Reading Anthracite s website Access Permits are again being issued in The permits are good for the 2011 calendar year. The permits are available for purchase at a cost of $125 per person and there is no group or family rates. Reading Anthracite indicates the permits give you permission to be on Reading Anthracite Company s properties, excluding those areas where there is active mining or any other working facilities or any posted properties from sunrise to sunset. Permission is granted for recreational activities, excluding any overnight camping, dumping, swimming or any organized events such as races or parties. Permit holders may not have any type of fire on Reading Anthracite Company property. The use of alcohol and drugs on Reading Anthracite Company property is strictly prohibited. Anyone wishing to hunt on Reading Anthracite Company property must have a valid hunting permit issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Anyone wishing to take any type of licensed vehicle on Reading Anthracite Company property must have a valid driver s license and proof of registration and insurance. No one under the age of 12 is allowed to ride on the property either on their own vehicle or riding with another individual. Riders between the age of 12 and 18 must have proof of attending a safety class certified by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and must be accompanied by a permitted adult to ride on Reading Anthracite Company property. Reading Anthracite does not provide maps of their property. However, they indicate maps identifying their properties can be accessed by logging onto the Schuylkill County Parcel Locator web site. Although Reading Anthracite does not specifically indicate that their Access Permit also grants permission to their properties in Northumberland County it is commonly assumed by permit holders and has not been contested by Reading Anthracite. It does not appear that Reading Anthracite has a program to actively check those using the property for permits or to actively enforce the requirements of the permit. Reading owns approximately 3,000 acres in southern Northumberland County, adjacent to and in the vicinity of the proposed Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area. Many of the trails accessed by visitors to Reading Anthracite s properties extend onto properties owned by others, including Northumberland County. Trails are not marked, nor are boundaries of Reading Anthracite properties. Therefore, it is easy for those traveling the trails to leave Reading Anthracite property and not know they are on adjacent property. Those who purchase Access Permits commonly use the Reading property nationally known as the Flats as a popular user-created trailhead. From this location several Reading parcels can 2-16 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

101 be accessed including property to the north, east, and west. Further, Reading Anthracite owns Coal Hill locally, regionally, and to a certain extent, nationally known as popular attraction to the ATV community. Coal Hill is located immediately west of Trevorton. Coal Hill is popular with local ATV enthusiasts and unpopular with Trevorton neighbors due to ATV traffic and dust concerns. Portions of Coal Hill have recently been designated off-limits for OHV use through an agreement between Reading Anthracite and PA DEP due to a number of complaints from local residents related to the dust being created by motorized use in this area. Prior to beginning the master planning process and several times during its course, Northumberland County and its consultant contacted Reading Anthracite to discuss the potential of partnering with the County on the AOAA by including their adjacent properties and discussing opportunities to partner to meet OHV needs in partnership. Reading Anthracite representatives did not respond to the County s invitation. Reading Anthracite s Access Permit provides a competing opportunity immediately adjacent to the proposed AOAA. The level of competition the Access Permit will have with the proposed AOAA depends on several factors, including: Cost of Annual Access Permit versus the cost of an annual AOAA permit Quality and quantity of trail riding opportunities related to specific OHV segments Quality, type, and availability of support facilities and features Level of enforcement of rules and regulations related to safety and permitted activities Public perception of personal responsibility and safety on the property Initially, Reading Anthracite s Access Permit may compete directly with the AOAA. This competition will be from those current and past Reading Anthracite Access Permit holders, as well as from those who are frustrated with the County formalizing this historical riding area through the proposed development and subsequent fees and charges for access to it. Other facilities in similar situations have experienced low visitation rates by local enthusiasts in the initial years of a new facility. However, over time local residents begin to value what has been created and return to visit it as a paying customer in subsequent years. Assuming Reading Anthracite maintains the status quo with regards to addressing OHV opportunities through its Access Permit, and, as the master plan for the AOAA is implemented many desirable improvements will be developed that will entice enthusiasts to visit and return to the AOAA. Throughout the study process it was evident that OHV riding opportunities in Northumberland County are aggregated in whole as there isn t a physical distinction between County and Reading properties. Therefore, regardless of where a certain activity or event takes place it is OHV related, not related to OHV activities on one site or another. As an example, those events which occur at Coal Hill, i.e. accidents, dust clouds, disruptive traffic to and from Coal Hill, are commonly associated with all OHV activity. Throughout the public involvement process during this study we have been asked what we are doing to address the problems at Coal Hill. Unfortunately, there isn t anything the County can do directly, as the property is controlled by Reading Anthracite, not Northumberland County. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 2-17

102 Lack of enforcement of rules regulating safety and permitted activities at one or the other does, and will continue to be associated with both OHV facilities. Currently, State and local police refer to OHV activities and riding areas on the mountain as the Wild West. It will be difficult for the AOAA to single-handedly change this mind set, and to a certain extent reality, by instilling a sense of personal responsibility and safety on the AOAA property alone. The public perception of personal responsibility and safety will most likely have a larger impact than will Reading Anthracite s competing Access Permit. If the perception is that it is not safe to bring a family to the AOAA, then a large segment of the target demographic will be turned away. Business Impact of the Reading Anthracite Riding Areas on AOAA There are currently no statistics available that identify the number of passes sold for OHV use of the Reading Anthracite properties. Additionally, it must be recognized that only a portion of these properties are located in Northumberland County. This makes it difficult to quantify the business impact the Reading Anthracite OHV use will have on the AOAA. That said, the properties are close by and some are even contiguous to the AOAA. There are plenty of miles of riding opportunities on the Reading Anthracite properties: exactly how many are unknown and undocumented. Besides the trails however, there are limited other facilities available. Camping is prohibited; group activities and events are not permitted; there are no designated trailheads or rallying points; no restrooms, indoor facilities, concessions or other amenities; and no management staff on site. Many riders are quite satisfied with this type of primitive riding. The Reading Anthracite annual access fee of $125 per person is slightly lower that the average for OHV facilities across Pennsylvania and the proposed $80 single user annual fee for AOAA is significantly lower. At the AOAA, a family of three would be able to ride all year for just $240, making it one of the most economical options in PA. The single use day pass is proposed at $25 per person allowing a less expensive option for limited use riders at a fee similar to other facilities. The AOAA also proposes to be a family-friendly facility with restrooms, concessions, picnic areas, camping facilities and much more. It will also have a series of trails geared to all levels of uses, abilities, and types of vehicles. Even with the additional amenities and structure operational system, many local riders will be hesitant to buy into the AOAA immediately. They have become accustomed to riding the County s properties for free and many will not be willing to pay to use it. They may prefer to pay Reading Anthracite the annual access fee for use of their properties. The Rock Run Recreation Area in Cambria County experienced similar resistance when they first opened. After four years of operation, local riders are just now beginning to pay to use the facility but still at relatively low levels Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

103 In Northumberland County, individual riders will need to choose the type of riding experience they desire. There will be a market for both. The Reading Anthracite property will certainly draw some users from the AOAA. This must be accounted for in AOAA s business planning. In the end, it is likely that AOAA will develop into a facility that will be desirable to a majority of the users in the region. As the facility develops into a premier riding site where the local users will be the biggest users. If Reading Anthracite becomes interested in discussing the potential to partner with Northumberland County in the AOAA and the County accepts, we recommend the master plan be revisited to ensure their potential participation in the AOAA continues to meet the goals of the entire facility and considers all the possible impacts, socially, environmentally, legally, financially, etc. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 2-19

104 OHV FACILITIES OUTSIDE PA BUT WITHIN THE 250-MILE MARKET AREA OF AOAA There are a number of facilities in surrounding states that must also be considered as having a potential impact on AOAA. Only the larger of the facilities are described in the chart below. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list but rather a sampling of regional facilities that could be similar in size of function to the proposed AOAA. The largest and most well known is the 432-mile Hatfield and McCoy Trail system located in West Virginia. It draws riders from all hundreds of miles away for single and multi-day trips. Hatfield and McCoy has grown to be the premier ATV facility in the eastern United States. OHV Facilities located outside of Pennsylvania but 250-mile market area for AOAA Facility State Miles of Trail Acres 1 Southern Maryland ATV Park Maryland Oswego County ATV Club New York Unknown Adirondack ATV Riders Club New York Brooks Family ATV Park New York Unknown Pine Hill ATV Park New York Long Meadows ATV Park New York New York ATV Sportsman s Club, LLC New York Oswego County ATV Club New York 100 Unknown 9 Bear Creek Amphitheater Trails Ohio Hanging Rock Off-road Vehicle Area - Wayne National Forest Ohio Monday Creek Off-road Vehicle Area - Wayne National Forest Ohio 70 Unknown 12 Pine Creek Off-road Vehicle Area - Wayne National Forest Ohio 23 Unknown 13 Rumble on the Ridge Ohio The Forbidden Zone ATV Campground Ohio Unknown Burning Rock Outdoor Adventure Park West Virginia East Lynn Lake Are ATV Trails West Virginia 60 Unknown 17 Hatfield-McCoy Trail System West Virginia 432 Unknown 18 Burning Rock Outdoor Adventure Park West Virginia Unknown Moms Mountain West Virginia 22 Unknown Total Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

105 SUMMARY OF THE IMPACT OF OTHER FACILITIES There are five privately operated OHV facilities located within 100 miles of the proposed AOAA. While all of these facilities provide riding opportunities, most are limited in the scope of what they provide. Willow Hill Camp and Trail is among the smallest in the state with just 7.5 miles of trail and a motocross/atv track. Snow Shoe Rails to Trails is a single trail approximately 19 miles in length that is more amenable to snowmobiles than OHVs. Lost Trails ATV Adventures is just under construction and has no usable trails for the 2011 season: only two tracks will be available. Rausch Creek OHV Park is a high quality facility that is focused exclusively on ORVs. It is well known to most ORV riders in the east. They play host to a few larger competitions and events each year. They will certainly be a competitive facility for ORV use. Rausch Creek ATV Trails are one of the largest in the state on 8,700 acres of land with in excess of 100 miles of trail. Their facility includes numerous amenities including hill climbs, water play areas, tracks, special events, concessions, and camping. However, the facility is operated by a private club. All users of the site must be members of the club to ride. There is no opportunity for day pass users. They will be strong competition for the ATV and OHM riders. Perhaps a better perspective is to try to work together with the Rausch Creek facilities in drawing users from outside the immediate region. As OHV users consider travelling distances that require a multiple overnight stay, they would be more attracted to an area where they can visit multiple facilities. To market the region as having three major OHV riding areas with a multitude of different riding opportunities and challenges presents an attraction that can draw users that may not be willing to travel to a single facility. Among the three facilities, the region can boast over 16,000 acres of riding areas with hundreds of miles of trails. If some of the Reading Anthracite properties can eventually be included as part of the public riding opportunities, the attraction will be even greater. Some other Pennsylvania sites may also be able to be included in this type of marketing. Then, from the user s perspective, it begins to look a bit like the Hatfield and McCoy area in West Virginia that draws tens of thousands of riders annually. Mountain Ridge Trail Resort and the Rock Run Recreation Area will also be strong competitors in the ATV and OHM market. Both are large facilities with multiple amenities and are already well known in the state. The PA DCNR has invested significant funds into the Rock Run to assist in its start up and to help it remain successful. Rock Run is one of only two facilities in the Commonwealth that has ORV facilities. Multiple ORV clubs have assisted in the design and construction of its ORV trails. Tri-County ATV Club has a large facility with many trails and amenities but as a club, it is more of a regional facility in the western part of the state. Majestic Kamp is a mid-sized facility with just under a thousand acres and over 40 miles of trails. It has multiple amenities including tracks, water areas, concessions, and camping. It is also a more regional facility serving mostly northwestern and north central PA. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 2-21

106 All of the remaining facilities are small and have limited facilities. None will have a significant impact on the OHV market that AOAA will attract. The Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area will need to continually evaluate the competitive impact that each of these facilities will have on their operation. As well, there are seventeen trail systems available on state and federal lands in Pennsylvania. While these are inexpensive to ride on, they are not able to provide the balance of opportunities available anticipated at AOAA. Facilities outside the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will all draw from their own local and regional markets but none have the types and quality of facilities anticipated at AOAA. From the areas in which these sites are located, Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area will draw the users that are looking for greater adventure, added experiences, and exceptional special events Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

107 NEEDS ASSESSMENT The consultant has not been able to locate any empirical data describing the use patterns of ORV enthusiasts. While there are many ORV facilities and special events across the United States, it appears that statistical data describing user needs or use patterns has been collected. ATV USER SURVEY A survey of 1,357 ATV owners conducted by Penn State in 2003 provides a profile of ATV riders and their needs (Lord et al. 2004). The Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area is located in the southeast corner of Northumberland County, near the border with Columbia and Schuylkill Counties. A subset of forty-four of the surveys describes the opinions and attitudes of the people living in the most immediate market for the AOAA. In general, they were found to be typical users, but differences will be described when they are significant and substantive. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area regions Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 2-23

108 RIDER PROFILE The majority of riders are white, male, and rural, and had earned a high school diploma. Riding with family and friends was the number one reason given for recreational ATV riding (70% of riders). The age profile shows that there are a lot of middle aged adults and young people riding. This age profile indicates that ATVing is a family activity for many people. The low priority attached to race courses, racing, and aggressive riding may be a further indication of the family orientation of many riders. Statewide The average ATV household had 1.6 ATVs and 2.4 riders. Registered ATV owners tended to be White males. Just over 2% of the respondents indicated a race other than White. Almost 90% of the registered ATV owners indicted their gender as male. In contrast, total ridership was estimated to be 37% female. Rider ages ranged from 5 years of age to over 70. While most riders were in the 30 to 49 year range, a sizable number of riders were in the 5 to 15 age group, indicating the family orientation of many participants. The majority of respondents (62%) indicated they lived in rural areas. Over half of the ATV owners had family incomes over $50,000 per year. The most common income cohort was $50,000 to $75,000 per year (31%) and the second most common was $35,000 to $50,000 per year (20%). Half of the registered owners had obtained a high school diploma, but had no further college or technical education. AOAA Region The proportion of female riders in the AOAA area (34%) matched the state-wide average. Almost two-thirds of the riders were between 21 and 59 years of age, a little higher than the state average. Not surprisingly, given the region, two-thirds of the riders in the region identified themselves as living in a rural setting. Income roughly paralleled the state average, with 45% having family incomes of under $50,000 per year and 30% reporting family incomes in the $50,000 to $74,999 range. In a similar fashion, half reported ending their education with a high school diploma Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

109 RIDING CHARACTERISTICS STATEWIDE Currently the majority of riding is taking place at home. Problems with the availability and accessibility of trails and riding opportunities were of primary importance to ATV owners throughout the state. ATV owners were asked to describe the use of ATVs in their household. Trail and leisure riding was the number one activity, participated in by 86% of the respondents. This was followed by utility and work (61%) and hunting (58%). Fewer people indicated sport riding (32%), aggressive recreation riding (21%), transportation (16%), and fishing (16%). Racing and competition (4%) and commercial use (2%) were negligible. When ask to describe their recreational riding, 70% responded that they were spending time with family and friends and 68% indicated that wildlife viewing was an important feature. Vistas and scenery (60%) and adventure (50%) were also key features of recreational riding. Lower ratings were attached to challenge (28%) and photography (15%). The median amount of riding in the previous year was 150 miles. One-quarter of registered ATV owners rode 50 miles of less during the prior year. Another quarter rode between 50 and 150 miles. The next quarter had ridden between 150 and 400 miles during the previous twelve months and the last quarter indicated over 400 miles of ATV riding in the last year. Half of the ATV riders had nine years or less experience riding an ATV and one-quarter had four years or less experience. Of the remainder, one-quarter had between nine and 16.5 years riding experience and the remaining 25% had 16.5 years of more of riding in their background. This experience profile shows a significant number of people moving into the sport. AOAA REGION The primary reasons local riders gave for using their ATVs were very similar to the state as a whole. Number one was trail, leisure riding (86%), followed by utility, work (61%) and hunting (57%). Some of the secondary reasons were not as common among local riders: Sport riding - 27%, aggressive riding - 14%, transportation -14%, and fishing - 9%. When riding recreationally, local riders reported that spending time with family and friends was their number one activity (68%), followed by wildlife viewing (64%), viewing vistas and scenery (50%) and adventure. The years of riding experience also followed the state pattern, with about half having 9 years of less experience, and one quarter having 15 years or more. However, the distance rode annually was lower than the state average. The median distance was 100 miles per year, although 29% did report riding 450 miles or more per year. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 2-25

110 ATV NEEDS IN THE AOAA REGION Registered ATV owners statewide were asked to indicate significant problems with riding in their region. The following responses were provided: trespass, 65%; riding in illegal areas; 65%, lack of parent supervision, 44%; irresponsible/reckless riding, 44%; failure to comply with rules and regulations, 42%; alcohol and drugs 41%; excessive speed 39%; riding without head protection, 39%; campground and trailhead speed, 34%; riding in streams, 32%; environmental degradation, 29%; crowding 28%; and too much noise 21%. Riders in the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area region generally indicated a greater need for trail features and amenities than those statewide. Riders in the AOAA region attached a high level of importance to new trails (4.6), maintenance of existing trails (4.5), access to secondary roads (4.3), and enhancement of trail systems (4.2). Local riders also attached greater importance to all lengths of trails than the state average importance of medium trails (4.0), long trails (4.0), short trails (3.6) and large play areas (3.3). In terms of trail grade, riders in the AOAA region ranked trails offering diverse skill and riding experiences highest (4.0), followed by trails with lots of grade changes and off cambers (3.3), then relatively flat and wide trails (3.2) and trails with abrupt grade changes and minimal clearances (2.8). Race courses with lots of jumps ranked lowest (2.1). Even more than the average Pennsylvania rider, people in the AOAA region said they were looking for a place close to home, where they can ride for a couple of hours, when they have the time (4.7). They also desired to ride on municipal and State Forest roads (4.0), places where they can ride all day, but not necessarily stay overnight (3.6), and would be willing to share multiple-use trails (3.6). To a somewhat lesser extent, they were also interested in weekend opportunities (3.4) and multiple day excursions, with different lodging each night (3.0). When asked about trail features in their region that they felt needed to be increased or improved, regional riders generally expressed greater needs than the overall state-wide ridership. Echoing riders everywhere, they felt trail availability was their number one need (92%). This was followed by trail access (89%); medium length trails (86%), and long trails (82%). They were less interested in short trails (64%) than were riders elsewhere. In terms of information needs, they expressed a very high desire for information on the internet (82%). Trail map availability (74%) and trail signing (74%) were also desired. Finally, they indicated a strong desire for safe riding courses for youth and children (79%). NEEDS ASSESSMENT CONCLUSIONS Based on the public input received throughout this study process the Consultant concludes that the following elements of an ORV/ATV/OHM are necessary to meet the needs of potential facility users Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

111 ORV Trails specifically designed for ORVs Trails with diverse skill and riding experiences A variety of types and lengths of trails Trails with varying degrees of difficulty of use Technical courses Play area Obstacle course Mud and water play areas Rock crawl Rock competition areas Hill climb Spectator areas Gathering areas ATV and OHM Trails with diverse skill and riding experiences A variety of types and lengths of trails Trails with varying degrees of difficulty of use Trails specifically designed for ATVs Trails specifically designed for OHMs Hill climbs Water and mud play areas Trails connecting to surrounding areas Miles and miles of trails Sufficient variety to maintain interest of the user over the long term Riding access on roads within the facility Tracks ATV only track Adult MX track Youth MX track Tracks for both competition and recreation Beginner tracks Spectator areas Amenities Camping area Restrooms Adequate parking Good signage and maps Loading ramps Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 2-27

112 ATV and trailer storage Repair shop Refueling area Food concessions Safety and training facilities Picnic areas Convenience store Family and group gathering areas Hotels and motels DEMAND ANALYSIS Due to the lack of empirical data on ORV use, ORV projections used for this demand analysis is based solely on anecdotal responses from interviews and discussions with leaders of ORV clubs and organizations and ORV enthusiasts. OHM use data is also limited; however, an informal survey of OHV facilities indicated that about 30% of the total ATV/OHM users will be motorcycles. POTENTIAL DEMAND FOR ANTHRACITE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE AREA The demand for a good or service describes the relationship between the cost and the number of units of the good or service that people will consume. When combined with a schedule of supply describing the relationship between cost and the number of units the producer will be willing to provide, the two determine the actual cost and amount consumed. The ATV survey asked riders how much they would be willing to pay for a weekly or seasonal pass to an ATV riding area. When coupled with the number of ATV riders in a region, this identifies the regional demand for ATV riding opportunities. To determine the demand for a specific riding area, some additional factors would be necessary. These include the availability of alternative riding opportunities and the features offered at the riding area in question. Since these factors were not a component of the ATV survey, the following demand estimation will describe the potential demand for the AOAA. The actual number of visitors will depend upon substitute riding areas and the features available at both AOAA and at the alternatives. The local market for the AOAA was described as two regions. First was the region immediately surrounding the proposed facility; Northumberland, Columbia, Montour, and Schuylkill Counties (Region 1). Riders in this region would be a short distance from the facility and may be interested in obtaining a seasonal pass. Region 2 includes Berks, Carbon, Dauphin, Juniata, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, Perry, Snyder, Sullivan, and Union Counties. Most riders in this region live about an hour away and AOAA would be an easy day trip for them. While others in the state and elsewhere may wish to visit the facility for special events, they may have alternatives closer to home for their general riding needs. These regions were felt to comprise 2-28 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

113 the major sources of demand for the facility. As of June 1, 2010, there were 166,895 ATV registered in the Commonwealth for use off of the owner s personal property. Region 1 had 7,017 active ATV registrations. Region 2 had an additional 22,041 vehicles. In the ATV survey respondents were asked to identify the number of riders and ATVs in their household. These figures allowed the number of riders per ATV to be calculated and subsequently the number of riders in those regions. Riders in each region were asked to indicate the amount they would be willing to pay to ride at a public facility. An exponential demand function was fitted to their responses to provide estimates of the proportion of riders who would be interested in such opportunities (Appendix). The survey also inquired how many trips over 50 miles people took to ride their ATV. The people in Region 1 indicated that they took an average of 4.5 long trips per year. The number of such trips was higher in Region 2 (7.0 long trips/year). These data were combined for an estimate of the potential demand for ATV riding opportunities. ATVs and riders in each region Region 1 Region 2 Registered ATVs 7,017 22,041 ATVs/Household Riders/Household Riders 10,526 33,062 Potential demand for Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area (number of visits) Weekly Price Region 1 Region 2 Total $20 9,450 65,170 74,620 $25 6,593 48,038 54,631 $30 4,600 35,410 40,010 $35 3,209 26,102 29,311 $40 2,239 19,240 21,479 Seasonal Price Region 1 Region 2 Total $75 14,645 92, ,808 $100 10,581 70,004 80,586 Note that these are the potential demand $125 7,645 53,173 60,819 by people in the surrounding regions for $150 5,524 40,389 45,913 public riding opportunities. Some of this demand will be fulfilled at other sites as $175 3,991 30,678 34,669 people search for variety in their riding opportunities. In addition, the actual demand for the AOAA will depend upon $200 2,884 23,302 26,186 the type of facilities and trails developed at the AOAA. If regional riders were to utilize AOAA for about 40% their trips, then at a fee of $20 approximately 30,ooo ATV user trips to the AOAA might be realized. Antidotal evidence from Rock Run Recreation Area in Cambria County, suggests that seasonal passes may not approach the numbers indicated in the survey. Most likely, respondents answered the question about their willingness to pay for a seasonal pass, under the assumption that the facility would be close to home. Rock Run reported approximately 50 seasonal passes. If each of these translated into 10 visits per year, than they would contribute an additional 500 visits to the total. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 2-29

114 Another significant audience is the ORV enthusiasts. The East Coast Four Wheel Drive Association (2009) estimates there to be 871 off road 4X4 riding families in Pennsylvania. If the percentage resided in the two regions paralleled the ATV figures (17%) then an additional 148 of these vehicles could be added to the audience. Assuming 2.1 visitors per vehicle and half the trips of regional 4x4s to the facility, this would add an additional 155 visits from within the local region. Conversations with national 4x4 groups suggest that as many as 6,000 to 8,000 visitors from outside the region may come to AOAA for outings and events sponsored by their own clubs of the AOAA. To put the regional demand in perspective, a 2002 visitor use report for the Allegheny National Forest indicated that 1.7% of the 1.4 million visitors to the Forest participated in off-highway vehicle recreation (approximately 24 thousand visits) (US Forest Service 2002). This was with an annual use fee of $35 per rider. AOAA will probably be offering more services than the Allegheny and consequently be able to receive similar use at somewhat higher prices. DEMAND ANALYSIS CONCLUSIONS The riders in the region surrounding the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area differ slightly from those in the remainder of the Commonwealth, in terms of demographics, riding needs, and expenditure profiles. A previous study for the Rock Run Recreation Area in Cambria County found similar patterns (Lord, 2005). The proposed facility is situated in an area with a large riding population. Currently there are few public riding areas available to these folks and surveys of these riders have shown that they are very desirous of having expanded riding opportunities. A significant proportion of the riders in the region are children and consequently visitors to the facility will be looking for a variety of riding opportunities suitable for the entire family. The number of visitors will depend upon the fee charged and the gradual development of alternative riding opportunities. At an average weekend fee of $30, approximately 25,500 ATV visitors could be expected. The actual number of visitors will depend not only upon the price, but also upon the facility amenities, available alternatives, and marketing efforts to promote the facility. Indeed, the initial visitation and economic impacts may take a few years to scale up to the levels estimated here, as the facility s amenities, marketing and reputation are developed. Furthermore, the development and marketing of special events could attract thousands of more visitors from throughout the northeast and add considerable to the economic impact of this facility. As noted earlier, the consultant has not been able to locate empirical data describing the use patterns of ORV enthusiasts. While there are many ORV facilities and special events across the United States, it appears that statistical data describing user needs or use patterns has not been collected. Therefore, projections used for this demand analysis is based solely on anecdotal responses from interviews and discussions with leaders of ORV clubs and organizations and ORV enthusiasts Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

115 From this unsubstantiated evidence, it is estimated that AOAA can expect about 6,000 to 8,000 ORV users annually. This number could be substantially higher if the AOAA is able to hold any number of mid to large size ORV special events each year. The following summarizes the total projected annual visitations to the proposed AOAA: Annual Projected ORV Visits:...6,000 Annual Projected OHM Visits:... 10,000 Annual Projected ATV Visits:... 25,500 Total Number of Projected Annual Visits...41,500 EQUESTRIAN DEMAND In May 2003, Penn State University published a study titled Pennsylvania s Equine Industry Inventory, Basic Economic and Demographics Characteristics. This study shows that the number of equine has increased 27% in the last ten years. More than 26% of the equine are used for recreational activities. The following is a summary of pertinent information from that report that impacts the potential use of the proposed equine use of the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area. The study shows the Pennsylvania Equine Industry is only second to the Tourism Industry when comparing economic impact. The following chart describes the economic impact of the industry in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania s Equine Industry General Equine Population Race Horse Industry Total State Number of Horses 189,328 26, ,693 Number of Operations 28,200 2,800 31,000 Employment (No. of Jobs) 13,870 6,430 20,300 Value of PA s Horses $978 Million $353 Million $1.3 Billion Industry Outputs (Revenue) $780 Million $344.5 Million $1.12 Billion Related Assets / Investments $7.5 Billion $1.12 Billion $8.27 Billion Expenses $508 Million $238 Million $746 Million Total Taxes $46.3 Million $6.9 Million $53.2 Million Employment Compensation $121.2 Million $291.1 Million $412.3 Million Value Added (Ripple Effects) $427.5 Million $187.6 Million $615.1 Million Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 2-31

116 Characteristics of Pennsylvania s Equine owners: From the general equine survey, 70% of the equine owners are female and 30% are males. The racehorse owners were 70% male and 30% female. Over 60% of Pennsylvania horse owners reported trail riding their horse on public lands. Within the general population, more than half of the owners have owned equine for 20 or more years, and the average length of equine ownership is just over 22 years. Within the general population nearly 70% of the equine owners reported a level of education beyond high school and nearly half have received at least a college degree. In the General population females appear to be more active participants in equine activities, especially in the over 19 age group, and overall for all age groups. This study indicates equine population in the region is as follows: Equine Population Susquehanna Region Race Horse Population General Population Total Population County Rank Bradford County 0 2,329 2, Columbia County 111 2,209 2, Lycoming County 29 1,678 1, Montour County Northumberland County , Snyder County Sullivan County Tioga County 82 1,250 1, Union County 59 1,422 1, Totals ,295 11, Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

117 A Google search indicates the following equestrian centers and stables are located in Northumberland County: Mahantango Acres Equestrian Center RR1 Box 1284 Herndon, PA Rainy Meadows Farm 163 Frederick Road Paxinos, PA Susquehanna Valley Corral 205 Ridge Drive Danville, PA (570) Whispering Hollow Stables Coal Township Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 2-33

118 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION To help reduce potential conflicts and gain public support for the project, citizen input was incorporated throughout the planning process. This was an all-inclusive public participation process, including both those who support the project and those who opposed the project. This was accomplished throughout this plan in the following manner: The steering committee and representatives of the Northumberland County Planning Department met with the planning consultant periodically throughout the planning process to provide information, review and comment on progress, and to serve as a sounding board. Three general public and three public official meetings were held. These meetings were facilitated in a manner to allow all concerned citizens to express their opinions on the proposed project. This permitted the project team to respond with a plan corresponding to the needs, desires, and issues raised by those participating in the process. The planning team assisted the Northumberland County Planning Department in publicizing the public meetings, thereby encouraging full community participation, by: Drafting lead articles for local newspapers Preparing flyers which were placed in frequently visited / prominent community businesses and public service buildings Announcing public meetings on off highway vehicle internet forums Publishing blasts to key stakeholders, organizations, and others identified by the steering committee Utilizing this approach the planning team achieved outstanding attendance at all of the public meetings held for the project with attendance ranging from 300 to 450 attendees at the meetings. A s part of the public participation process, representatives of Northumberland County and the steering committee identified key persons to be interviewed. The purpose of these interviews was to obtain the views of the various agencies and individuals on the proposed Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area. Furthermore, several existing OHV facility operators were interviewed in order to learn from their experiences. The key persons were categorized as follows: Economic Development and Tourist Promotion Interests OHV Facilities 2-34 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

119 OHV Interests and Businesses Non-Motorized Recreation Interests Environmental Interests Each form of public input was considered during the planning process and the formulation of the recommendation contained in this plan. Each public participation component is further described throughout this plan and meeting minutes are on file in the Northumberland County Planning Department office. STEERING COMMITTEE MEETINGS Six steering committee meetings were held throughout the course of the planning process on the following dates: June 6, 2010 August 11,2010 October 11, 2010 February 3, 2011 March 3, 2011 The purpose of the steering committee meetings included collecting and discussion information, data, opinions, thoughts, ideas, issues, concerns, and opportunities; detailed discussion regarding recommendations, policies, management and operation structures; and building consensus around recommendations and implementation strategies being proposed in this master plan. PUBLIC MEETINGS Three public meetings were held during the course of this project on the following dates: July, 27, 2010 October 19, 2010 July 6, 2011 All of the public meetings were well attended, generating between 150 and 375 attendees per meeting. At the first public meeting the project and the planning process were introduced, the properties being considered were reviewed, and attendees identified opportunities, constraints, and expressed issues and concerns they had regarding the proposed facility. Comments received during this meeting were documented in a 33 page Record of Public Input. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 2-35

120 At the second public meeting the following were items were discussed, and the attendees were asked to provide comments and feedback on these items: economic development potential of the proposed project; the proposed concept plan for the facility; a proposal for integrated operations & life safety management system; potential rules and policies; and a summary of research on fee structures. Comments received during this meeting were documented in a 11 page Record of Public Input. At the third public meeting the draft recommendations for the facility were presented and meeting attendees were invited to ask questions or comment on the draft recommendations contained in the Draft Master Plan and Economic Development Strategies document. Comments from the participants are recorded in the meeting minutes. FOCUS GROUP AND MUNICIPAL MEETINGS Several focus group and municipal meetings occurred throughout the planning process as well. These meetings included: August 11, Community Leaders Meeting October 19, First Responders Meeting October 19, County Solicitor Meeting March 3, Community Leaders and First Responders Meetings AUGUST 11,2010 COMMUNITY LEADERS MEETING The agenda for the initial community leaders meeting included: introducing the OHV planning process; why are we undertaking this endeavor and what have we learned so far in the planning process; soliciting their thoughts and ideas for addressing issues and capitalizing on the planned OHV area including: 1) Land Use & Infrastructure 2) Economic Development 3) Public Safety 4) Transportation and Wayfinding 5) Intergovernmental Cooperation And, their reaction to the input collected at the first public meeting. Approximately 20 municipal representatives attended the meeting. Community officials expressed concern over the current issues associated with the properties including: illegal dumping, drinking and driving, the wild west atmosphere on the properties, concerns with irresponsible ATV use on local streets and through residential neighborhoods, and concern with the potential loss of coal mining opportunities and associated jobs and associated revenue generated from the properties Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

121 Officials expressed concern over the amount of time, effort, and costs associated with responding to accidents, vandalism, and investigation of illegal dumping on the properties. Representatives of the County indicated that coal related activities will not cease because of the OHV area s development, but that portions of the facility may be closed on a temporary basis to permit continued coal mining. Further, they indicated the coal mining activities will be planned in conjunction with the development of new trails and access roads so coal activities would be assisting with making improvements to the facility. Municipal officials expressed concern with renegade OHV activities in their communities, speeding, late night riding, riding without being registered, riding while under the influence, etc. Further, there are currently so many points of access to 6,000 plus acres they can t be caught. When discussing existing land use and existing/potential land use controls, officials indicated they do not desire to increase controls on local residents, but there is a desire to enforce current laws, and to provide designated access points from surrounding communities and residential neighborhoods. Municipal officials desire for the OHV area to be a family friendly environment, providing OHV opportunities for all ages and abilities, as well as providing non-motorized opportunities for those not inclined to pursue OHV activities. Officials discussed how the proposed OHV area would become a destination, and that gateway improvements into the region and the respective communities should be improved. Officials indicated they have had inquiries from potential start-up businesses looking to provide goods and services to the OHV area s visitors and recognize the positive economic development opportunities associated with the proposed OHV area and its impact of their local municipalities. Officials also discussed the lack of adequate lodging accommodations in the region to meet the anticipated demand for overnight facilities. County representatives indicated they are reaching out to potential developers and retail chains to encourage them to develop a hotel in the region to meet the projected needs of the OHV area. Attendees expressed cautious optimism for the proposed project. They also expressed concern over negative issues currently associated with the illicit use and activity on the properties being considered. Law enforcement representatives have a difficult time addressing issues on the property because they are often out manned and out armed. Many officers are hesitant to conduct routine patrols/enforcement activities because they do not feel safe unless they have sufficient backup available to call in if necessary. This is further complicated by the inability of local police departments being able to communicate with State Police because their radio frequencies are not interconnected. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 2-37

122 FIRST RESPONDERS MEETINGS Two meetings were held with first responders during the course of this planning process including municipal police, fire, & EMS, as well as representatives of the Pennsylvania State Police, and Geisinger Health System Life Flight. During the first meeting responders expressed concern over the number of responses to the properties, and the lack of current riders understanding the need for personal protection equipment while riding, such as helmets, boots, gloves, goggles, seat belt restraints in full size vehicles, etc. Responders indicated that by creating the riding area there is an opportunity to provide a safe, regulated riding area where visitors can be educated and personal protection equipment requirements can be enforced. Responders indicated they currently have difficulty reaching certain areas of the properties because of the isolation from public roads and due to difficult terrain. Responders suggested the development of the OHV area would expand vehicular access to properties, and that there are opportunities to designate and provide medical evacuation landing zones throughout the properties to assist emergency response time to remote areas of the properties. Local and state law enforcement expressed concern over the current wild west atmosphere on the properties, the unlimited access points that currently exist, and renegade riding that occurs both on the County properties, and in/through their municipalities. At the second first responders meeting potential rules for the OHV area were presented and discussed, and the consultant presented a draft of the master plan focusing on proposed access and medical evacuation routes and landing zones. Attendees were pleased with the proposed access improvements and indicated that such a facility will address the concerns they currently have with riding that occurs on the properties. OCTOBER 19, 2010 COUNTY SOLICITOR MEETING Throughout the process the County Solicitor participated in the planning process. Specific meetings and discussions were held with the solicitor to discuss a number of items including: creating an authority to manage the proposed OHV area, proposed rules, reducing the potential liability associated with developing the proposed OHV area, the Haluska amendment to the State s Comparative Negligence Act to provide OHV areas with voluntary assumption of risk by participating in OHV activities, and examples of adult & minor waivers from other OHV areas. MARCH 3, 2011 COMMUNITY LEADERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS MEETINGS At the second municipal officials meeting officials reviewed and provided feedback on the draft master plan. They noted the plan responded to their desire to have designated access points, and access improvements for first responders. They also noted the plan provides opportunities encouraging the private development of service providers on properties adjacent to the OHV area, along the main streets of the local municipalities, and within the region at large Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

123 Preliminary economic projections were reviewed and discussed with the local officials, and officials discussed how to partner with special events that may be held at the OHV area by inviting certain activities and events to be coordinated in their municipalities, in support of the event. An example of this that was discussed was having rock crawling events hold driver meet and greets, technical inspections, and other activities in the downtown area. This would not only encourage participants to support local businesses, it would also encourage spectators, crews, and many others to support local businesses as well. Attendees discussed concerns over current illegal activities on the properties, and the amount of time effort and money spent to respond to activities and accidents on the site. Officials agreed that formalizing the properties as a riding area, establishing and enforcing rules, and providing riding opportunities developed in accordance with the industry s best practices, would, over time, reduce their commitment to the properties. Representatives of the Pennsylvania State Police said they agree that development of the OHV area will be good for the area, and address many of the concerns they have with riding in the area currently. County officials announced they are discussing a potential partnership with Geisinger Health Systems to provide youth OHV education opportunities, and safe riding campaigns. Further, Bloomsburg University is interested in partnering with the County to track and quantify economic development activities associated with the development of the OHV area. SUMMARY OF KEY PERSON INTERVIEWS As part of the public participation process, representatives of Northumberland County and the steering committee identified key persons to be interviewed. The purpose of these interviews was to obtain the views of the various agencies and individuals on the proposed Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area. Furthermore, several existing OHV facility operators were interviewed in order to learn from their experiences. The key persons were categorized as follows: Economic Development & Tourist Promotion Interests 1. Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau - Andrew Miller, Executive Director 2. Northumberland County Industrial Development Authority - Jim King, Director 3. Brush Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce - Sandy Winhofer, Director, & Warren Altomare, Board Member 4. Zerbe Township Business Owners OHV Facilities 5. Badlands OHV Area, IN - Kyle Knosp 6. Coal Creek OHV Area, TN - Brent Galloway, General Manager, Coal Creek Company 7. Tri-County ATV Recreation and Rescue Association - Ann Hertzog 8. Rock Run Recreation Area - Gary Haluska, Chair, Pat Leyo, Vice Chair, & Mike Kutruff, Park Manager Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 2-39

124 OHV Interests and Businesses 9. National Off-Road Association - Pearse Umlaf, Director 10. EMS Off-Road Shop - Eric Startzel 11. PA Jeeps - Wayne Fish 12. Scott/Thor Representative - Bevo Forti 13. Quadratec - Craig Jaros, Outside Marketing Director Non-Motorized Recreation Interests 14. Pennsylvania Equine Council - Gwenn Wills 15. Ski Roundtop (Zip Line / Canopy Tour) Environmental Interests 16. Shamokin Creek Restoration Authority - Jim Koharski and Ed Gunn 17. Pennsylvania Game Commission - Eric Miller 18. Northumberland County Conservation District - Judi Becker- District Manager, Jaci Harner - Watershed Specialist, & Pete Ackley- Erosion & Sediment Technician 19. American Chestnut Foundation - Blair Carbaugh 20. Bureau of Mine Reclamation T.J. Matinas, P.E., Kim Snyder, P.E., & John Curley, P.E. Other Interests 21. Reading Anthracite - John Rampolla, Chief Financial Officer 22. Girard Estates - Roy Green 23. Excelsior Residents - Bernadette and Bill Yeager, and others 24. PA DCNR Geologic Survey - Jim Shaulis, Senior Geologist 25. Bloomsburg University, Department of Biology and College of Business ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURIST PROMOTION INTERESTS Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau - Andrew Miller, Executive Director Miller indicated they (SRV) did not want to begin promoting the project without permission. He mentioned the SRV Board of Directors are interested in the project. In his opinion the proposed recreation area s uniqueness is its draw and that the SRV is thrilled to have it in the area. He noted the impressive existing draw of visitors to the area through only word-ofmouth and once marketed it would draw even more visitors. He feels this could be one of the larger attractions in the tri-county region. SRV develops niche brochures to market the region s assets and they are developing an outdoor recreation-themed brochure. The recreation area could be a great addition. Miller described many other activities in the region that could compliment the proposed AOAA or utilize its space: The River Town Race Series (a successful competitive series of events in the region) might be able to host an event on the proposed AOAA site Local 5K or 10K events 2-40 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

125 He indicated one of the obstacles to overcome in Northumberland County is that there are few options for overnight lodging. The presence of Knoebel s and the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area might attract a hotel. There was an idea for a hotel at Knoebel s at one point in time but the challenge was the winter months. There is some hesitation/skepticism in the region regarding these types of projects because there have been multiple feasibility studies done for attractions that did not result in anything. The SRV website could link to the Adventure Area s website or it may even warrant its own sub-page on the SRV s website. The SRV would be willing to help promote the adventure area. Miller mentioned some of the other attractions in the area including: Knoebel s Amusement Park Reptile Land T&D Cats Wine Trail State Parks Universities, and Festivals (such as Brewfest) He indicated there was approximately $300 million dollars spent by visitors in the tri-county area in 2006 according to a study by the SRV. He offered the following ideas for partnerships with the AOAA: Partner with Universities for educational opportunities Boy Scouts for educational and recreational space, and Local festivals could use the space (ethnic festivals are very popular in the area) Northumberland County Industrial Development - Jim King King provided an overview of industrial development in the area over recent history. He mentioned the SEEDCO/Coal Township Industrial Park specifically and the current efforts to develop the property. The water company in much of the area is Aqua Pennsylvania. Shamokin s water system has a large capacity (7-8 million gallons per day, of which, only 60% is usually used). King suggested we meet with the County Engineer for further information regarding infrastructure in the area. Brush Valley Chamber of Commerce - Sandy Winhofer & Warren Altomare There was a concern expressed that the economic development benefits of the recreation project may be exaggerated and that the types of businesses that spin-off from the project will be limited. The Chamber would like to see more detail (including numbers if possible) regarding the potential economic development. It would help if for example, a local pizza shop would know specifically how they would benefit. The Chamber mentioned that local realtors indicated to them that there are some OHV enthusiasts looking for residential real-estate in the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 2-41

126 area already in anticipation of the Adventure Area s arrival. The Chamber also felt that people are looking for campgrounds. The general opinion of the proposed OHV facility s impact on existing businesses will be that businesses will adapt to the new clientele. Some communities in neighboring counties have cracked down on ATV riding by adopting laws with the ability to confiscate equipment. The Chamber s input on management options for the proposed OHV facility are that it should be run by a private entity because the county does not have the necessary capacity to run it. The Chamber agreed they would support the proposed recreation area. They requested to see some positive economic development figures that they could use as examples and would like to see the local conservation groups get involved in the planning process. They would like to see the conservation group s desired property overlaid on the map of the OHV area. Warren and Sandy mentioned the Pennsylvania Trap Shoot held in Elysburg as a good example of positive economic development generated by an event in the area. It was mentioned that some hotel chains had done research in the area for potential development but the lack of activity during winter months presented a hindrance to their development. Examples of nearby lodging (which they noted are consistently booked) include: Country Inn and Suites on 81 ( 70 rooms) Frackville Holiday Inn and Suites (65 rooms) Pine Burr Inn in Atlas (about 20 rooms) Sleepy Hollow Bed and Breakfast (7 rooms) Zerbe Township Business Owners The County Planning Department met with Zerbe Township Business Owners to discuss the project, economic data, facts about Rock Run, Hatfield McCoy, what the County hopes to accomplish, a status of the industry currently, a direction we plan to head toward, a time line, and then opened the floor. The following questions were fielded and discussed. Visitors Center Location, services offered, access, design, infrastructure. The role of Reading Anthracite in the project. Past, present, and future of Coal Hill. How will we track the users, secure the property, provide support to local EMS and enforcement agencies - Where will the security firm be located while tracking this data? What are the benefits to Zerbe Township in addition to more people, better business, etc Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

127 Who will run the facility? What options do they or we have to get Reading Anthracite to come in on the project? What and how will we incorporate Zerbe Township if Reading doesn t come along? Is the technology investment worthwhile for security? - Is it done anywhere else? OHV FACILITIES Badlands OHV Park - Mr. Kyle Knosp, Badlands ATV Park, Atica, Indiana, former operator of Paragon Kyle operated Paragon ATV Park in eastern PA until 2007 when it closed due to his loss of the lease for the property. He now operates a facility in Indiana. Safety and liability Safety and liability go hand-in-hand. ATV facilities, by nature, have a high risk factor. To manage risk, the operator needs to design and manage the facility with that in mind. Establishment and enforcement of appropriate rules are key to managing safety. Liability waiver All users at the Badlands ATV Park are required to sign a waiver of liability. A responsible adult is required to sign for anyone under the age of 18. Paragon closing The Paragon site was closed due to an issue with the lease of the property. It had nothing to do with the success of the site. Paragon continued to be profitable until it closed. Coal Creek OHV Area - Brent Galloway, General Manager, Coal Creek Company. Galloway provided an overview of the Coal Creek OHV area by indicating the Coal Creek Company is a resource extraction company first and foremost, coal, natural gas, oil, and timber. They also have two subsidiaries, the Coal Creek OHV Park, and WindRock Park. The Coal Creek OHV area encompasses the 72,000 acres of property held by the Coal Creek Company. WindRock Park is a campground on the Coal Creek Company property that caters to the OHV community by providing RV, tent, and primitive camp sites, and camping cabins. Up until 2000 the Coal Creek Company actively pursued and prosecuted trespassers on their property. The property was very popular with the OHV community. Many of those trespassers were on a variety of OHVs. Around 2000 they decided there may be a financial opportunity to open their lands to OHV activities and turn the negative aspect of enforcement to a positive aspect of establishing a legal riding area. Galloway said the OHV area represents about one third of their annual revenue, with the other two thirds split equally between coal and natural gas extraction. They have three full-time employees who operate the OHV and campground areas, one full time security and two part time (weekend) employees. They have 2 active strip mines and one active deep mine on the property. Riding is not permitted in or around the mines. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 2-43

128 They have owned the property since the 1800 s. Cost for the permits are as follows: Adults Children 12 & Under $17 Daily Permit $8 $33 Two Day $16 $44 Three Day $22 $55 Four Day $28 $88 Annual $44 Tri-County ATV Recreation and Rescue Association - Ann Hertzog, President Tri-County ATV Recreation and Rescue Association is a membership based Association. Their mission is to support the sport of ATVing through legal and safe riding areas, safety training, public awareness, and respect for the environment, as well as cooperation with local rescue units to promote outdoor safety. The Association has nine hundred and four families. The Association owns 596 acres and lease or have land agreements for another On this property they have over one hundred miles of trails. Other facilities include: 500 regulation dirt drag track 2 Motocross tracks - 1 adult and 1 child Hill climbs Mud bog 40 x 60 enclosed pavilion, complete with grills, coolers, soda, ice cream, general member access; also picnic tables, seating and other picnic areas in and around the enclosed pavilion Complete kitchen Campground - members camp free of charge Concessions - Two facilities, concession and kitchen are open on weekends from Memorial Day through Sept 30 th Children s playground (swings, slides, full playground equipment) First Aid Station BBQ pit (chicken and other BBQ events are held throughout the summer season) Wash station for Quads Consignment shop with parts and gear is open on the weekends during season Annual Family Membership $ first year, $95.00 subsequent years, plus $5 per additional vehicle tag (one tag provided with membership) Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

129 Rock Run Recreation Area - Gary Haluska, Chair, Pat Leyo, Vice Chair, & Mike Kutruff, Park Manager The Rock Run season is from April 1 st to October 31 st, and they are open Wednesday through Sunday, closed Monday and Tuesday. They have three full time employees, and 6-7 dedicated volunteers. 6,000 acres, with fifty miles of trail, and approximately 50 permanent primitive camp sites, and another 210 temporary camp sites. They have been open for three full seasons, The first three years have been successful as they have turned a profit each year. The biggest issue they have is that locals are resistant to change and that not many of the locals visit Rock Run. Rock Run has received notice that the funding is in place for Phase II, $690,000 for the development of an additional 50 miles of trails. Since opening they have secured several grants that have allowed them to make improvements. They include: DCED Grant for construction of maintenance garage $20,000 from Yamaha for additional trail development $5,000 from Polaris for education and training. They conduct two youth safety training days per year, one in the spring and one in the fall. These days are coordinated through the schools. They would like to have one major event each month. They work hard to ensure Rock Run, and all events and activities are oriented to families. That s their main focus and customer base. About 40% of those visiting Rock Run are off road motorcycle riders. Rock Run s development plan is for slow steady growth of facilities and ridership. Rock Run does not view other ATV facilities as competitors but rather as partners who can work with each other to cross promote OHV opportunities. Since the construction of the first 50 miles of trails, local OHV (4x4) clubs have developed trails in the areas allocated in the master plan. The clubs have laid out and constructed the trails. There are 5-6 miles of trail that have been developed. They aren t aggressive in enforcing the rules at Rock Run but use them to educate folks as they arrive, and enforce them when necessary. They have an estimated 5,000 6,000 visitors per year, excluding special events. In 2010, Fisher s ATV Reunion drew approximately 3,500 visitors over the course of the weekend. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 2-45

130 OHV INTERESTS AND BUSINESSES National Off-Road Association - Pearse Umlauf, Director a. Manage resources b. Manage concerns of local communities c. Promote fun, safe, enjoyable experiences d. Establish rules to ensure long term vision can be achieved, want to be like Rubicon Trail, Moab, and not like Tellico. 5% can spoil it for 95%, as a representative of the industry he says he will tell them they must follow the rules, period. Need to set tough policies, i.e. what should be done after first offense, confiscate vehicle second offense, need stiff penalties, so not following the rules will not be worth the risk. EMS Off Road Shop - Eric Startzel, Owner Full service mechanical- custom axles, suspensions; no engines and transmissions; geographic range 1-6 hrs for service calls; parts sales; design and manufacture parts for special usesoutsource manufacturing (dodge wheel hub conversions most popular product). Overview of AOAA- good opportunity of enthusiasts for legal/safe operations; HUGE economic impact to region; King of Hammers series as a competition to bring large numbers of people to region. As a business owner expecting some client base expansions; if project goes will add space with 1 staff member. Key needs in region: 80%+ of current sales from out of area (Canada, Alaska, MT, ID, CA, and other western states); like to add local business to grow business; sell national products locally in a new showroom (Fox, Detroit Lockers, WARN, etc ) potentially additional retail space. Key amenity needs at recreation area: paved parking/loading areas; improved loading/ unloading areas; theme with Anthracite Heritage- follow history, delineate history, visitor center designed like breaker, showcase equipment of coal industry, interpretive signing, history signing; meeting rooms; pavilion with stage for competition awards, possible band area for outdoor concerts/amphitheater. Competitions- excellent if done right, need professional organizations for success and promotion, doesn t take up much area; plan for disruptions of services to general attendees; Rock Crawling sport losing attendees due to high cost to enter, poor payouts and long distances between events. How will project fail- high entry fees, poor organization/management, environmental damage (bad press), fighting with other off road areas (friendly competition good but no bad talk), no special exceptions for small groups (all clubs/groups treated the same)- give them an area of the property but don t close the whole thing Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

131 PA Jeeps Wayne Fish, President Driving instructor for Drive Inc. in MD & DE with dealerships (Land Rover, Toyota); currently doing training in Napa, MD on ~20 acres private property. Key needs: need challenging trails; well designated trails; need more blue/black trails; staging/ parking areas for off loading and orientations; need enough trail to keep it interesting (may cover +20 miles/day). Key amenities: restrooms, bathrooms; gas/parts; diesel fuel stations; 4x4 s stay for a day and drive home vs. ATV s who camp and ride for days; camping/parking areas; need gathering location- pavilions; meeting rooms; awards area, dinner location for post-events; make offshoots of challenging trails from easy trails (not committed to extreme full trail). How will the AOAA fail- big brother intrusion; govt regulations; local govt cooperation; dangerous trails (steep drop offs, mine pits); mixed use on same trails (separate OHV s and ATV s); uncontrolled road use; education of users and cohabitation on trails (how do horses and OHV s interact); issues with hunters (simply close during season); issues with locals who trespass and vandalize areas; issues with illegal dumps as the property is viewed as a dumping ground for generations. Competitions- bring in exposure; draws crowds; doesn t conflict with trail rides. Scott/Thor Representative - Bevo Forti, Yamaha factory-mx team mechanic, Scott Sports currently- public relations, event coordinator, and race support Key needs: regional- job creation, income for area, bring in $ s from outside the area; provide outlets for youth of the region (nothing to do). Project needs- need enough length of trail for long vacation trips; no hassles on trails by others (head on, trespassing concerns); access to amenities (gas, hotels, and mechanical support on site [goggles, tires, tubes, rental helmets, plugs]; Reasonable pricing on parts and accessories (no $100 inner tubes or $15 sodas). How will project fail- poor management; question if it is reasonable to mix all uses in one place?; reasonable rules and regulations (don t over regulate); return on payments- people are paying to ride and want freedoms to ride; separate camping areas (family area separate from party camping areas). Competitions: amateur, pro, fun (jamborees); gives national exposure. Consider giving locals a price break to ride. Quadratec - Craig Jaros, Outside Marketing Director: Quadratec is a mail order company that started in 1995 and has grown to employ 100+ employees, and it is the largest Jeep specific print catalog (500,000-1 million catalogs are sent each mailing with 4 mailings/year) worldwide. Quadratec only sells parts, they do not Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 2-47

132 NON MOTORIZED RECREATION INTERESTS Pennsylvania Equine Council - Gwenn Willis, Trail Stewardship Program Director Gwen cited results of Pennsylvania s Equine Industry Inventory, Basic Economic and Demographics Characteristics, completed by Penn State University in May This study shows that the number of equine has increased 27% in the last ten years. More than 26% of the equine are used for recreational activities. Gwenn said the study shows the Pennsylvania Equine Industry is only second to the Tourism Industry when comparing economic impact. The Pennsylvania Equine Council offers Trail Stewardship Training promoting Ride Smart / Leave No Trace, and sustainable trail design. Gwenn indicated that Trail Stewardship takes place at the grass roots level. A local club needs to get involved, and sponsor (take ownership) of a trail system. Gwenn indicated the United States Department of Agriculture s publication Equestrian Design Guidebook for trails, Trailheads, and Campgrounds serves as a great resource when planning for equestrian facilities and trails. She indicated the typical walking speed of a horse is generally three miles per hour. Riders prefer looped trail systems with one (3 miles), two (six miles) and three (nine miles) hour loops. Larger trail systems provide variety. Trails need to have a good compacted base, horses will displace material. The greatest need, and most often overlooked amenity for trails is parking that will accommodate horse trailers and vehicles. Ski Roundtop - Zip Lines Course Open May- September; Saturday and Sunday; 10 am to 5 pm. Scheduled Trek times are 10 am, 11 am, noon, 1 pm, 2 pm, 3 pm and 4 pm. Each time slot will accommodate up to 8 people. Average group is 4-5 people. Each Trek takes ~3 hours and includes 13 zip stations with several ropes challenges linking zip platforms. Cost is $59.00/person and includes harnesses, helmets and gloves. Participants are encouraged to bring water. Ages 10+. All participants must be between lbs. The Trek has many features that require some level of physical stamina. There are some features where the participant is zipping on a line from tree to tree for up to 400 feet at a height of as much as 40 feet off the ground. They were not willing to share info on neither profit/loss nor volume of participants Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

133 ENVIRONMENTAL INTERESTS Shamokin Creek Restoration Alliance - Jim Koharski and Ed Gunn They have areas contained within the proposed Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area that they would appreciate we take a look at to see if there is anything possible that we can do to address the traffic. During our discussion we agreed the solutions are quite easy and the County can mitigate the problems. In the area known as The Projects they completed a sandbag project of about one hundred and twenty five feet long to control acid mine drainage runoff. That project needs to be spruced up as the bags are beginning to deteriorate. They have an area known as Site 42. They need help in this area by keeping traffic away from it as best we can. In the area of the Site 42 on one side of the treatment area the OHV s have created a road and it s causing silt run off into the treatment ponds. We discussed considering closing the one side to traffic and directing it to the opposite side. They also provided the following work list for their group and concerns they have for the future, along Carbon Run. The proposed OHV area may be able to help with some of their projects. SCRA environmental issues on Carbon Run that should be addressed in the future: Put Limestone in the headwaters. New gate at entrance or fix damaged one. Redo the ponds at site 42. Remove remodeling materials/garbage debris from northeast side of ponds Regrade/ add material to road surface along south side of ponds Ruts in road. Water is running into 2nd pond Add more dirt/rocks blocking eastern entrance on northern side of site (OHVs made this entrance) / or post land WALKINS ONLY or BOTH They are also using our eastern gate and crossing Carbon Run and running up road along the south side of ponds. Revisit/rework the sandbagging project at the bluegill project Last time I visited site, bags deteriorated and water was flowing over some of the sandbags, on the map, it looks like a discharge near restored wetlands Check on wetlands across from strip pit section of site 42 Leaching of limestone at Rosini property or does Gun Club own land? May be on BAMR s future agenda. Site 49: Shamokin Filler has plans in hand and should proceed with updates at plant and rebuild a new breaker Clean out Carbon Run (garbage) Do we have to treat any of the discharges listed on Scarlift report, along Carbon Run? Check the water quality at Bear Valley Dam. Contact Coal Township street department to begin site 48 cleanout of first pond and redo Inlet to site. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 2-49

134 Pennsylvania Game Commission - Eric Miller, Public Lands Biologist He is familiar with the riparian areas directly around the power lines close to the Fairview gun club property. He is aware of ruffed grouse in that area but there are OHV trails working there as well so everyone has learned to adapt based on current OHV traffic volumes, however, higher traffic could possibly affect long term wildlife use. It s likely these areas on county property near this will need to be addressed in the plan. It s obvious to him that we will be addressing erosion and siltation concerns as has been mentioned in our trail planning. He would like to take a layout of our zones or roads and give us his input once we have them established. Also he is willing, when we have time to schedule a trip to the area, to point out places of concern. We discussed the fact that we will be utilizing many of the current trails in existence. It s likely we will improve them somewhat and there will also be trails we need to close. In those cases we obviously will want to use native species and get them set up to help accommodate wildlife native to the area. Eric indicated that although Woodcock are listed as a species of Special Concern, development cannot be stopped as they are not endangered. Woodcock / woodcock habitat is a good management target because they are an umbrella species and creating / managing habitat for them also benefits numerous other species depending on that type of habitat. Blue-winged warblers, flycatchers, golden-winged warblers, brown thrashers, whip-poor-will, yellow breasted chat are other species of special concern that use woodcock habitat. He does not believe what we are proposing is a serious problem. He would like to be a 3rd party mediator between the County and Habitat for Wildlife. He is confident this can work together. He said in areas where nesting woodcock have been identified, determine what kind of buffer/ management is necessary. He said it would certainly be very nice to have 1,000 acres of ground dedicated to woodcock but you can have trails going through them, especially because trails already are going through them. They shouldn t be trails as wide as the road by the Whaleback, but certainly a twenty feet wide, or less, trail is acceptable. All that said, if we are isolating certain pieces of ground for sole dedication to wildlife habitat, fifty to one hundred acres is sufficient when interspersed properly so wildlife can safely move between. We need to evaluate the areas to confirm or deny the species that have established habitat. He said many times he is very confident and interested in helping us in a way to make the project mutually beneficial. Northumberland County Conservation District - Judi Becker- District Manager, Jaci Harner - Watershed Specialist, and Pete Ackley- Erosion & Sediment Technician The District s area of concern focused on several sensitive areas, most specifically along Carbon Run. There is a passive AMD treatment system on the property that cannot be impacted nor disturbed. The NCCD would like to see some educational efforts (signing, delineation, etc.) directed at the current passive system. They feel there this is a great opportunity to educate the users on the importance and operation of these passive systems. Their hope is that 2-50 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

135 through education, they can minimize any disturbance in these areas. Jaci noted there is some need for limestone lining of the creek channel at some location and wondered if this would be part of the project. I noted we did not plan for any limestone treatment; however, noted we have had many offers by users and clubs to donate time and resources. Once the facility became operational, there may be an opportunity to rally a work party to assist with this effort in conjunction with NCCD and the Watershed Group. They indicated the riparian buffer area along Carbon Run must be preserved and not disturbed. I noted that concept plan proposes the entire area along the creek as a buffer area and we are not proposing to construct new trails in that area that would impact the riparian buffer. I noted there is an existing road with associated culvert crossings that would be utilized as a portion of the main emergency access road. As this is an existing road and crossing, they did not see any issues with using this road. As with the creek, they requested some educational efforts be directed at the riparian areas. Again, educational signing or markings to better educate users of the importance, use, aquatic habitat, groundwater filtration and overall need for riparian buffer areas. I noted there has been riding in these areas which they too had seen. I noted it is our intent to develop play areas and mud areas in other areas to give users access to these activities, while keeping them out of these buffer areas. They asked if we would be planting trees to further develop the existing riparian buffer area. I noted at this time there were no plans for plantings or additional trees in this area. They recommended that if this could be considered it would help establish the area and further buffer internal noise within the facility property. The NCCD has a concern about rogue trail development and riding beyond the designated trails. I discussed the proposed monitoring system and the ability to track and monitor users. Pete was specifically concerned about trespassing and unauthorized trails. I noted that with the system one would be able to identify trespassing; however, operational response would be subject to staff availability. We discussed similar facilities (Rock Run and Rausch Creek) that rely on self policing. The staff felt that any educational signing and environmental outreach should be part of the public meeting process and be mentioned. They felt that telling the public we are looking at protecting these areas and offering educational opportunities would go a long way in garnering public support and offset some of the misconceptions pervading the region and the web. They asked about the Enterprise Site and uses there. I noted the intent was to minimize motorized activities but perhaps allow for non-motorized activities (hiking, biking, etc.). They noted this area could also be a location for educational and interpretive signing. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 2-51

136 Pete briefly discussed permitting for construction. At this stage he is thinking this would be one large NPDES permit for disturbance with multiple phases. That said they may require an overall plan for development before issuing any individual project permits. He noted we would need to deal with sediment run off for trail construction. I noted many of the roads are existing and we would be simply delineating them versus doing any actual construction. We discussed that when we get to design, permitting and construction there will need to be more meetings with NCCD. Our approach as we get to construction phase would be to identify areas and bring NCCD staff on to the site to look at issues before we began design or permitting. They also advocated for this approach. American Chestnut Foundation - Blair Carbaugh, member Blair was in contact with the Commissioners about a year ago to explore their interest in allowing him to plant test plots of chestnut trees on certain areas of abandoned mine lands in the OHV project area. Blair then withdrew for a few other reasons. It is his belief that chestnut trees, in particular American Chestnut trees will go very well on reclaimed mine lands because of the ph of the soil and lack of compaction. Blair doesn t have much research to support this thesis, but the little he has shown very favorable results. Blair is very interested in working with the County, in particular this project to plant some of these test plots. He is talking a need for maybe a tenth to a twentieth of an acre for a test plot. He can provide the seedlings and man power to manage them. Pat Mack offered Blair the opportunity, in the spring of 2011, to plant a few test plots of trees on the property. He has enough seedlings available for 2 or 3 test plots, but he needs the blessing of the foundation before he does anything. The test plots will be studied for 5 years and if all goes well he then would like to provide his research to DEP, OSM, and other reclamation agencies to prove that in lieu of requiring grass and ground cover in reclamation projects it is far cheaper for the company to plant areas of chestnut seeds, which will grow relatively quickly. If Foundation grants him permission he believes, with a little help, he can begin to make it happen. It was suggested that he might want to explore partnering with Bloomsburg University and get them involved on the research project. He indicated he is working with a few students who may help him with the research as well. Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation An informational meeting was held with the following Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclaimation representatives at their regional office in Wilkes-Barre: TJ Matinas, PE- Senior Civil Engineer, Kim Snyder, PE- Senior Civil Engineer, and John Curley, PE- Senior Civil Engineer. BAMR is supportive of adaptive re-use of mined properties anywhere in the region. They 2-52 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

137 cautioned of the unstable nature of mined property. One day a trail may be stable and overnight a mine hole may open as the entire area has been mined to some extent. Determining specific locations that may be unstable is difficult as areas of concern would need to be identified and then paper copies of each related mining map, if available, would need to be pulled from BAMR archives and reviewed. The difficulty is that their files are not geolocated and coordinated with their GIS database. We reviewed our map and the locations of additional mine shafts and open pits that do not appear in their records and asked if BAMR had better records or more complete information. They concurred that these locations are not in their system. They also noted their survey of the site was completed in 1994 so new issues may have arisen since then. As a follow-up to the meeting the coordinates of these locations were provided to BAMR. We discussed the fact BAMR does not do as-built site surveys, only survey post-reclamation cross-sections to verify the project is completed as designed. BAMR is willing to work with the County to develop reclamation projects that enhance the planned OHV facility. We discussed the current BAMR reclamation project planned on the County property. The project scope has been established. We discussed whether the County had an opportunity for additional input into the project, like potentially changing the location of the reclamation. BAMR noted they had met with the County in the past about the project and the County was aware of the criteria for the site selection. As there are Priority 1-3 locations representing a host of dangerous locations, BAMR has created the current project. They indicated it is not their practice to bounce around a property and spot select remediation locations. For example: they wouldn t deal with a mine shaft while leaving a highwall in place. When BAMR looks at an area, they like to address a host of concerns in one place to maximize the dollars spent. This said, BAMR noted they would be willing to discuss other priority areas with the County if there are areas of concern (ex. Series of open shafts, cones, open pits, etc.) in another area. That said, the current project is moving along and the County would need to approach BAMR with alternatives soon if a change was to be made. BAMR staff appreciated the outreach and the information on the project in advance of development and certainly supported the re-use plans for the property. They are willing to discuss further with the County as the project moves forward. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 2-53

138 OTHER INTERESTS Reading Anthracite - John Rampolla, Chief Financial Officer Rampolla indicated he is personally interested as he owns ATV s; he s not sure how the ownership feels about it. He said a concern of Reading s is the public perception of Reading, and that they do not want to be perceived as the bad guy. We briefly spoke about Coal Hill and how there is concern from the Township about the current riding that is occurring there. He said Reading is in the energy business and that s their first and foremost concern. Regarding the Whaleback Anticline John stated the coal resources remaining in that area are very valuable to Reading and he believes the County would not be in the position to afford what Reading would want for the property. We discussed the County properties, and the plan for a proposed trail access immediately east of S.R I indicated there is interest in Zerbe Township to have an access to the proposed facility from the western end, but the County does not own property with road frontage that would connect to the remaining county properties. We spoke about the potential offered by the area known as the Flats, Reading s property, adjacent to the eastern side of S.R He indicated there may be an opportunity and interest in developing a private campground on that property to meet the needs of visitors to the area. We discussed the fact that there are a few private parcels just east of SR 125 that are needed to make the connection between the County s eastern and western properties and indicated those properties do not include any Reading property. Therefore, the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area could be developed without the involvement of any Reading properties. That said I indicated if Reading was interested in partnering with the County. Those parcels include the Flats, and a couple of others adjacent to County property which could lend to expansion of the trail network. We spoke about Reading s existing Access Permit and the concerns of the communities regarding those riding to, from, and on Reading s properties. John indicated he recently met with the Zerbe Township Supervisors and they are very interested in a trail access / portal to the facility from Zerbe Township. He asked why they were so interested in a portal. I indicated they are interested due to the economic development activities that could be generated in Trevorton. John asked what would be stopping them from developing a separate riding area, on their own, adjacent to the County facility. I indicated there is not anything stopping them. However, it has to be done properly, and there are environmental and community issues that need to be addressed. If those items are not properly addressed the facility could be shut down. I told John that if Reading is interested, now is the time for Reading to come to the table. He asked how such an arrangement might work. I said the details need to be negotiated. That said typically what would happen is that when a private land owner develops an adjacent 2-54 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

139 parcel they need to acquire the right to access the adjacent public facility. Also, I noted that typically the private facility is often granted the rights to sell passes, permits, etc., and that they typically would get a percentage of the fee of those items that are sold through their facility. These are the kind of details that need to be worked out if Reading is serious about being a partner. He indicated that one of Reading s concerns is that once the OHV opportunities are in place, it s difficult if not impossible to take them away. His concern is what if they develop a facility and then at a point in the future decide they want to mine it. I indicated the County has stipulated that the development of the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area cannot preclude the properties from being mined in the future. Therefore prudent decisions must be made as to where and how monies are invested so that monies are not spent on facilities that may be impacted by mining in the future. There is enough county owned land to allow portions of it to be closed to motorized activities while mining occurs. John said that he believes Reading owns several thousand acres in the area, and that perhaps they could make a good facility on their own. I told him that if they proceed in that manner they need to make sure it is done right. I told him we have been involved in projects where owners have come to us after being shut down to environmental concerns, and that when that occurs there s a lot of time, expense, loss revenue, and potentially fines incurred. Based on our discussions we do not anticipate that Reading Anthracite will be contacting the County to discuss Reading s interest in participating in a partnership with the County. Excelsior Residents Bernadette and Bill Yeager, Mary Ann Pupchock, and others At the request of a group of Excelsior residents the County Planning Director and the Consultant met with a small group of residents. Residents were concerned by rumors that their properties may be taken through eminent domain for the OHV area. The County Planning Director assured the residents that their properties were not going to be taken, and that it was never even a consideration. The Yeagers indicated some Excelsior residents get their water from Excelsior Springs, and they are concerned the proposed OHV area will pollute the water. The Consultant reviewed the proposed concept plan with them and indicated that a limited motorized use buffer is proposed, on the County property, adjacent to their properties. As a follow-up after the meeting the consultant contacted the following to determine the status of public water supply to Excelsior. The County knew Coal Township extended lines there via grant program and suggested contact be made with the Township. Coal Township indicated they received a grant to extend water lines to Excelsior ~8-10 years ago but he didn t know who was connected and suggested contact be made with Aqua PA who serves that area. We spoke with an Aqua PA representative who noted they received a grant to extend lines to Excelsior because the prior reservoir they were using became contaminated due to mining operations. To the best knowledge of Aqua PA, everyone in Excelsior has public water, but it is possible someone may have slipped through the cracks. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 2-55

140 Access to the proposed OHV area from Excelsior was discussed. Those in attendance proposed that there be no public access from their neighborhood to the proposed area. Bill Yeager indicated he has acquired a collection of coal related memorabilia and he is well versed on the coal history of the area. He said he would be interested in discussing this history as the plans for the area progress, and he may be willing to loan some materials so they can be placed on display. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Pennsylvania Geological Survey Jim Schaulis, Senior Geologic Scientist, P. G. As suggested in DCNR s PNDI Review Response Letter, Jim Shaulis was contacted to discuss the significance of the Whaleback as a Pennsylvania Heritage Geology Site. The Whaleback area covers about 7 acres. It is located on private property immediately adjacent to the County property. It is one of the best exposures of folded rock structure in the United States. In this small area, all the structural elements and (6) stages of deformation for the Valley and Ridge Province can be seen and studied. It is considered the type locality for examining the style, mechanics, and stages of structural development for the rocks in the Appalachian folded mountain belt. Individual structural elements such as faults (3 types), folds, joints, cleavage, lineations, and slickenlines can be examined in a hands on setting. The Whaleback is visually engaging because of the size and preservation of the folds. Heritage value: Site is scientific, educational, scenic, and historical. Outstanding significance is displayed by the Whaleback as it is a feature that exemplifies an aspect of geodiversity that is rare, unique, and exceptionally represents an example of its type. The site was first described in detail by a structural geologist, Dr. Richard Nickelsen, Professor Emeritus at Bucknell University. His landmark journal article in 1979 on the deformation of rocks in Bear Valley generated widespread interest in the site among the geologic community. The site is now used, with the permission of the land owner, as an outdoor classroom for geological studies by many university s in the eastern United States including: Bryn Mawr College, Brown University, University of Rochester, Purdue University, Kent State University, Pennsylvania State University, Cornell University, Princeton University, Lehigh University, Franklin and Marshall College, Dickinson College, Susquehanna University, Bloomsburg State University, Yale University, Lafayette College, Pittsburgh University, Allegheny College, University of Massachusetts, University of Tennessee, University of Michigan, Colgate University, Lock Haven University, and Juniata College. Individual researchers from England, Germany, Australia and New Zealand have also contacted the Geology Department of Bucknell University to request field guides and/or tours of the site while they are in the United States. Jim indicated it would be a tragedy to lose the Whaleback and that discussions need to be continued with the property owner about the possibility of preserving it. He also said that the site is not commonly known, except to those in the geological community. He suggested 2-56 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

141 a public awareness campaign be initiated to inform the general public of the significance of this site that is in their backyard. Jim suggested starting small, with developing an overlook with a picnic shelter and parking area where interpretive signs can be placed to inform visitors of the significance of what they are viewing. He said many visitors that he s encountered at the informal overlook there today have no idea what they are looking at but they stop there because they like the view. Further, he suggested that with the development of the proposed Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area programmed tours, by vehicle, and horseback or on foot, could be developed. Jim indicated his office will assist Northumberland County in every way possible to promote, interpret and preserve the Whaleback. Bloomsburg University, Department of Biology and College of Business The University was invited as a notification of contact that the County Planning Department had with Dr. George Chamuris of the Biology Department and Dr. Michael Tidwell of the College of Business. These contacts were both in anticipation of projects within the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area. The project of interest to Dr. Chamuris is the American Chestnut Foundation research project, to be lead by Blair Carbaugh who in turn has requested involvement from the University. Dr. Chamuris is anticipated to gather a group of professors and graduate students to attend a tour of the project. The project of interest to Dr. Tidwell is the potential for the University to follow the economic impact factors of the inception of the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area project by continuing economic impact analysis from where the Master Plan ends. It is anticipated the University could continually provide comparisons to the projections from the Master Plan and suggestions to recommend ways to enhance the economic impact. A meeting was held with Lynda Michaels, the Director of Alumni Affairs and Jim Hollister the Assistant Vice President of External Relations. Mr. Hollister explained that he cannot speak as to the interests of the academic departments; each department has a respective Chair who makes the best decisions for outside projects/internships/studies. These outside academic project ideas are something that the Bloomsburg University strategic plan has isolated as a place where the University can expand itself into the local communities. Mr. Hollister, again not speaking for the academic side, who can speak for itself, can see areas where many departments could work with this project. Departments like the Allied Health Department and Audiology which would not initially appear to be thought about as interested in this project; he could see areas where their studies could apply. Each individual area of study is so good at networking and finding areas to work together that he envisions the respective Chairs all speaking to one another about this project. The start we have already formulated with the College of Business and Biology is a great place, as those are obvious places where we can see projects forming. Mrs. Michaels can see areas where our visitors can find a place within the University facilities to utilize initially. Many of them may be looking for hotels, places to stay, have students in Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 2-57

142 the college, or look for dining facilities. The impact of a project like this becomes regional and many people who travel long distances to see an attraction do not have a problem with staying up to 30 to 45 minutes from a place of interest. She believes we will see students within their campus that will form biking, riding, and walking clubs. Their QUEST program may have an interest in the project, as they travel long distances for these types of facilities. Mr. Hollister intends to present this project to the University President, who is a biologist from the West Coast. He and his wife have interests in watersheds and he believes they may have an interest in this project. Mr. Hollister took a copy of the full scale project map with him to present. He would like to be kept in the loop if we are taking University Representatives on a tour and how we are proceeding with projects when we get them established with each department. Ultimately the county and the steering committee need to push the projects but Bloomsburg University envisions they will have a role in the academics of the project. We need to invite them whenever we believe we have a need. Mr. Hollister s contact information is: Jim Hollister Assistant Vice President of External Relationship Fenstemaker Alumni House 400 East Second Street Bloomsburg, PA Office: Home: Cell: Fax: holl@bloomu.edu Ms. Michaels contact information is: Lynda Michaels Director of Alumni Affairs Fenstemaker Alumni House 400 East Second Street Bloomsburg, PA Office: Office: Fax: lmichael@bloomu.edu 2-58 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

143 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Unique attractions like the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area will bring new visitors to surrounding communities. This section of the Master Plan explores the Facility s impact on the local and regional economy and the opportunities that will be generated by the Facility. In particular, it will quantify these potential economic impacts, describe the types of economic development that could be triggered by the Facility s development and outline steps to assist existing and future businesses in better capitalizing on the region s new visitors. The potential economic impact of the AOAA are extensive and businesses can benefit greatly from adapting to the needs of their new visitors. ANTICIPATED ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE ANTHRACITE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE AREA Two methods for understanding the potential economic impact of the proposed Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area have been analyzed as part of this study. The first is a comparison of the economic impact that similar facilities across the country have had in their communities. The second is an analysis of the use data that is more specific to the Northumberland County area and this specific adventure area. ECONOMIC IMPACT COMPARISONS WITH SIMILAR FACILITIES To begin the process of understanding the potential economic impact of the proposed Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area, Pashek Associates reviewed and analyzed nineteen economic impact analyses for OHV facilities across the US. Of the nineteen, five were for specific regions within various states including the Hatfield and McCoy area of West Virginia, the Tug Hill Area in New York, the Iron Range Area of Minnesota, a smaller state-wide study in Iowa, and Ocean Dunes area of California. Each of these studies provided projected economic impacts in three areas: Dollars of Output expenditures in the region Dollars of income wages and salaries paid as a result of the OHV facilities Jobs the number of jobs created either directly or indirectly by the OHV facilities A summary of the findings of this analysis can be found on the next page. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 2-59

144 Summary of Key Economic Impact Indicators from a Sampling of Other OHV Facilities Description Annual Economic Impact Based on Output (in millions) Facility Location Year Direct Indirect Induced Total Impact Hatfield-McCoy 1 Southwest West Virginia 2002 $5.2 $0.9 $1.7 $7.8 Ocala Region 2 Florida $13.6 $1.5 $6.5 $21.6 Oceano Dunes SVRA 3 California 2006 $76.0 $41.8 * $117.8 Tug Hill 4 Tug Hill Region, NY 2006 $23.0 $4.9 $7.2 $35.2 Iowa 5 Statewide 2007 $86.4 $20.1 $29.4 $135.9 Minnesota 6 Iron Range 2006 Not Reported $641.9 Description Based on Income (in millions) Facility Location Year Direct Indirect Induced Total Impact Hatfield-McCoy 1 Southwest West Virginia 2002 $1.9 $0.3 $0.6 $2.8 Ocala Region 2 Florida $6.1 $0.5 $2.8 $9.4 Oceano Dunes SVRA 3 California 2006 Not reported Tug Hill 4 Tug Hill Region, NY 2006 $7.9 $1.3 $2.1 $11.3 Iowa 5 Statewide 2007 $24.8 $4.8 $6.6 $36.2 Minnesota 6 Iron Range 2006 $429.0 Description Based on Jobs Facility Location Year Direct Indirect Induced Total Impact Hatfield-McCoy 1 Southwest West Virginia Ocala Region 2 Florida Oceano Dunes SVRA 3 California 2006 Not Reported 1,726 Tug Hill 4 Tug Hill Region, NY Iowa 5 Statewide ,294 Minnesota 6 Iron Range 2006 Not Reported 14,449 The largest increases in economic impact come from expenditures and job creation in the food and drink (restaurant and bar), lodging, gasoline, and ATV equipment/accessory industries Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

145 * combined indirect and induced Definitions Direct - increased sales as a result of visitor expenditures Indirect - inter-industry purchases Induced - increased spending by local households as a result of more money circulating through the area Output - expenditures on purchases in the region Income - wages and salaries paid as a result of the OHV facilities Jobs - the number of jobs created 1 The Economic Impact of the Hatfield-McCoy Trail System in West Virginia; Oct 2006; Center For Business and Economic Research, Marshall University 2. Economic Impacts and motivations of Offhighway Vehicle Recreationists: A Case Study from Florida; 2004 and Ocala National Forest Off Highway Vehicle Visitor Assessment; July 2007; both conducted by the University of Florida School of Forest Resources and Conservation 3 Economic Impact of Oceano Dunes SVRA Visitors; 2006; William W. Hendricks, et al; California Polytechnic State university 4 Tug Hill Region ATV Economic Impact Study; January 2006; Camoin Associates 5 The Economic Impact of Off-Highway Vehicles in Iowa; January 2008; Iowa Off-Highway Vehicle Association 6 All-terrain Vehicles in Minnesota: Economic Impact and Consumer Profile; March 2006; University of Minnesota Tourism Center ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY OF THE ANTHRACITE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE AREA The economic impact of a recreational activity is based upon the new benefits that accrue in a region due to the influx of tourism dollars. Typically, these are divided into two aspects. The first are the directly impacted businesses and industries in a region that receive income from the visitors. These companies purchase intermediate inputs from other businesses and industries in order to produce the goods and services purchased by the visitors. In addition, the employees of these companies spend their wages and salaries on goods and services for their own personal consumption. For both the directly impacted companies and their employees, a portion of the goods and services they purchase are provided by other regional businesses and industries, while others are imported into the region. The amount flowing from the intermediate spending with other regional businesses and industries is referred to as indirect impacts, while the amount stemming from personal consumption by employees is called induced impacts and the total can be referred to as secondary impacts. Note that additional rounds of secondary impacts can occur, ad infinitum, until it all leaks out of the region as imported goods. The direct and secondary impacts combined are referred to as the total impacts. Both the direct and total economic impacts can be measured in several ways. The most obvious might be the total sales by all the businesses and industries in the region. However, since a portion of these sales are passed back to other businesses and industries identified in the secondary rounds of activity (or sent out of the region as the purchase of imported inputs), a better measure is value added. Value added, whether direct or total, refers to the difference between the price of a good or service and the costs of the intermediate inputs. After subtracting the intermediate inputs, we have what a company spends on wages and salaries Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 2-61

146 (personal income), pays in taxes, or retains as profits. All three of these, represent benefits to the people in the region 1. Two other measures are much easier to understand. Personal income is simply the wages and salaries supported by the activity. Employment refers to the annual equivalent of full and part time positions. That is to say, six months of employment counts as a half job, while a part-time position for a full year still counts as one job. The Money Generation Model (Stynes et al. 2000) was used to estimate the economic impacts from this activity. This model was developed for the National Park Service, to allow them to estimate the economic impact of their parks. The model has imbedded into it expenditure profiles and economic multipliers for many different facilities and regional economies. It also allows the user to explicitly specify the expenditure profiles. The expenditures and visitation levels shown above were used to generate the economic impacts. For each 1,000 visitors the facility attracts, 4.4 jobs will be created in the local economy, paying almost $80,000 in wages and salaries. This activity would make a $125,000 value added contribution to the gross regional economy. If the facility received 41,500 visitors from outside Northumberland County, then a total impact of 184 jobs and $3.3 million of wages and salaries would accrue to the regional economy. The total impacts would add $5.2 million of value added to the gross regional economy. Potential annual economic impact of the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area. Impact per $1,000 of visitor spending Impact per 1,000 visitors Impact estimated 41,500 visitors Direct personal income $ 270 $ 60,027 $ 2,713,254 Direct value added $ 413 $ 91,621 $ 4,118,731 Direct jobs Total personal income $ 329 $ 73,050 $ 3,294,687 Total value added $ 523 $ 116,037 $ 5,209,565 Total jobs ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT VISION The first step in developing a strategy for economic development is to develop a vision. The vision sets forth the long-term expectations for the strategy. The following is the overall vision for economic development in the communities surrounding the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area. 1 The sum of all value added in a region is the gross regional product. At the national level, it is the gross domestic product (GDP) Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

147 In the future: The communities in the region surrounding the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area are uniquely branded in association with the OHV Facility and are effectively promoted to increase patronage and tourism; Businesses have adapted to the new tourist market and accommodate their unique vehicles and personal needs; The region offers a full range of businesses in order to meet the needs of local residents and visitors to the region; and Leadership and volunteers in the communities are organized and motivated to successfully implement the economic development strategy. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RECOMMENDATIONS Northumberland County must be well prepared to address the needs of tourists and visitors as they come to visit the region. This section outlines a getting started strategy to economic development, marketing and tourism for the communities of Shamokin, Coal Township, Zerbe Township, East Cameron Township, West Cameron Township, and Mt. Carmel Township. The strategy can be implemented incrementally. It will likely grow step by step as demand dictates and financing or other resources become available. The overall goal of the economic development strategy is to help the communities achieve the vision described previously. The strategies described herein are organized within each of the major components of the economic development vision: Unique branding and effective promotion; Physically adapting to new markets; Offering a full range of businesses; and Organizing for successful implementation. Several of the strategies included in this discussion are adaptations of key elements of the Main Street Program, which has been successfully implemented in over 2,000 communities throughout the country and Trail Town Program. These and the many other strategies have been drafted to meet the unique needs of the communities surrounding the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area. UNIQUE BRANDING AND EFFECTIVE PROMOTION In order to brand and promote the communities, you must sell the image of OHVs and other unique adventure characteristics to prospective visitors. Promotional strategies foster the OHV and outdoor adventure image through advertising, business promotions, and special events. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 2-63

148 Brand the communities with the OHV and Adventure Area It is important for the communities surrounding the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area to identify what they can offer and how they will communicate that information to visitors. This should be done in concise, simple terms. The surrounding communities and Northumberland County as a whole need to be recognized as one entity for the purposes of marketing and branding. The communities should focus on the common theme of OHVs and outdoor adventure. This theme could also be tied to the region s coal industry heritage and other common aspects of their history. Such sub-themes need to be linked back to the main theme of OHVs and outdoor adventure. This theme should then permeate throughout the communities businesses, attractions, and people. The goal is to create a brand that is known to all who may be interested in OHVs and outdoor adventure. When someone speaks of Northumberland County, it should immediately bring to mind the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area. Conversely, when one speaks of OHV and adventure facilities, the thought should immediately be connected to Northumberland County. There are two main components to branding the communities surrounding the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area. The first is the name/logo/description that will be used to identify the area. The second is influencing and shaping the image that will come to mind when people see the name or logo. The branding strategies for the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area and its surrounding communities are listed below: Identify the common theme that the Adventure Area and surrounding communities brand will be developed around; Develop a name for the area that reflects the brand ; Have a logo professionally designed that furthers the brand ; and Identify and promote the key components of the brand that are most recognizable from seeing the logo or hearing the name of the OHV and adventure area. The branding of the communities surrounding the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area should also be recognized as a part of the Susquehanna River Valley. When people think of the Susquehanna River Valley, they should think of your communities and the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area. Make Connections to Promote the Communities Promotion efforts should focus on making connections to those that you would like to attract to visit Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area and its surrounding communities. These visitors could be close by, in a neighboring county or state, or across the world. Some marketing strategies to help promote visitation are included below: Utilize the professionally designed logo (see Branding) in all marketing materials; Create a website for the Facility and its surrounding communities. Acquire related web addresses such as AnthraciteAdventure.org, AnthraciteAdventure Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

149 com, and AnthraciteAdventure.net. Redirect all hits on alternate sites to the main webpage. Keep the site up-to-date with the latest marketing materials and business promotions within the communities and at the OHV Facility itself. Provide links to the OHV Facility s website from the websites of Northumberland County, Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau, Brush Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce, and OHV-related websites i.e. the National Off Highway Vehicle Conservation Council, National Off Road Association, Motorcycle Industry Council, and the Pennsylvania Off Highway Vehicle Association, to name a few. Provide links to these sites from the OHV Facility s website. Create a presence on social networking services such as Facebook and Twitter for additional web-based marketing. Keep these up-to-date with the latest marketing materials and business promotions. Create an official blog for the Facility and its surrounding communities. Alternatively, adapt one of the existing Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area blogs into the official blog. Host events, activities, and other opportunities that would attract residents and visitors to the Facility or nearby communities. Partner with regional tourism organizations like the Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau to maximize marketing efforts. Make information (pamphlets, newsletters, etc.) regarding the surrounding towns available at the OHV Facility s welcome center and access points. PHYSICALLY ADAPTING TO NEW MARKETS The strategies for physically adapting to new markets are two-fold. First, the towns must facilitate easy travel between their businesses districts and the OHV Facility. Second, existing businesses themselves must adapt to these visitors unique vehicles. Connecting the Communities to the OHV Facility The communities surrounding the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area should focus on design aspects that portray an attractive and inviting atmosphere. For communities themselves, an inviting atmosphere begins along the roads connecting the town to the facility. It also includes quality welcome signage at the gateways to the communities and wayfinding signage throughout. A welcome atmosphere is furthered by enhanced public amenities such as lighting, parking, and sidewalks. Specific recommendations for enhancing connections between the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area and surrounding communities include: Ensure that the routes from the facility access points to business districts are maintained and can handle vehicles with trailers (see transportation section for more detail); Create a wayfinding signage system that is spread throughout all six communities. This signage should have a common design and theme; Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 2-65

150 Create gateway signage along these access routes at key locations in the OHV Facility and the towns; Incorporate the brand for the region in public art and signage. Include visual art in various locations throughout the communities (e.g. on murals on buildings, and signage). Place banners on light poles throughout the business districts and main street areas; Establish an OHV trailer-friendly parking lot/area near concentrations of existing businesses; and Complete streetscape improvements in business districts and main street areas including sidewalk replacement, installation of light fixtures and street trees. Adapting Existing Businesses Essentially, this part focuses on changes that businesses can make to their design and amenities to better accommodate OHV and outdoor adventure enthusiasts and their vehicles. The idea is to create a business atmosphere that attracts visitors to shop, eat, or sleep in the surrounding towns. Attractive buildings and streets, friendly and knowledgeable staff, goods and services that tourists need, easily accessible drinking fountains and restrooms, and lots of available parking for automobiles, trailers, and campers all contribute positively to this atmosphere. The benefits of adapting your existing businesses can already be seen. The popularity of ATV riding at Coal Hill, a well-known location for both local and out-of-town riders, has prompted a local pizza shop to offer delivery service to this area. The following are some simple things that can be done to make a business more attractive to OHV enthusiasts: Post Welcome signs to invite visitors to your business; and Adapt your menu with items to identify with OHVs (see the branding discussions above). Other adaptations may require more extensive efforts but will help a business to capitalize on the new visitors include: Provide parking and access to your business that is large enough to accommodate trailers; Gas stations should provide diesel, a fuel commonly used by OHVs. Gas stations may need to increase the height of their pump canopy to accommodate larger vehicles and trailers; Mechanical service businesses should begin preparing for increased work on OHVs. They should train for work on these types of vehicles and possibly modify the parts that they carry to meet the needs of OHV Facility users; and Work with the business community to upgrade storefront signs and facades and assist business owners in identifying grant and loan opportunities for façade improvements. Offering a Full Range of Businesses 2-66 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

151 This component focuses on further leveraging the new markets created by the OHV and outdoor adventure area. The goal is to fill gaps in the types of existing businesses. These new business types will complement the adaptation of existing businesses. The resulting full range of businesses will allow facility patrons to eat, sleep, shop, and recreate in the local communities. Potential for New Business Development Entrepreneurs in the area are already beginning to fill some of the market gaps in existing businesses. A new all-terrain vehicle (ATV) repair shop opened in Trevorton on September 1, This business will serve the many ATV riders that visit the region. Businesses that provide parts, repairs, accessories, tires, food and drink, lodging, vehicle washing, etc. will likely fill a gap that will be created once the OHV Facility is completed. The following are a series of business development ideas that could be implemented in the region: Identify specific business deficiencies (gaps) such as the ones listed above. These gaps may change over time as the facility grows and expands. Assist businesses with expansion as demand increases. Begin business expansion by growing existing businesses to meet growing demand. Some businesses will simply expand their current operations as demand for their services grow. Others will see a new market and choose to begin a new business endeavor to meet that need. Recruit new businesses when the expanding demand cannot be met locally. Provide basic overnight accommodations such as rooms to rent (hotel/motel), bed and breakfasts, campgrounds, or a country inn. Work with business community to audit the business districts to determine how to best meet the needs, and how to best provide the goods and services desired by visitors who come to the region. Other Economic Impacts The economic impacts of the OHV Facility extend beyond increasing demand for retail and services. Housing in the region is already being impacted by the prospect of the Facility s arrival. Local realtors have already begun to see OHV enthusiasts showing interest in purchasing vacation or second homes in the region to use during their visits to the Facility. Interest in the housing market will likely increase as the facility moves closer to completion. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 2-67

152 Bloomsburg University to Track Economic Impact The Bloomsburg University College of Business intends to develop a tracking system that will collect on-going data about the business of operating the AOAA and the economic impact to the surrounding municipalities. This analysis will provide accurate information about the number of jobs created, the annual dollar impact on the community, and the number of businesses created or expanded. It will track where AOAA users are coming from, how long they stay in the County, and how much they spend. This information will be valuable to decision-makers in planning for the future of the AOAA. The University has committed to assign both faculty and students to work on this project. Work will begin in the fall of ORGANIZING FOR SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION The organization component of the economic development recommendations forms the leadership structure for all the revitalization efforts. There are many organizations and individuals currently involved in promoting and revitalizing the local communities and the region as a whole. Effectively coordinating the efforts of these key players is essential to maximizing the economic benefits brought to the region by the facility. The facility will be the centerpiece of tourism in the region. While it is important to engage and involve economic development and promotion groups, it is also important to cooperate with and support the development and maintenance of the facility itself. Implementation Committee A region-wide committee should be formed that will focus on fulfilling the vision for the future. The committee needs to be all-inclusive with representation from the County, the facility, local chambers of commerce and the business communities, the Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau, law enforcement, and local officials Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

153 CASE STUDY: HATFIELD AND MCCOY TRAIL SYSTEM WEST VIRGINIA The Hatfield-McCoy Trail System was established in 1996 by the West Virginia State Legislature to generate tourism based economic development through outdoor recreational opportunities in the counties of southern West Virginia. The first trails were opened in 2000 and the system has grown extensively since then. It has now become a significant factor in the overall economy of the entire region. Today there are six trail systems located in five counties with over 500 miles of available trails. Many of the trail systems offer connecting trails that allow visitors to access West Virginia s ATV-friendly towns. Eventually the system is expected to grow to as much as 2,000 miles of trails with appropriate facilities and amenities. Plans also call for development of a 4x4 park in Kanawha County that will include designated trail areas for equestrian and other non-motorized users. Trail usage has continued to grow with over 30,000 trail passes expected to be sold in The economic base of the region served by the system is one of the poorest areas in the U.S. with incomes, wages and earnings well below the national average. The region is one of the most isolated in the nation. Educational attainment is also low in the region as the lack of jobs has caused an out-migration of people. The Center for Business and Economic Research at Marshall University was commissioned by the Hatfield-McCoy Regional Recreation Authority to prepare a comprehensive economic impact study of the Hatfield-McCoy Trail System. Trail Uses ATVs Off-highway Motorcycles Equestrians Mountain Bikers Hikers Regarding real estate activity, the report states, Any time a major recreational area is opened a primary result is rising real estate activity. That increase is reflected in the Economic Census Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 2-69

154 data. Recreational opportunities are a major attraction for real estate development as peoplelook for second homes to be nearby the attraction. Land is purchased to build new business and old businesses sometimes change hands as entrepreneurs seek to develop opportunities. This boom should lead to higher tax revenues for local governments and improved service provision to residents. 1 $7.7 million of increased spending $2.8 million of increased income 146 new jobs The report shows that in the first two years of operation: $660,000 of addi onal tax revenues Total retail sales grew by 12% 24,285 trail passes sold Local payroll increased by $104 million or 9.5% Gains in sales and payroll were seen in all related sectors including gasoline stations, accommodations, food service and real estate sales and rentals. Many local commercial establishments are now tied directly to the trail system. There are many restaurants, fast food establishments, gasoline stations, convenience and specialty stores in communities near the trails. The 2011 Hatfield McCoy Brochure identifies: Economic Impact of the Trail System in local lodging accommodations including motels, hotels, lodges, rental houses, cabins, campgrounds, RV parks, and bed and breakfasts 3 ATV/motorcycle dealerships 5 ATV rental facilities The overall conclusion to be reached is that the Hatfield-McCoy Trail System is and will continue to be an important component of the economic development of West Virginia and of the southern part of the State. It will be a catalyst for further development and expansion. As tourism grows it will bring increased visibility to the region as well as its attractiveness for location of other types of business. 2 1 Ibid, pg Ibid, pg Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

155 CASE STUDY: BLACK MOUNTAIN OFF-ROAD ADVENTURE PARK The information in the Case Study comes from the Harlan County Outdoor Recreation Board Authority Annual Report and their website Having officially opened June 4, 2005, Black Mountain Off-Road Adventure Park is operated by the Harlan County Outdoor Recreation Board Authority (HCORBA). The five-person Board is charged by the County to develop and promote outdoor recreation and tourism opportunities for everyone to enjoy. Their mission is to promote and develop outdoor recreation and/or adventure tourism throughout Harlan County in the best long-term interests of the people and those resources. The Adventure Park is one of their primary undertakings. The Park includes over 200 Miles of marked and rated OHV trails on approximately 7,000-acres of mountainous Kentucky terrain. Trails include beginner, intermediate and extreme ATV Trails as well as levels 1 through 5 4x4 trails and obstacles. Access to the park is controlled through two main trailheads. Visitors can purchase either annual or monthly passes. In 2009, forty percent of the passes issued were annual passes. Their general uses passes produce just over $77,000 in revenue in the fiscal year. This climbed to $152,330 in fiscal year with the sale of over 6,000 passes. OHV enthusiasts from all over the world have visited the Park. This map depicts the distribution of usage from March through December of During that time period, visitors came from 31 states and Canada. About one third of the visitors were from within the parks home state. The biggest usage from out of state came from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia. In 2009, Park officials tracked usage by type of vehicle and found that 78% of their riders rode Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 2-71

156 ATVs while the remaining 22% use a variety of 4x4 vehicles. The largest brand of ATV using Black Mountain was Honda, and nearly 50% of the 4x4s were Jeeps. In 2010, Black Mountain hosted a number of successful events: Approximately 200 riders participated in the first annual Ride for Coal, a joint-event organized by the Harlan County Ridge Runners, Kentucky Mountain Crawlers and HCORBA to recognize the coal history of the Black Mountain region. The fifth annual Kentucky Mountain Crawlers Southern Shine Crawl at Black Mountain Off-Road Adventure Area, an event that was moved to Black Mountain from at different location. A qualifier for the 2011 Griffin King of the Hammers race in Johnson Valley, CA was held in August Twenty vehicles competed on a course across Black Mountain in front of hundreds of spectators. Participants and event organizers have expressed interest in making Black Mountain an annual stop on the East Coast Off-road Racing Series circuit. The Park s website identifies twenty-one scheduled events for These include a Wildflower Weekend in April, Lightning Bug Ride (night riding), Hummer Club Ride, Southern Shine Crawl, Crawl for Christ, the Harlan Honor Guard Poker Runs, a customer appreciation day, five different themed festivals, and many more. In addition to the OHV uses, adjacent sites operated by the Harlan County Recreation Board Authority also provide opportunities for hiking, horseback-riding, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, and hunting. In 2009, HCORBA s Horse Trail Committee partnered with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, and the Kentucky Horse Council to hold a one-day event equestrian event. The event brought in about 70 riders. Evarts, Kentucky, home of Black Mountain Outdoor Adventure Area has become known as the Birthplace of Adventure Tourism Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

157 Economic Impact Studies Reviewed During This Planning Process 1. Southwest Virginia Regional Recreational Authority Comprehensive Plan ATVs in Minnesota Economic Impact and Consumer Profile Cheaha Trail Riders East Coast 4-Wheel Drive Association Assessment of Four Wheel Drive Recreation in the Midwest and Northeast Economic Impacts of Off Highway Vehicles in Iowa Economic Impact of the Hatfield McCoy Trail System in West Virginia Economic Importance of Off Highway Vehicle Recreation in Arizona U.S. Forest Service National Survey on Recreation and the Environment: 9. Off Highway Vehicle Recreation in the United States U.S. Forest Service National Survey on Recreation and the Environment: 11. Off Highway Vehicle Recreation in the United States Michigan Licensed Off Highway Use and Users Michigan Iron Range Off Highway Vehicle Area Economic Impact Ocean Dunes State Recreational Vehicle Area economic Impact Study Off Highway Vehicles in Colorado Estimate of Recreational Use and Expenditures Off Highway Recreation in New Mexico Off Highway Vehicle Recreation s $3 Billion Economic Impact in California and 18. Profile of Off Highway Vehicle Users Pennsylvania All Terrain Vehicle Riders and their Needs Tennessee Off Highway Vehicle User Study Tug Hill Region All Terrain Economic Impact Study Harlan County Kentucky Recreation Authority Annual Report Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 2-73

158 CURRENT LAND MANAGEMENT CONTROLS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Current land management controls in place in surrounding municipalities include: A review of the existing comprehensive plans indicates the existing and proposed land use of the proposed OHV area properties is designated as coal production/manufacturing/industrial. With the adoption of this plan the primary land use will change to recreation/conservation, however, coal production/manufacturing/industrial activities are expected to continue as secondary activities in and around the proposed OHV properties. Municipality Comprehensive Plan Northumberland County 2005 Local SALDO County SALDO Local Zoning City of Shamokin 1963 X X Coal Township 2003 X X East Cameron Township Mount Carmel Township X X West Cameron Township Zerbe Township 1972 X X Given the age of the current municipal comprehensive plans, and that three of the six municipalities associated with the AOAA do not have a comprehensive plan at all, the communities surrounding the AOAA should work together to develop a multi-municipal comprehensive plan. Multi-municipal planning fosters cooperation among local governments to create a clear and unified vision for the future. There are sound economic, environmental, fiscal, legal, and political benefits to multi-municipal planning. These benefits include: X X Creating a clear, unified vision for the region. Supporting municipal cooperation to address common needs while maintaining municipal autonomy. Encouraging economic development and a strong multi-municipal tax base through revitalization of existing towns and neighborhoods, reduced competition for tax revenues, and coordinated infrastructure planning. Enabling cooperating municipalities to designate growth areas in and around cities, boroughs, and villages where public infrastructure will be provided, and designating rural resource areas where rural uses are preferred and infrastructure will not be provided with public funds Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

159 Encouraging a coordinated approach to economic development that reduces the competition for tax revenues among municipalities, encourages coordinated infrastructure planning, and allows municipalities to identify sustainable economic development opportunities at sites that are most appropriate for development or redevelopment and revitalization. Conserving municipal resources and benefitting the taxpayer by sharing the costs of planning Enhancing/maintaining environmental quality and protecting resource lands through conservation planning across political boundaries to protect watersheds, air quality, parkland, stream buffers, and wildlife habitat. Encouraging the creation of regional parks, greenways, and open space through linkages of parkland, trails, open space systems, and farmland across municipal boundaries. Allowing cooperating municipalities to carry out and implement individual municipal ordinances or joint municipal ordinances that are consistent with the plan. Further, if municipalities complete a multi-municipal plan the cooperating municipalities can have the flexibility of providing for all land uses throughout the entire multi-municipal planning area when participating municipalities adopt a joint zoning ordinance. A multi-municipal comprehensive plan is developed and adopted by any number of proximate municipalities. It is one of the most important tools municipalities use for land use planning and local governance. The plan serves as an official public document that guides public and private decisions about land use and quality of life in an area. A comprehensive plan includes the municipalities vision for the future. A key component of a comprehensive plan involves identifying how to make the vision a reality by implementing land use tools, forming community partnerships, and securing resources. Comprehensive plans are most successful when developed through a consensus building approach involving local stakeholders. The purpose of the plan is to help the municipalities jointly assess their existing social, environmental, and economic conditions and create a land use plan to guide future development/redevelopment in the community. A key component is a plan for land use that addresses the amount, intensity, character and timing of land use development such as housing, industry, business, transportation and utilities, community facilities, and parks. Ultimately, the plan should identify goals and actions to maintain and enhance quality of life of the community. One of the main tasks for the AOAA adjacent communities comprehensive plan should be to determine how best to accommodate the AOAA itself and the growth that it will catalyze as described in this plan. The comprehensive plan sets the land use vision for the communities, but this vision can be made law by amending or in some cases adopting new land development ordinances. The two most directly applicable to managing growth are zoning and subdivision and land development ordinances (SALDO). The zoning ordinance most commonly dictates where certain land uses can be located as well as how buildings should be sized and situated on a lot. Because of this, the zoning ordinance Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 2-75

160 is often the best and most direct tool for implementing the land use recommendations of a comprehensive plan. Four of the six communities currently have a local zoning ordinance. Upon completing a multi-municipal comprehensive plan, or updating existing municipal plans, all of the municipalities should consider updating their zooming ordinances. If a multimunicipal comprehensive plan is completed, then we recommend consideration be given to establishing a multi-municipal zoning ordinance. If that cannot be accomplished, then we recommend the individual municipalities with zoning ordinances update them to reflect the goals and objectives of an updated comprehensive plan. In the case of East Cameron and West Cameron Townships, if they do not participate in a multi-municipal zoning effort, they should consider implementing zoning ordinances to provide local control over future land uses in the communities. The SALDO also plays an important role in ensuring that land development meets the communities needs. In Pennsylvania, if a County has adopted a SALDO and a locality has not, then the county s ordinance applies to development in the locality. Once a community adopts their own SALDO, then the county s ordinance no longer applies. The City of Shamokin and Coal Township currently administer their own SALDO. The remaining four AOAA adjacent communities do not have a local SALDO and are controlled by Northumberland County s ordinance. The communities should adopt local SALDOs in conjunction with their zoning ordinance revisions or adoptions. If this is not feasible, the County should revisit its own ordinance to ensure that it is assisting the localities to implement the respective multimunicipal comprehensive plan/ or individual municipal comprehensive plan. As noted earlier, we strongly recommend a multi-municipal comprehensive plan update be completed to recognize the proposed OHV area, and its impact on the region, and surrounding municipalities. The cost to complete this plan is estimate to be approximately $150,000, depending on the scope of work. Partial funding may be available through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to assist in funding such a plan. Through this planning process it is evident that some local officials may be hesitant to embark on any planning effort, or to implement/strengthen subdivision and land development ordinances and zoning ordinances. Therefore, the County Planning Department should continue its efforts to educate municipal officials on the value of such land management controls to guide growth and development to achieve their vision, in lieu of the vision being achieved by developers whose primary concern is their financial investment. The comprehensive plan should address the desires of the public and municipal leaders for the municipalities to guide and support the proposed OHV area and to encourage redevelopment and economic development within the private sector, as well as, to reclaim and enhance the natural resources of the property with a primary emphasis on water quality improvement. In addition, municipal officials in Zerbe & Coal Townships, and the City of Shamokin recognize the need to increase efforts to improve the appearance of their communities by addressing vacant and blighted properties and the need to adopt/enforce property maintenance codes. Although the International Property Maintenance Code 2009 is not required to be adopted 2-76 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

161 as part of Pennsylvania s Uniform Construction Code, municipalities that elect to enforce the UCC may also adopt and enforce the International Property Maintenance Code (or any other property maintenance requirements). PRINCIPLES TO SHAPE FUTURE PUBLIC POLICY Through this planning process the following principles have been established to shape public policy for community and economic development and related environmental enhancement: 1. Develop a world class OHV area to provide legal OHV riding opportunities and special events to meet the demands of the local, regional, state, and national OHV communities. 2. The planning, development, and management of the AOAA will incorporate best practices to facilitate and enhance local economic development activities by planning for and encouraging the private sector to develop and provide the goods and services required by visitors to the AOAA. 3. The planning, development, and management of the AOAA will incorporate best practices for sound land development and implementation of sustainable design and development practices to enhance the natural resources located on the AOAA properties. 4. Local municipalities and the County will partner with the AOAA to market, promote, and encourage the private sector to invest in developing restaurants, hotels, fuel stations, OHV sales and repair facilities by promoting and adopting sound land use and land development best practices. 5. The AOAA will encourage private investment in the local municipalities by coordinating events with and in local municipalities. 6. The County will continue to market and promote the AOAA as a world class destination and facility for OHV recreation, research, design, and training opportunities by working with national OHV manufacturers, associations, and supporting manufacturers and organizations to facilitate economic development within Northumberland County. 7. The County will promote, encourage, and enforce legal OHV practices, and partner with organizations to provide OHV safety training programs at the AOAA. 8. The County will design, construct, and maintain the AOAA to become a national model of sustainable development and natural resources restoration. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 2-77

162 PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS The Northumberland County Planning Department recognizes the AOAA presents opportunities to launch numerous public and private partnerships. To date the County has partnered with Geisinger Health Systems to provide youth OHV education opportunities, and safe riding campaigns. Further, Bloomsburg University is partnering with the County to track and quantify economic development activities associated with the development of the OHV area. As discussed earlier, we recommend a multi-municipal comprehensive plan update be completed to recognize the proposed OHV area, and its impact on the region, and surrounding municipalities. The cost to complete this plan is estimate to be approximately $150,000, and partial funding to develop this plan may be available through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic. To enhance public private partnerships the County regularly consulted with and received grant funds from private manufacturers to aid in the development, and promotion of the AOAA. To date $30,000 was received from two private manufacturers (Yamaha and Polaris). Additionally Kawasaki held a private national media event on the property to showcase the project, Kawasaki equipment, and to give the County a sounding board for questions related to what experts in the industry like to see, don t like to see, etc. Kawasaki privately funded this opportunity at a cost of $80,000. To increase awareness among local businesses the County has attended, and will continue to attend, a business round table with the Supervisors of Zerbe Township and representatives of Zerbe Township s businesses. Businesses within Zerbe Township attended to ask questions and provide input on their ideas for the AOAA. Stemming from this meeting was obvious signs that the Zerbe businesses were anxiously excited about this project. Somewhat anxious because a private attraction, that draws many visitors currently, known as Coal Hill isn t involved and was rumored to be shutting down. Excited because the County was diligently working with a private landowner to grant an access point in the Township, this was a desire of the Supervisors and the business people. The County Planning Department is poised to continue its efforts to target and pursue high impact activities and projects within the County Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

163 CHAPTER 3: Design Considerations and Process Northumberland Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 3-1

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165 CHAPTER 3: Design Considerations and Process ACTIVITIES AND FACILITIES ANALYSIS OFF HIGHWAY VEHICLE DESIGN GUIDELINES To determine if, and how, the site can accommodate the various facilities and activities identified, a review of the appropriate facility design guidelines is necessary. It is important to provide properly located, safe recreation facilities and opportunities that are accessible to all visitors. Safety issues include separation of transportation modes, ability to meet all experience levels, and appropriate and properly designed facilities and trails. Most importantly, the County must take steps to protect the health, safety, and welfare of visitors. And finally, location of facilities and activities must be sensitive to the environmental resources the County expects to conserve and enhance. Generally, guidelines for the development of motorized activities and facilities have not been defined in one, concise resource. However, by reviewing a variety of professional, association, and organizational resources, requirements can be determined. For this study, the following resources were used to compile facility standards and guidelines for this project: Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources The Pennsylvania Trail Design Manual for Off-Highway Recreational Vehicles, establishes standards for the development of OHV trails. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Pennsylvania Snowmobile and ATV Guide. A Comprehensive Framework for Off-Highway Vehicle Trail Management published by the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Technology & Development Program Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Summary of Pennsylvania s All Terrain Vehicle Law. Management Guidelines for OHV Recreation, Tom Crimmins in association with the National Off Highway Vehicle Conservation Council. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources So You Want to Build an Off-Highway Vehicle Facility? A Practical Guide to Planning and Development. National Off Highway Vehicle Council s publication Park Guidelines for Off-Highway Recreation Vehicles by George E. Fogg, establishes guidelines for the development of Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 3-3

166 OHV areas and facilities. A Comprehensive Framework for Off-Highway Vehicle Trail Management Draft July 2011, USDA Forest Service, Missoula Technology and Development Center Off Highway Motorcycle and ATV Trails Guidelines for Design, Construction, Maintenance and User Satisfaction by Joe Wernex, establishes design guidelines for design, construction and maintenance of OHM and ATV trails. Trail Planning, Design, and Development Guidelines published by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Trails and Waterways Division, provides the most comprehensive set of design guidelines covering all aspects of non-motorized and motorized trails. Best Management Practices for Off-Road Vehicle Use on Forestlands - A Guide for Designating and Managing Off-Road Vehicle Routes, published by Wildslands CPR U.S. Forest Service s publication Guidebook for Trails, Trailheads, and Campgrounds Natural Surface Trails by Design, by Troy Scott Parker, defines the physical and human design essentials for creating sustainable and enjoyable trails. American Motorcycle Association (AMA) 2005 Rules Governing Pro-Am, Standard, ATV and Youth Competition, defines OHM and ATV facilities and competition area requirements. GENERAL FACILITY DESIGN GUIDELINES It is important to understand the general facility design standards that apply to traditional park and recreation facilities also be applied to proposed the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area. It is important to provide properly located, safe, recreation facilities, which are accessible to all visitors. Accessibility issues include ensuring that facilities are able to meet the needs of the physically and mentally challenged, as well as individuals experiencing temporary disabilities. Ensuring accessibility to all facilities not only accommodates those with disabilities, but also makes it easier for the general public to use the facilities. Additionally, it is imperative Northumberland County take steps to protect the health, safety, and welfare of all visitors. Accessibility, in design terms, is described by the Americans with Disabilities Act, which guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities to participate in the mainstream of public life. To do so, the ADA sets requirements for facilities to prevent physical barriers that keep people with disabilities from participating. When public facilities are built or altered, they must comply with the ADA Standards with an accessible route to the area of play and spectator areas. Improvements to the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area must comply with the following ADA standards and guidelines: 3-4 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

167 Americans with Disabilities Act, Title II, Requirements for Public Facilities, Draft Final Accessibility Guidelines for Federal Outdoor Areas, October 19, SUMMARY OF OHV LAWS AND REGULATIONS RELATED TO LIABILITY CONCERNS Disclaimer: This is not legal guidance or the sole source of information related to the matters discussed herein. Before reaching an opinion one should consult with an attorney or municipal solicitor to further research and discuss potential implications associated with actions taken related to OHV opportunities in a municipality or by an agency, organization, or for profit entity. Pennsylvania has adopted various regulations which address certain aspects of liability related to OHV use in Pennsylvania. Each of these regulations are related to ATVs or snowmobiles with the exception of the Act 87 of July 15, 2004, amended 42 Pa. Cons. Stat Comparative Negligence which addresses OHVs in general. Pennsylvania s legislation does not provide for registration of off-highway motorcycles, or off-highway vehicles, other than ATVs, which cannot be registered under the requirements of the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code. Many other states have adopted registration and liability provisions related to off-highway motorcycles and off-highway vehicles. Chapter 77 of the Vehicle Code Operation on streets and highways. (a) General rule.--except as otherwise provided in this chapter, it is unlawful to operate a snowmobile or an ATV on any street or highway which is not designated and posted as a snowmobile or an ATV road by the governmental agency having jurisdiction. (b) Emergency and bridge crossings.--a snowmobile or an ATV may be operated on highways and streets: (1) During periods of emergency when so declared by a policy agency having jurisdiction. (2) When necessary to cross a bridge or culvert. (c) Crossing street or highway.--a snowmobile or an ATV may make a direct crossing of a street or highway upon compliance with the following requirements: (1) The crossing is made at an angle of approximately 90 degrees to the direction of the highway and at a place where no obstruction prevents a quick and safe crossing. (2) The snowmobile or ATV is brought to a complete stop before crossing the shoulder or main-traveled way of the highway. (3) The driver yields the right-of-way to all oncoming traffic which constitutes an immediate hazard. (4) In crossing a divided highway, the crossing is made only at an intersection of such Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 3-5

168 highway with another public street or highway. (July 11, 1985, P.L.220, No.56, eff. 60 days) Designation of snowmobile and ATV roads. (a) General rule.--the Department of Transportation on State-designated highways and local authorities on any highway, road or street within its jurisdiction may designate any highway, road or street within its jurisdiction as a snowmobile road, an ATV road, or both, and may, in its discretion, determine whether such road shall be closed to vehicular traffic or whether snowmobiles and ATV s may share this designated road with vehicular traffic. (b) Posting notices.--adequate notices of such designation and determination shall be sufficiently and prominently displayed. (c) Liability.--There shall be no liability imposed on the Department of Transportation or any other State agency or any political subdivision of this Commonwealth as a result of designating any highway, road or street as a snowmobile road or an ATV road as provided in subsection (a). (June 23, 1978, P.L.523, No.86, eff. imd.; July 11, 1985, P.L.220, No.56, eff. 60 days) Liability of Owner for Negligence. (a) General rule.--negligence in the use or operation of a snowmobile or an ATV is attributable to the owner. Every owner of a snowmobile or an ATV used or operated in this Commonwealth shall be liable and responsible for death or injury to person or damage to property resulting from negligence in the use or operation of such snowmobile or ATV by any person using or operating the snowmobile or ATV with the permission, express or implied, of such owner. (b) Exception.--The negligence of the operator shall not be attributed to the owner as to any claim or cause of action accruing to the operator or his legal representative for such injuries or death. (July 11, 1985, P.L.220, No.56, eff. 60 days) Liability Insurance. (a) Requirement.--A snowmobile or ATV for which registration is required under this chapter shall have liability insurance coverage for the snowmobile or ATV issued by an insurance carrier authorized to do business in this Commonwealth. This subsection does not apply to limited registrations. (b) Proof of insurance.--proof of insurance as required by this section shall be produced and displayed by the owner or operator of such snowmobile or ATV upon the request of any magistrate or any person having authority to enforce the provisions of this chapter or to 3-6 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

169 any person who has suffered or claims to have suffered either personal injury or property damage as a result of the operation of such snowmobile or ATV. It shall be an affirmative defense to any prosecution for a violation of this section that such proof was so produced within 72 hours of receiving notice of such violation, injury or damage or the claim of such injury or damage. (c) Owner s responsibility.--no owner of a snowmobile or ATV shall operate or permit the same to be operated without having in full force and effect liability insurance coverage required by this section. The operator of a snowmobile or ATV shall carry proof of insurance on his person or on the snowmobile or ATV when it is in operation. (d) Penalty.--A person who violates subsection (a) or (c) commits a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of $300 and costs of prosecution and, in default of payment of the fine or costs, shall be imprisoned for not more than ten days. (July 11, 1996, P.L.660, No.115, eff. 60 days; June 25, 2001, P.L.701, No.68, eff. 120 days) PA Code Chapter 51. Snowmobile and All-Terrain Vehicle Registration and Operation Barricades for Snowmobile or ATV Roads Streets and highways posted as exclusive snowmobile or ATV roads under section 7722 of the Vehicle Code (relating to designation of snowmobile and ATV roads) shall be barricaded in the following manner: (1) At the beginning of the section of the street or highway so posted and at each intersecting street and highway. (2) With Type III barricades which shall conform to the standards of PennDOT Publication 90, Handbook for Work Area Traffic Control, except as follows: (i) (ii) The barricade rails shall be alternate red and white stripes. The entire area of red and white shall be reflectorized with Class I reflective sheeting approved for use in this Commonwealth by the Department of Transportation. (3) A Department of Transportation approved Type B flasher shall be attached to the top rail of each barricade or a ROAD CLOSED AHEAD sign shall be placed in advance of the barricade. (4) Each barricade will be posted with an official SNOWMOBILE ROAD CLOSED TO ALL OTHER VEHICLES or ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE ROAD CLOSED TO ALL OTHER VEHICLES sign. (5) Signs shall conform to the requirements of 67 Pa. Code Chapter 211 (relating to official traffic control devices) Posting Signs for Snowmobile or ATV Roads. (a) A street or highway which has been posted as a snowmobile or ATV road allowing both snowmobiles or ATVs and other vehicular traffic under section 7722 of the Vehicle Code Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 3-7

170 (relating to designation of snowmobile and ATV roads) shall be posted in the following manner: (1) An official SNOWMOBILE ROAD or ATV ROAD sign shall be used and shall conform to 67 Pa. Code Chapter 211 (relating to official traffic control devices). (2) The SNOWMOBILE ROAD or ATV ROAD sign shall be installed on the right side of the street or highway at the beginning of the posted snowmobile or ATV road and on the right side of the snowmobile or ATV road within 100 feet beyond each intersecting street or highway and at locations thereafter which will afford notice to all users of the road that it is a snowmobile or ATV road. (3) The END plaque shall be used in conjunction with the SNOWMOBILE ROAD or ATV ROAD sign to indicate the end of a posted snowmobile or ATV road. (b) On each street and highway intersecting the posted snowmobile or ATV road, an official SNOWMOBILE CROSSING or ATV CROSSING sign may be installed on each approach of the intersecting street or highway. Signs shall conform to the requirements of 67 Pa. Code Chapter 211. EQUIPMENT PA Act 87 of July 15, 2004, amended 42 Pa. Cons. Stat Comparative Negligence to add: Comparative Negligence B.3) Off-Road Vehicle Riding (1) Off-road vehicle riding area operators shall have no duty to protect riders from common, frequent, expected, and non-negligent risks inherent to the activity, including collisions with riders or objects. (2) The doctrine of knowing voluntary assumption of risk shall apply to all actions to recover damages for negligence resulting in death or injury to person or property brought against any off-road vehicle riding area operator. (3) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed in any way to abolish or modify a cause of action against a potential responsible party other than an off-road vehicle riding area operator. (D) Definitions.- - As used in this section the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection: Defendant or Defendants. Includes implied defendants. Off-Road Vehicle. A motorized vehicle that is used off-road for sport or recreation. The term includes snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles, and four-wheel drive vehicles. Off-Road Vehicle Riding Area. Any area or facility providing recreational activities for off-road vehicles. Off-Road Vehicle Riding Area Operator. A person or organization owning or having 3-8 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

171 operational responsibility for any off-road vehicle riding area. The term includes: (1) Agencies and political subdivisions of this Commonwealth. (2) Authorities created by political subdivisions. (3) Private companies. Plaintiff. Includes counter claimants and cross-claimants. Section 6. This Act shall take effect immediately. Where a municipality is considering to adopt an ordinance to open up their local roads for OHV use, we recommend they request a legal opinion from their municipal solicitor as to whether the municipality will be exposed to a higher level of liability as a result of adopting such an ordinance. Pennsylvania Townships with Roads Designated for ATV Use The ATV Trail Network Development study completed for North Central Pennsylvania Planning and Development Commission for ATV Trails in the North Central region compiled the following inventory of Townships in the North Central Pennsylvania region with roads designated for ATV use. Each of the regulations cited herein afford some protection from liability claims providing the corresponding criteria are met. When providing and operating a riding area, we strongly recommend the operator of the area maintain liability insurance to assist with defending their position should a claim arise. We consulted with Jeffrey Magowan of the Garceau Wenick-Kutz Magowan Insurance Agency which can provide liability insurance for such areas. Jeff offered the following advice, and provided the following information. Given the regulatory provisions which provide reduced liability for governmental agencies, Jeff recommends the area be owned by a governmental agency if possible. Jeff also discussed the operating entity and indicated there are differences on how an insurance policy treats a club entity versus a public or private entity. A club entity has members that participate in the activity, while a private entity has the general public participate in the activity. A policy responds differently to members (insured), versus general public (thirdparties). When you charge to participate and offer the activity to the general public, the insurance companies are more reluctant to offer coverage since the risk and exposure is much greater than in a club situation. He indicated the annual insurance premium is typically based on the size of the area and the Jeffrey A. Magowan Garceau Wenick-Kutz Magowan Insurance Agency 823 Ludington Street Escanaba, MI (906) (906) Fax jam@garceauins.com Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 3-9

172 miles of trail associated with it. Similar facilities incur an annual premium cost of between $5,000 and $10,000 for similar sized properties and amounts of trails. We discussed the possibility of multiple sites that might be connected by a network of Township roads and potentially through easements acquired through private property. Travel along the Township roads, provided they are opened by the Township for ATV travel, as permitted by State law, is afforded some protection from liability through the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code as documented earlier. The liability of private land owners that provide easements form travel through their property may be afforded some protection through Pennsylvania s Recreational Use of Land and Water Statute. Pennsylvania Code, Title 68, Real and Personal Property, Chapter 11, Uses of Property, Recreation Use of Land and Water The purpose of this act is to encourage owners of land to make land and water areas available to the public for recreational purposes by limiting their liability toward persons entering thereon for such purposes. Definitions 1. Land: land, roads, water, watercourses, private ways and buildings, structures and machinery or equipment when attached to the realty. 2. Owner: means the possessor of a fee interest, a tenant, lessee, occupant or person in control of the premises. 3. Recreational Purpose: includes, but is not limited to: hunting, fishing, swimming, boating, camping, picnicking, hiking, pleasure driving, nature study, water skiing, water sports, cave exploration and viewing or enjoying historical, archaeological, scenic, or scientific sites. 4. Charge: means the admission price or fee asked in return for invitation or permission to enter or go upon the land. Overview of Act Provisions The Act generally provides that an owner of land owes no duty to keep the premises safe for entry or use by others for recreational purposes, or to give any warning of a dangerous condition, use, structure or activity on the premises. The Act protects landowners from liability when their land is used for recreational purposes by the public without charge, whether or not the landowner has invited or permitted the public to enter his land. Friedman v. Grand Central Sanitation, Inc. The only time a landowner s liability is not limited under the Act is for willful or malicious failure to guard or warn against a dangerous condition, use, structure, or activity or if the landowner charges for entry onto his land. The Act only provides liability protection to individuals who have a legal interest in the 3-10 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

173 land. Absent a legal interest in a particular parcel of land, the act provides no protection. However, the definition of owner and court interpretations have allowed for a broad concept of landowner. An owner of land, under the Act, includes not only fee holders of land title, but lessees, occupants, or even persons who are simply in control of the land. This broadsweeping definition helps to encourage greater recreational use of land because the liability risk for recreational groups such as leasing hunt clubs is significantly reduced. Generally, the more restrictions the landowner places upon his land, the less likely he is to be protected by the Act. Pennsylvania s Recreation Use of Land Statute was amended by Act 11 of The amendment strengthens Commonwealth s Recreation Use of Land Statute by further providing protection from liability to landowners for acts or acts of omission by recreational users. While the Recreational Use Statute provides certain protections from liability, nothing can prevent a suit from being filed against a land owner. Typically, an agency s general liability insurance provides coverage to the owner if someone is injured on their property. In the case where a trail may pass through leased land of a private landowner, the homeowner s insurance policy usually provides coverage to the owner if someone is injured on the owner s property whether that person is permitted to be there or not. If someone is injured and files a claim against the property owner, the insurance company has the duty to defend the insured owner. Land owners conducting active farming or timbering generally have special liability insurance for those specific purposes. The Recreation Use of Land Statute specifies the Act protects landowners from liability when the land is used for recreational purposes without charge. This is a very important factor and can void potential protections should it be determined that a fee is being charged for the use of the land. It is unclear whether land being leased to connect two properties being operated as an OHV riding area, could be covered under the Recreational Use Statute if a fee is being charged to conduct recreational activities on the area properties. One could argue the fee is specifically associated with the riding area, and not the connection between the areas. That said, it is a gray area and additional legal research should be conducted. It may be determined that this issue has not been tested in the court, and therefore, may remain a gray area until such time a case brings it to court. Given the development and operation of the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area will be dependent on the revenues generated from user fees, the Recreational Use Statute will not be applicable to the facility. However, depending on the structure of lease agreements with private land owners who lease land for trail connections, the Recreation Use of Land Statute may be applicable to those properties. Insurance Coverage as Additionally Insured / Hold Harmless The public / private / non-profit organization responsible for the management and operations Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 3-11

174 on leased land may choose to have those property owners who provide easements for a specific use through their property as additionally insured parties on the organization s policy. Last, if a governmental agency is the leasee, they may choose to hold the land owner harmless from claims related to specified uses of the leased property. Although nothing can prevent a law suit from being filed, the information here should be utilized to educate property owners on ways they may be afforded some protections from claims should they arise. If property owners have an understanding of the issues, they may be more willing to provide easements Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

175 OFF HIGHWAY VEHICLE PROGRAM Based on the input received from the public input sessions, key person interviews, internet surveys, and steering committee meetings, we identified potential program elements and, where applicable, their corresponding design guidelines based on the guidelines previously referenced. OHV activities anticipated on the property include: Off Highway Recreation Vehicles (ORVs): full size 4 x 4 s rock crawlers dune buggies Off Highway Motorcycles (OHMs): Dual Sport Motorcycle Motorcross (MX) Motorcycle Enduro Motorcycle Trials Motorcycle All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) and Utility Terrain Vehicles, side-by-sides, (UTVs) Amenities Guest Services and Office Building Camping areas Restrooms and shower facilities Adequate parking ORV, ATV, OHM and trailer storage ATV and OHM Loading ramps Safety and training facilities Picnic areas Family and group gathering areas Good signage and maps Trails Trails with diverse skill and riding experiences A variety of types and lengths of trails Trails with varying degrees of difficulty of use Trails specifically designed for ORVs Trails specifically designed for ATVs Trails specifically designed for OHMs Hill climbs Water and mud play areas Trails connecting to surrounding areas Miles of trails Sufficient variety to maintain interest over the long term Riding access on roads within the facility Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 3-13

176 Competition and Play Areas ORV rock crawl areas ORV, ATV, and OHM Play areas ORV, ATV, and OHM Obstacle courses ORV, ATV, and OHM mud and water play areas ORV, ATV, and OHM Hill climb areas GUEST SERVICES AND OFFICE BUILDING The guest services and office building will provide guest services and serve as the primary management and operations center for the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area. The building will include offices, comfort facilities, meeting / education rooms and associated short term and employee parking. The building will require electric, water and sanitary infrastructure. CAMPING FACILITIES Office Program Room Square Footage Quantity Extension Greeting / Lobby Area Conference Room Restrooms Showers Offices Two classrooms (to accommodate 30 to 40 people each) ,400 One kitchenette Lodging is an important consideration for a venue of this nature. Given the limited OHV Total Square Feet 4,850 opportunities in Pennsylvania, and the region beyond, many guests will be traveling long distances with the intent of spending several days at this facility. Currently there are limited lodging opportunities in the communities which surround the proposed facility. Further, a review of the input provided by the OHV community indicates many guests will desire to lodge nearby and / or on-site. Potential camping facility development to consider within the AOAA includes primitive camping and camping with electric and potable water connections. Furthermore, there is a desire to consider including camping cabins as lodging opportunities in both the primitive, and utility connection camping areas. The entrance to the campground should be controlled and provide for the operations of the campground. Fees should be collected, camping permits should be issued, information should be distributed to campers, and the personnel of the station should help provide security for the campground. A program area, in the form of a large picnic shelter and campfire ring, should be provided for organized activities. The program area should be located away from and screened from the camp site areas Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

177 The greater the campground amenities, the greater the likelihood the campers will return for extended stays. Amenities to consider include coin-operated laundry facilities, a camping store, firewood, telephone service, access and campsites accessible to people with disabilities, pedestrian access routes to connect camp sites with the washhouses, camp store, central camping complex and program activity area is a necessity. Play areas and play fields are desirable in family camping areas. Of course, there is also a corresponding expense associated with providing each of these amenities. CAMPING SITES Camp sites require level or gently rolling topography, soils with good drainage, vegetation with overhead canopy for shade, and understudy growth for screening. In Park Guidelines for Off-Highway Vehicles, Fogg indicates water and washhouse facilities should be located no further than five hundred feet from the farthest camp site. Flush toilets, showers, electric receptacles and a heated washhouse are desirable features. A potable water supply must be provided, and a waste station connected to the campground s sanitary system, is desirable where campers with self contained toilets will overnight. Generally, campers desire water, electric and sanitary hook-ups. Other amenities to consider include cable and internet access. Although this recommendation has good intentions, it has the potential to significantly increase the construction costs because of the remote nature of the area. Therefore, further analysis of the guests utility needs is warranted. We anticipate the majority of use will be short term stays of less than one week. Additionally, many visitors will arrive in self-contained recreational vehicles which can be supported with electrical service only. Those arriving in these types of RVs may require a sanitary dump station, while those who will stay at the more primitive sites will require a bathhouse, and water service to their site. The water service can be as simple as providing water hydrants scattered throughout the primitive camping area, or be as complex as providing water service directly to each site. Therefore, we recommend the campground begin as a primitive area, with bathhouse facilities, and that electric service be provided to each site as funding permits. Then, in future phases, funds should be invested to upgrade water and sanitary services to the camp sites. Camp sites, whether primitive or those with utility connections, must accommodate their haul vehicle, an unloading zone to the rear of the vehicle, ample width to store their vehicle adjacent to their haul vehicle, picnic table, fire ring, and an area for a tent. Therefore, we recommend camping sites be a minimum of thirty feet wide by eighty feet in length. Each camp site should be delineated and marked, and opportunities to access shaded areas are important. More formal camp sites can be arranged in a traditional campground arrangement, while others can be more localized to particular locations throughout the property. We anticipate Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 3-15

178 the later format will be a primitive camping environment while the traditional campground arrangement can be either primitive or include utility connections. For those sites developed with utility connections, and depending on the source of potable water, water stations can serve groups of campsites, or be run to each site. Electrical service requirements can range between 15 to 30 amps, with 30 amp connections being the standard for large haulers and recreation vehicles (RVs). OHV Campsite The typical OHV camp site should consist of a cleared and level area for a tent or camper, OHV trailer, picnic table, fire ring, and OHV parking and work area. The campsite should be spaced a minimum of sixty feet on center along a campground road. Group Camping Group camping opportunities are also desirable at OHV facilities. Group camping areas can vary but generally consist of a two-acre area (one hundred and eighty foot diameter level, grass area), with perpendicular truck and trailer parking around the area s perimeter. The group camping area should be separated from the family camping area. Recreational opportunities such as volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, and an open field area are desirable amenities within the group camp area. Picnic Areas Picnic areas are desirable amenities in an OHV facility. Picnic areas should be provided near the visitor s car / truck and trailer, as well as more remote picnic areas that are only accessible by OHV trails. When picnic areas are near the visitor s car / truck and trailer or at trailheads or event venues, they should be located such that the OHV user s equipment is visible from the picnic site. Picnic sites in these areas should offer potable water and electric service. Many OHV users come in groups, so picnic areas should be arranged to accommodate them. Potable drinking water should be available within one hundred and fifty feet to three hundred feet of each picnic site. Two parking spaces should be provided for each available picnic table. Parking spaces should be designed to accommodate car/ truck and OHV trailer combinations. Picnic areas accessible by OHV trails only, should be located in scenic settings, at overlooks, or near water features. These picnic areas should be rustic in nature, and OHV users should be required to pack in and pack out their equipment and waste. TRAIL SYSTEM LAYOUTS Trails can be arranged in several formats, or through a combination of them. These formats include: Linear Trail System: This system is the simplest trail layout and consists of a starting point and a destination. It can also be used to connect destinations along a single path. The disadvantage of this system is that riders must return to a point of beginning over 3-16 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

179 the same trail that has already been ridden. The linear trail layout is best used as a connecting system for other types of trail systems. Single Loop Trail System: This system is used most often to circumvent the perimeter of a property, lake, wetland, or for a single, long distance ride. The trail must have a single level of difficultly associated with its entire length. The disadvantage is that rider choices are limited. Stacked Loop Trail System: This system builds upon the single loop trail system by providing staking loops. Typically each successive loop is greater in difficulty. They provide the rider with greater opportunities, and can provide a trail meeting each level of difficulty. Multiple Loop Trail System: This system typically has a centralized trailhead with several loops radiating out from the trailhead. This system can provide for a variety of trail user abilities. Spoked Wheel System: This system consists of an outer loop trail that is connected by linear trails to a center trailhead. The spokes can provide for different levels of difficultly or different experiences. Primary and Secondary Loop Trail System: This system has a primary loop with multiple secondary loops. Secondary loops can provide for different levels of difficulty, or provide access to different destinations. This system provides the user with the most flexibility. Maze Trail System: This system consists of a system of loops and linear trails that provide many alternative routes. Maze trail systems can be confusing, and users can become lost. They must be well-marked and well-mapped. ONE WAY VERSUS TWO WAY TRAIL SYSTEMS Traditionally, OHV trails have been designed for one-way travel because many felt it would reduce the opportunity for head-on collisions. However, The National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council has funded research on this issue. That research indicates one way trail systems should be avoided. During the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC) Workshop held in Northumberland County in October 2010, Mr. Tom Crimmins, OHV Trail Consultant and retired Forest Service employee with 32 years of service, presented the following recommendation for two-way trail systems in his presentation titled Management Guidelines for OHV Recreation. As a general rule, managers should avoid designation of one-way trails. There are several reasons for this even though many times riders will request them. First is the issue of speed. The nature of the OHV activity is that riders will ride as fast as their comfort level allows. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 3-17

180 One-way trails increase this comfort level and will naturally increase trail speed because riders assume that they will not encounter oncoming traffic. Having riders always aware that they may meet oncoming vehicles reduces trail speeds. In addition, one-way trails actually may create safety problems rather than reducing them as may be assumed. First, if every access point along a trail is not adequately signed or marked and if the signing is not always maintained, visitors may travel the wrong way without knowing it. A rider may make a conscious choice to travel the wrong way if they encounter some type of vehicle problem on the way out of the trailhead and try to get back by the shortest route available. In either case, the wrong way rider will encounter others who have no expectation that they will be on the trail. This is a clear prescription for disaster. A final consideration, one-way trails increase the need for trail mileage in any system. Trails ride or feel different when traversed in different directions. The scenery changes and the rhythm of the ride is different. All of this contributes to a feeling of diversity in the recreation experience. Therefore, having two-way trails improves the opportunities for creating different loops and may reduce the need for additional trail miles. Mr. Crimmins recommendation is supported by NOHVCC and this recommendation is advocated in the NOHVCC publication Management Guidelines for OHV Recreation, authored by Mr. Crimmins. Therefore, we recommend OHV trails within the AOAA be designated for two-way travel. SYNOPSIS ON MULTI USE MOTORIZED AND NON MOTORIZED TRAIL PHILOSOPHY Shared Use Trails are defined as those where similar modes of transportation utilize the same trail, i.e. hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians. Multi-Use Trails are where non-motorized and motorized trail uses are permitted on the same trail. In its Travel Management Plan the Rocky Mountain Ranger District Forest summarizes the issues associated with Multi-Use (motorized and non-motorized) Trail uses as follows: There is a great disparity in opinions about the effects on a person s recreational experience when they encounter others on the trail. Some people using non-motorized modes of travel become upset when they encounter or hear motorized equipment. The reverse situation is not as frequently true most people using motorized modes of travel do not seem to be disturbed when they encounter people on foot or horseback, or on bicycles. Often the situation is erroneously defined as user conflict, but there generally is no physical or safety conflict associated with one party encountering another party on the trail. The situation is more accurately defined as a failure to fully meet the social expectation of the non-motorized visitor. Strong preferences for specific recreation settings are leading to competition for the recreational resources of this country. Competition is especially evident between 3-18 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

181 motorized and non-motorized users, on-foot versus riding participants, fast-moving versus slow-moving styles, highly specialized versus novice participants, commercial versus private users, and risk/adventure versus sensing/learning motivated users. Even within groups holding similar preferences there is conflict due to new technologies that are incongruous with individual perceptions of the experience. The most prevalent example is the use of GPS receivers, cellular and satellite phones, and laptop computers to keep in touch with the outside world while deep in the wilderness. The issue of conflict between uses is an indicator of the narrow range of tolerance that humans have for others. Hikers complain their experiences are ruined by motorized OHVs, by horse manure, by speeding bicyclists, and by areas disturbed by horses or OHVs. Horsemen complain that their experiences are ruined by OHVs, by campers too close to the trail, by hikers and dogs that scare their horses. Skiers complain their experiences are ruined by dog tracks, by snowshoe tracks, and by snowmobiles. OHV riders complain land managers closing motorized travel routes ruin their experiences. Intolerance becomes most pronounced when it involves social and environmental views on opposite ends of the scale. Fifty years ago there were relatively few complaints about other people encountered on the trail, because encounters were rare. There were fewer people traveling in the backcountry, and the concept of sharing the trail was acceptable to the general public. The majority of people were willing to embrace multiple forms of recreation because there were very few other people sharing the outdoors. But as the population of the United States grew, more and more people began using motorized OHVs to enjoy the outdoors. Non-motorized and motorized enthusiasts alike began encountering more and more people with differing mindsets as to what types of activity provided recreational enjoyment. And the concept of multiple-use on trails became less acceptable. Multiple-use is still a byword of the U.S. Forest Service, but it does not mean multiple uses on every acre of ground, nor on every trail. It never did. Some uses are not compatible with other uses, and managers have the responsibility to determine what, if any, uses should be permitted, and where those activities should be permitted. Francis Pandolfi of the U.S. Forest Service Washington Office described this situation best when he stated outdoor recreation is but one of the many multiple uses we have for our lands, public and private. Yet, its importance in Americans lives and the benefits it provides seem to be increasing faster than many other uses of our precious land. The rise in importance of outdoor recreation in Americans lives is one of the dramatic changes, as well as challenges, now occurring in the United States. There is no single constituency for the outdoor recreation experience since activities vary so greatly and agendas of the various user groups range across a broad spectrum of interests. It is important to note that wilderness is compatible with multiple-use management. Many multiple uses are enhanced by wilderness protection, for example, water quality, wildlife, fisheries, and primitive recreation. Few, if any, wildlands are managed for a single Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 3-19

182 use, even though some areas are managed with a narrower set of uses and values than others. The National Forest trail system is not large enough, and the Forest Service does not have the financial resources to provide a separate trail system for each type of use. One of the missions of the Forest Service is to provide a balance of opportunities for people to experience the outdoors. Multiple-use trails accommodating motorized and nonmotorized uses (including hiking, stock, and bicycles) will continue to accommodate the needs of a great number of people, especially where use levels are low. In addition, some multiple-use trails may only accommodate a variety of non-motorized travel, and some trails may only accommodate single modes of travel such as hiking. Travel planning is the process used to evaluate social and resource concerns to determine the relative amounts and locations of various types of trail. If unlimited resources were available, separation of all trail uses would be most desirable as the separation would control and provide each travel mode with the environment and experience they hope to achieve. However, resources are not unlimited and there is a desire at the AOAA to accommodate as many different travel modes, both non-motorized and motorized, as possible. In planning for the trail system of the AOAA, consideration will be given to providing separate trails where possible for different uses by isolating various segments of the non-motorized and motorized travel modes. That said, there will be trails that will accommodate multiple modes, and perhaps some which combine both non-motorized and motorized uses. Where necessary those trails will permit low speed and low densities of motorized use. Further, management and operational policies of the AOAA will make every effort to educate guests on the proper trail etiquette which will be dependent on their respective mode of travel and the mode of travel of those they encounter on the trails. Colorado Stay The Trails Program ( The Colorado Stay the Trails Program is one of many examples of successful multi-use programs across the country. Be an Ambassador Your trails are always in danger of being closed. As an OHV enthusiast you can help prevent closures through responsible use and influence other OHV users by example. On any day of riding you become the face of OHV recreation to other users, leave them with a good impression of your sport. Your behavior reflects on other trail users in the same group, ie. all motorcyclists, atv riders, 4wd enthusiasts, etc. Don t create situations that can be used as issues against motorized use. It s not a difficult task, all it requires is common sense and some common courtesy Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

183 Respect Wildlife and Livestock Slow down, give them space and don t chase or harass. Also leave gates as you found them whether opened or closed. Always Yield the Trail to Non-Motorized Users The mountain bikers have their yield triangle. The motorized version is more of a diamond. Slow down and be prepared to stop when passing or meeting non-motorized users on the trail. Yield the right of way to them and be especially careful around horses. Be Friendly Interact with other users at the trailhead, especially non-motorized users. Say hello, compare direction of travel or destination and ETA. By creating a friendly mood early, possible unpleasant confrontations on the trail can be avoided. Be Respectful Multi-Use trails are necessary to minimize overall impact on the land and all those recreational users have the same right to enjoy the trails as you do. Respect that right. Be Aware On the trail, slow down in the presence of other users and in areas where forward visibility is limited, especially on crowded days. Non-Motorized users will hear you coming, but give them a wide berth anyway. No one likes surprises on the trail. Be Helpful As a motorized user, you have a greater cargo carrying capacity and speed than non-motorized users. Chances are you have a good map or guide book, extra water, or can get an emergency responder faster than a non-motorized user. You could really leave a good impression by helping a lost group of hikers or sharing some extra water with a mountain biker if the situation arises. TRAIL LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY In March 2004, DCNR published Pennsylvania Trail Design Manual for Off Highway Vehicles. This comprehensive manual covers all aspects of OHV trail design, from initial planning and design, to trail construction and maintenance. When designing trails for OHV use, it is important to understand the experience that one desires to achieve while on the trail. OHV trails differ from roads, in that they provide recreation, not efficient transportation. On OHV trails the trip is the purpose, whereas, on Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 3-21

184 roads the purpose is to get to the destination. Finally, on OHV trails the goal is for rider safety, excitement and reasonable challenge; on the road the purpose is to provide for safety only. The design and alignment of OHV trails should make the trails interesting and challenging. This can be accomplished by understanding the trail user s level of ability, the OHV s equipment characteristics, and by locating trails where the topography and natural environment best fit. We must begin by understanding the trail user s ability level. In Pennsylvania, OHV trails are characterized by the trail s level of difficulty, as recommended by Joe Wernex in his publication Off Highway Motorcycle and ATV Trails Guidelines for Design, Construction, Maintenance and User Satisfaction, which are: Easiest Identifies the easiest trails that are suitable for beginning riders and those who don t have the skill or desire to ride more challenging trails. These trails have a low level of risk for the user and consequently offer less variety than those of greater difficulty. More Difficult These trails are designed to meet user expectations of the majority of the trail users. They require skills beyond that of a novice and at times will challenge the average rider. Most Difficult Trails designed for riders with advanced skill, who are seeking a higher risk and challenge. A good mix for providing for all levels of difficultly to consider is: 25% Easiest 50% More Difficult 25% Most Difficult The Pennsylvania OHV Design Manual defines a trail s level of difficulty based upon eight elements of difficulty, identified by Wernex. These elements include: alignment, grade, clearing, tread surface, obstacles, side slope, and isolation. The combination, quantity and severity of the elements determine the overall level of difficultly for the trail segment. The Pennsylvania OHV Design Manual focuses on ATVs and OHMs and does not include guidelines specific to full size ORVs. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources publication titled Trail Planning, Design, and Development Guidelines has adapted these guidelines for ORVs Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

185 OHV Trail Rating Source: Trail Planning, Design, and Development, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Element Easiest More Difficult Most Difficult 1. Alignment Minimum Curve Radius Easy flows Approaches min. turning radius of given type of OHV and requires some maneuvering. Can exceed min. turning radius of given type of OHV, and can require extensive maneuvering to make a turn. 2. Grade Maximum Grade Sustained 8% 12% 15% Short 15% 25% 35% Very Short 15% 35% 50% (rare) 3. Clearing Minimum Clear Width Downslope 2 ft. 2 ft. 1 ft. Upslope 3 ft. 3 ft. 2-3 ft. Each side level 2 ft. 2 ft. 1 ft. Minimum Clear Height 9 ft. 8 ft. 8 ft. 4. Tread Width Minimum 10 ft. 8 ft. 6.5 ft. Maximum 12 ft. 10 ft. 8.5 ft. 5. Tread Surface 6. Obstacles 7. Mud Relatively smooth surface throughout, no rocks or roots protruding more than 5. Many sections negotiable by 2 wheel drive full size pick-up in dry conditions. Water 6 deep up to 10 ft. long. No water bars or logs. If any mud is present, it should be easily bypassed on dry tread. Sections of relatively rough surface, no rocks or roots protruding more than 3. Climbing turns. No holes wider than 36 or deeper than 6. Sand and loose material is okay. Water 10 deep up to 25 ft. long. a few logs up to 8. Wide range of muddy areas okay, but all significant mud has dry bypass route. Relatively rough with short sections very rough, no rocks or roots protruding more than 6. Climbing turns and switchbacks. Some sections with holes wider than 36 and / or deeper than 6. Long sections of sand and loose material desirable. Water 10 deep up to 25 long. 1 to 5 logs up to 8 per mile. Rock ledges up to 12 desirable on occasion. Some muddy areas have no bypass, but worst muddy areas have dry bypass. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 3-23

186 ATV Trail Rating Source: PA Trail Design Manual for Off Highway Vehicles Element Easiest More Difficult Most Difficult 1. Alignment Minimum Curve Radius 10 ft. 8 ft. 6 ft. Turns per ¼ mile Grade Maximum Grade Sustained 8% 12% 15% Short 15% 30% 50% Maximum Length 200 ft. 300 ft. 500 ft. 3. Clearing Minimum Clear Width Downslope 2 ft. 2 ft. 2 ft. Upslope 3 ft. 3 ft. 3 ft. Each side level 2 ft. 2 ft. 2 ft. Minimum Clear Height 9 ft. 8 ft. 8 ft. 4. Tread Width Minimum 8 ft. 4 ft. 4 ft. Maximum 8 ft. 8 ft. 6 ft. 5. Tread Surface 6. Obstacles Relatively smooth surface throughout, no rocks or roots protruding more than 3. Sweeping curves. No holes wider than 24 or deeper than 6. Avoid sand and loose materials. Water 6 deep up to 10 ft. long. No water bars or logs. Sections of relatively rough surface, no rocks or roots protruding more than 3. Climbing turns. No holes wider than 36 or deeper than 6. Sand and loose material is okay. Water 10 deep up to 25 ft. long. a few logs up to 8. Relatively rough with short sections very rough, no rocks or roots protruding more than 6. Climbing turns and switchbacks. Some sections with holes wider than 36 and / or deeper than 6. Long sections of sand and loose material desirable. Water 10 deep up to 25 long. 1 to 5 logs up to 8 per mile. Rock ledges up to 12 desirable on occasion. 7. Side Slope Maximum Slope 20% 30% 40% Maximum Length 300 ft. 500 ft. More than 500 ft. 8. Isolation Riders per mile More than 10 4 to 10 4 Length of Trip 3 miles 10 miles 15 miles 3-24 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

187 Off Highway Motorcycle Trail Rating Source: PA Trail Design Manual for Off Highway Vehicles Element Easiest More Difficult Most Difficult 1. Alignment Minimum Curve Radius 8 ft. 6 ft. 4 ft. Turns per ¼ mile Grade Maximum Grade Sustained 8% 12% 15% Short 15% 30% 50% Maximum Length 200 ft. 300 ft. 500 ft. 3. Clearing Minimum Clear Width Downslope 2 ft. 1.5 ft. 1.5 ft. Upslope 3 ft. 3 ft. 2.5 ft. Each side level 1.5 ft. 1.5 ft. 1.5 ft. Minimum Clear Height 8 ft. 8 ft. 8 ft. 4. Tread Width Minimum 4 ft. 3 ft. 1.5 ft. Maximum 8 ft. 8 ft. 3 ft. 5. Tread Surface 6. Obstacles Relatively smooth surface throughout, no rocks or roots protruding more than 3. Sweeping curves. No holes wider than 24 or deeper than 6. Avoid sand and loose materials. Water 6 deep up to 10 ft. long. No water bars or logs. Sections of relatively rough surface, no rocks or roots protruding more than 3. Climbing turns. No holes wider than 36 or deeper than 6. Sand and loose material is okay. Water 10 deep up to 25 ft. long. 1 to 5 logs up to 6 per mile. Relatively rough with short sections very rough, no rocks or roots protruding more than 6. Climbing turns and switchbacks. Some sections with holes wider than 36 and / or deeper than 6. Long sections of sand and loose material desirable. Water 10 deep up to 25 long. 1 to 5 logs up to 16 per mile. Rock ledges up to 16 desirable on occasion. 7. Side Slope Maximum Slope 20% 30% 40% Maximum Length 300 ft. 500 ft. More than 500 ft. 8. Isolation Riders per mile More than 10 4 to 10 4 Length of Trip 3 miles 10 miles 15 miles Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 3-25

188 OFF HIGHWAY RECREATION VEHICLE CHALLENGE COURSE Off-highway recreation vehicle challenge courses are designed to test the abilities, to the extreme, of four wheel drive vehicles and their drivers. The courses can vary in size and challenge types given space availability and the diversity of the natural terrain. Typical components of an off-highway recreation vehicle challenge course include: 1. Inclines 2. Side Slopes 3. Vertical Steps 4. Water Fording 5. Clearance Challenges 6. Rock Crawls 7. Log Crossings 8. Boulder-Strewn Passages 9. Water Crossings 10. Mud Bogs 11. Hill Climbs 12. Deep Ruts Off-highway recreation vehicle challenge courses are rated by the most difficult obstacle. A course could be all easy except for one short section, which would raise the rating. Experience has shown one person s intermediate rating could be another person s advanced or hardcore rating. A surface that is dry might be easy, as in clay, but hard if wet. The courses change all of the time by weather and use. A rainstorm can change a trail from easy to impassable overnight. Full size specific challenge areas need to be ranked based not only on the ability of the driver, but also on the ability of their ORV. Off-highway recreation vehicle challenge courses are typically rated on the ability of the driver and their vehicle: Level 1 Novice... Suitable for stock off-highway recreation vehicles and slightly modified vehicles. Most of the obstacles encountered are optional and typically offer a bypass for those obstacles. Level 2 Intermediate... Suitable for stock off-highway recreation vehicles and slightly modified vehicles whose drivers have successfully mastered novice rides, and for those drivers with previous off-road experience. Level 3 Advanced Intermediate... Suitable for stock off-highway recreation vehicles and modified vehicles whose drivers have successfully mastered intermediate rides. These courses are more technical and, therefore, more difficult and may include boulder-strewn passages, water crossings, mud, hill climbs, and deep ruts. They are recommended only for 3-26 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

189 vehicles with skid plates, thirty-three inch tires, and a winch. Level 4 Advanced... Suitable for modified off-highway recreation vehicles and experienced drivers who are willing to risk damage to their vehicle. Recommended only for vehicles with skid plates, thirty-three inch tires, three inches or more of lift, locker, tree saver strap, a winch, and frame mounted tow hooks on the front and rear. Level 5 Hard-Core... Suitable only for highly modified off-highway recreation vehicles. Not much concern for vehicle or personal safety. It is not uncommon for vehicles to have major breakdowns. YOUTH AND ADULT TRAINING AREAS Many states require OHV users to complete a safety training course before a user can ride their OHV on public land. We recommend youth and adult training areas be established to allow those new to the sport to develop the skills and confidence required to operate their vehicles in this facility. The purpose of the training is to teach OHV users: 1. How to physically operate the vehicle 2. The rules of safe riding / driving 3. To to be an environmentally responsible driver 4. What the mechanics of the equipment are, and how to make repairs out on the trails The All Terrain Safety Vehicle Institute (ASI) has developed a training program specific to ATV and OHM riders. A training area, meeting the requirements of the ASI, is a key component in promoting OHV safety. The training area requirements for ATVs and OHMs are modest. However, to be successful we recommend the area include access to amenities such as a classroom / shelter, restrooms, shade opportunities, and OHV storage lockers. Ideally, the training area should be located near the Guest Services Building in an area of high visibility. Such a location will promote the value and need for safety training. The ASI program is also endorsed by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, and the training facility can be utilized for the MSF off-road motorcycle training program as well. The ATV Safety Institute recommends training occur in a one hundred and fifty feet by two hundred feet area. This area includes a thirty foot perimeter buffer. Within the training area, a variety of terrain is offered so that students can learn the skills necessary to competently operate an ATV. These skills include: Being prepared Pre-ride inspection Sharp turns Quicker turns Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 3-27

190 Safe riding practices Controls Braking Turning Quick stops Hills Traversing hills Riding over obstacles A direct trail connection from the training course area to an easy trail should be provided. In addition, we recommend storage units be provided to allow storage of eight adult ATVs and motorcycles and six youth ATVs and motorcycles. An adequate amount of parking must be provided to accommodate participants. We recommend the PA DCNR ATV Safety Training Course be offered at the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area as it is based on the ASI course. ADVANCED SKILL TRAINING AND PRACTICE AREAS Once the OHV owner accomplishes the basic skills that are necessary to enjoy their vehicle, they will likely want to learn more advanced skills. Off-road trails with advanced skill features provide desirable training opportunities and also provide space for club activities. HILL CLIMBS Hill climbs consist of a series of timed trials or a series of match races on a specially prepared hill. The starting line should be at the bottom of the hill twenty to thirty feet from the timing line. The finish must be at least twenty feet below the crest of the hill, and the hill must be at least thirty feet wide. Parking areas for participants should be provided in the immediate vicinity of competitive hill climb venues. ROCK CLIMB AREA The rock climb area is a variation of the hill climb and can take place on a natural or built course. The object is to test the limits of the equipment and the ability of the rider. Length is variable, one hundred to five hundred yards or longer. Rock climbs are popular spectator events. Vehicle access is required at the beginning and end, shade is desirable and the run is one way but can be reversed. Parking and staging areas for participants should be provided in the immediate vicinity of the rock climb venue. DRAG RACE A drag race is a series of match races or time trials designed to recognize the fastest vehicle. The American Motorcycle Association provides the following guidelines for drag races. The course is over a hard, smooth surface and is no longer than one quarter mile in length with a one half mile de-acceleration area. Ample parking and pit area must be provided for participants Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

191 SAFETY AND SECURITY FACILITIES An area with motorized activities requires a facility to house safety and security personnel, and their equipment. The facility should employ security personnel to enforce the rules and regulations of the area, to provide security to the facilities within the area, and to discourage trespassing onto the property or onto adjacent private property. Security personnel will require office and equipment space, and must have the ability to communicate between one another and management staff and volunteers as they patrol the site. Likewise, emergency care will require office and equipment space and a triage room. They must also have the ability to communicate between one another, the security personnel and management staff. Given the extreme nature of the facility, we recommend a medical helicopter landing zone be provided near the safety and security facility. All facility and activity areas should allow for fire equipment access. The safety and security facility will require water, electric, sanitary and telephone infrastructure. MAINTENANCE OFFICE, GARAGE, AND STORAGE YARDS The facility must include sufficient space to adequately conduct the maintenance functions required of the area. The maintenance office and garage will require water, electric, sanitary sewer and telephone services. In addition to providing offices for maintenance staff, the maintenance area must contain sufficient shelter for the storage of maintenance equipment, and sufficient storage yard space for storage of materials until they can be expended through maintenance operations. The yard should be sized appropriately to provide for vehicle and equipment loading and unloading, maintenance personnel parking, fuel storage tanks, and indoor and outdoor repair space. The maintenance area must be secure. An area of this size may also contain a satellite maintenance area so that maintenance activities can be conducted in the most efficient manner. The storage of maintenance materials and equipment is generally considered unsightly, and therefore the maintenance areas should be screened, or located from view of the guests. WASH STATIONS A wash station is a station where visitors can clean their vehicles before placing them on the trailer for the tow home. The wash station benefits the site by washing sediment and debris from the vehicles before they are trailered out of the area, and it benefits local roads by removing sediment and debris from the machines before their haul vehicles reach the local road network. The wash station will require water, electric, and sanitary infrastructure. PARTICIPANT PARKING AREA OHVs arrive at recreation sites in the back of pick-up trucks and on small trailers pulled by cars, vans, pick-up trucks, motor homes, and, during pro competitions, the OHV s can arrive in the form of tractor trailer combinations. Therefore, the parking areas must be designed to accommodate these larger vehicle combinations. Parking areas should be laid out to offer either pull through spaces, or sixty degree angle parking, which requires visitors to pull in and back out. Pull through spaces are more desirable but also require more space and Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 3-29

192 higher construction costs. Also, visitors desire space adjacent to their vehicles and trailers to allow them to work on their OHV s and to allow the safe passage of OHV s between vehicles. Participant parking spaces that are a minimum of forty-six feet in length and twelve feet wide will accommodate the typical user. Larger spaces are required to accommodate the rigs during professional competitions. Because a large number of visitors will be transporting their vehicles to the facility in the back of pick-up trucks, it is desirable to provide unloading ramps that the pick-up trucks can back up to. These spaces should be located around the perimeter of the participant parking area so vehicular flow is not impeded in the parking area. In addition, enough accessible parking spaces must be provided in the participant parking area to meet the minimum accessible parking space requirements as established by the Americans with Disabilities Act. SIGNS On the ground, signing is essential to the successful management of an OHV area. Signing should show the allowable uses on each trail. They should also show closures and restrictions and, where possible, indicate the reason for the closures or restrictions. To ensure better compliance, signing should be consistent between all management agencies within a given geographical area. Signing should be easy to understand, and the meaning of typical signs should be explained at trailheads, on maps, and in brochures. MAPS Where route systems are complicated, high-quality, durable maps are necessary. Maps should be simple and easy to understand. Maps are also a good way to convey responsible-use information and to explain rules and regulations. Maps should be available to visitors in the area. If agency offices are closed during the facility s hours of operation, consider establishing a network of vendors to distribute the maps and other riding information. It is very useful to have maps available online, especially if they are in a downloadable format. Where possible, maps (printed and downloadable) should include GPS waypoint data if the public land trails and routes cover a significant area. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION No off-trail Travel: One of the primary rules of the facility is no off-trail travel. Off-trail travel is strictly prohibited except on existing roads and trails explicitly posted open and in designated scramble areas. Buffer Zone from Streams: Buffers of sufficient distance should be maintained from flowing streams. Trails should not be located in such a manner that would entice or invite visitors to leave the trail and enter the stream. Stream Side Buffers: Setbacks from the streams are proposed as vegetative buffers. Trails should primarily be located on high, steep bank sections of the stream corridor, eliminating any potential invitations to ride through the stream. Riders will not be permitted to leave the 3-30 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

193 trail. Watershed disturbance can be further minimized by locating narrow, low-use OHM trails lowest on the slopes with higher-impact ATV trails at higher elevations. Trail Design for Minimal Erosion: Trail design is based on rolling grade implemented as a series of appropriately designed tread watersheds. Tread watersheds limit tread grades, tread width, and tread length to values that can remain sustainable given compaction, soil displacement, and erosion forces caused by trail use, precipitation, and runoff. Amount of side slope, type and amount of trail use, tread texture (behavior of the trail tread s soil and rock), local site hydrology, local weather and climate, splash erosion (depending on presence or lack of tree canopy), and the sustainability of dips also factor into tread watershed planning. In effect, trails are planned like small-scale roller coasters that continually go up and down, forcing water to fall off the trail in the dips. The more frequent the dips, the less water can accumulate on the trail between the dips, and the more sustainable the trail can be. Side Slope Alignment Prevents Trail Widening: A common problem with OHV trails is tread widening. If a trail gets rough or muddy, visitors tend to go around the problem area and widen the trail in the process. The ever-widening area destroys even more vegetation and becomes the source of even more mud and/or erosion. We prevent this problem by having trails traverse side slopes of 20% or more wherever possible. The side slope keeps visitors on the trail and makes it difficult or impossible for them to widen it. Narrow Clearance Has Several Benefits: By design, trails will come close to rocks and trunks of larger trees. Wherever possible, we will go around larger trees rather than remove them. As a result, trees and rocks immediately next to the tread help anchor the tread, often create an anchor for a crest or dip in a tread watershed, and create local landmarks that make the trail seem longer by creating more differentiation in the trail experience. As noted previously, narrow clearance also sharpens visitors attention on these points and heightens their experience of nature. Wetlands and Ponds Are to be Avoided: Trails must avoid wet soils and muddy areas. This keeps trails out of wet areas and, naturally, keeps them away from wetlands. Close and Revegetate Existing Trails Deemed Inappropriate Due to Environmental Features: Existing roads and trails must be evaluated and any that have a negative impact to environmental features, such as wetlands, streams, etc. should be closed, obliterated, and revegetated to prevent access to them. Berms Hide Trails In Meadows: In meadows, vegetated berms on the outside edges of trails will make trails difficult to see from below or from vantage points level with the trail. This also helps prevent trails from being visible from each other. Narrow Trails: Narrow trails reduce the width of bare soil that makes a trail visible from a distance. Narrow trails also preserve more of the tree canopy that helps conceal trails. A web-like trail system affords countless loops of varying lengths. Even commonly used routes should have multiple options. There should not be any dead-end trails in the entire facility. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 3-31

194 Two-Way Trails with Passing Lanes: Nearly all trails have two-way traffic but are only wide enough for one OHV. Where the side slope is too steep to pass, pullouts should be provided at periodic intervals. Tread width can be wider on extremely busy trails and on blind curves. Blind curves, however, are rare due to the relatively straight shape of most slopes. Note that one-way trails have been found to be less safe than two-way trails. One-way trails create an expectation of no oncoming traffic when in fact a rider could have missed or ignored posted signs and be going in the wrong direction. With two-way trails, all riders remain alert to oncoming traffic and adjust their speeds and behavior accordingly. Two-way trails also enable riders to experience the same trail in both directions and create far more possible loops and trip variations. Intersections: Trail intersections should be designed to provide adequate visibility from all approaches. Four-way intersections should be avoided if possible, and instead use an offset to slow down riders. High Variety for Interesting Flow: Trails should be designed to reveal the full range of experiences and environments in the facility. Transitions from one environment to another can be gradual or sudden. This is part of the flow of each trail and will be used to help make individual trails as interesting and engaging as possible. Natural Drainages And Drainage Crossings As Landscape Features: Strip mining homogenized and re-graded much of the original topography into machined slopes with no microtopography. To incorporate more sense of natural topography into the trail system, trails seek out areas with varied and natural topography and areas with sharp topographic contrasts. Natural drainages have both, and are thus prized in the trail system. Each natural drainage, is treated as a landscape feature that causes the trail to adjust to its shape. TreadLightly!: The County and/or any agency developing the proposed riding area should do so in an environmentally responsible manner by protecting and preserving the natural resources of the property by protecting and enhancing the wildlife habitat that exists on the property. Therefore, we recommend the agency responsible for the facility s development adopt the TreadLightly! philosophy of using the property for motorized development and educate visitors to do the same. Simply stated, the TreadLightly! program is an educational program dedicated to increasing the awareness of how to enjoy the outdoors while minimizing impacts. It emphasizes responsible use of off-highway vehicles, other forms of travel and low impact principles related to outdoor recreational activities. It is a long-term, information program to increase the public s awareness that outdoor enthusiasts must exercise special care in the outdoors, if opportunities to recreate are to continue, and the quality of experience maintained and enhanced. Tread Lightly! was launched in 1985 by the USDA Forest Service to help protect public and private lands. Shortly thereafter, the United States Department of the Interior s (USDI) Bureau of Land Management adopted the program. To maximize its effectiveness, program 3-32 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

195 responsibility was transferred from USDI in 1990, to a not-for-profit organization. Over the years, the program has steadily added new dimensions to meet the needs of all types of outdoor enthusiasts. The program s message was expanded in 1997 to include the promotion of responsible water based recreational activities. These changes brought the USDI Bureau of Reclamation and United States Department of Defense s (USDOD) Army Corps of Engineers on board as additional federal partners. Most recently the USDI National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service joined in partnering with Tread Lightly!. Tread Lightly! Inc. unites a broad spectrum of federal and state government agencies, manufacturers of recreational products, media, enthusiast groups and concerned individuals who share a common goal to care for natural resources. Through education, restoration and research, Tread Lightly! empowers generations to enjoy the outdoors responsibly, ensuring future use of the land and water. Through the services of Tread Lightly! Inc., outdoor enthusiasts learn that opportunities to use the outdoors tomorrow, depends on how they recreate today. TreadLightly Pledge Travel & recreate with minimum impact. Respect the environment and the rights of others. Educate yourself, plan and prepare before you go. Allow for future use of the outdoors, by leaving it better than you found it. Discover the rewards of responsible recreation. TreadLightly, Inc. offers resources to help educate the public. These resources include: Master Tread Training: Send your employees to become Master Tread Trainers or Tread Trainers. The Tread Trainer program is designed to train participants in innovative, practical methods of spreading outdoor ethics to the public. Training is especially relevant for those who deal with motorized or mechanized recreation on managed land or waters. To become a Master Tread Trainer, training is provided through a one-day course that will qualify the participant to become a Tread Lightly! representative a Master Tread Trainer. Once a participant becomes a Master Tread Trainer they are qualified to train other staff members, clubs, educators, enthusiasts or community members to be Tread Trainers. Tread Training: If your staff is unable to attend a Master Tread Trainer course, consider requesting a Master Trainer in your area to train your staff to become Tread Trainers. Tread Trainers are provided with an overview of Tread Lightly!, and become qualified to present the Tread Lightly! message of responsible recreation to local clubs, enthusiasts, guided groups and many others. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 3-33

196 Brochure Series: The most efficient way to spread the Tread Lightly! message is to distribute TreadLightly, Inc. s one-page tip brochures. These address the best ways to minimize impact while recreating in the great outdoors. These brochures are available at no cost to members, and government entities are considered members. Brochures include tips on ATV riding, four wheeling, off-highway motorcycling, mountain biking, personal watercraft use, snowmobiling, sand duning for kids, camping, geocaching, hiking, fishing, hunting with ATV, horseback riding, water recreation and cross country skiing. Guidebooks: Tread Lightly! s guidebook series includes books for four-wheel driving, ATV riding, mountain biking, snowmobiling, personal watercraft use, trail biking and leaving a good impression. The books are based on the TreadLightly! principles and include safety tips, checklists, and ways to minimize impact on the outdoors. Public Service Announcements (PSAs): Display Tread Lightly! s public service announcements to educate visitors to your site. Many agencies have printed the PSAs out as posters, posted them in kiosks, inserted them into publications, and have urged local newspapers and magazines to donate ad space for them. They are available on DVD at no cost to individuals who commit to use them effectively. Web Banners: Tread Lightly! s web banners are educational and inspirational. A variety of banner sizes and recreation types are available. Promotional Items: Tread Lightly! products act as billboards for responsible recreation by visibly reminding people to treadlightly. Items include: apparel, decals, educational materials, maps, advertising and promotional materials, souvenirs and vehicle accessories. Logo Use: The Tread Lightly! logo renders a strong message. Government agencies have the opportunity to use the TreadLightly! logo on For more information contact: Tread Lightly! Inc th Street, Suite 325 Ogden, UT Fax: (801) Phone: (801) (800) nicole@treadlightly.org brochures, maps, newsletters, posters, kiosks, signage and any other type of printed or posted materials. Youth Outreach Kits: Tread Lightly! s Youth Outreach Kits help teach outdoor ethics to kids. The printable kit includes pledge cards, a kids principles sheet, a poster/psa, and coloring book pages. These items can be printed out and given away at information booths or events and can be posted on websites and kiosks. Also available in this kit is a series of kids web banners. Posters: Large, 30 x 22 full color posters are a great way to display the Tread Lightly! principles to your visitors. Put it up in your info booth or on a kiosk. Curriculums: Tread Lightly! has created several curriculums for hunter education, junior 3-34 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

197 high teachers, and elementary school teachers. Agencies who participate in TreadLightly! s programs have the opportunity to access resources not otherwise available. Through their Restoration for Recreation Program, partnerships are established to restore recreational areas and educate the public about responsible recreation. Tread Lightly! provides expertise and guidance to its partners by administering the restoration and educational elements of each project. Initial funding for a project is generated through Tread Lightly! s official sponsors, making them partners in Restoration & Education. In most cases, Tread Lightly! finds government and foundation partners willing to provide additional funding, leveraging as many investments as possible. A strong educational element incorporated into every project includes Tread Lightly! presentations in local schools, near a project, to empower the next generation to enjoy the outdoors responsibly. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 3-35

198 NON-MOTORIZED FACILITY PROGRAM Based on the input received from the public input sessions, key person interviews, internet surveys, and steering committee meetings, we identified potential program elements and, where applicable, their corresponding design guidelines based on the guidelines previously referenced. Amenities Equestrian Accommodations including stalls, boarding areas, equestrian camping areas Trails Equestrian Trails Hiking Trails Mountain Biking Trails Environmental & Geological Interpretation / Bird Watching / Wildlife Viewing Trails Other Opportunities Hunting Climbing, Repelling, Bouldering Geocaching Canopy Tours (Zip Lines) Paintball Area Radio Control Airplane Area EQUESTRIAN CONSIDERATIONS In order to plan equestrian trails, it is important to have an understanding of horses, their riders, and their needs. In 2007, the U.S. Forest Service published the Guidebook for Trails, Trailheads, and Campgrounds. Excerpts from this publication are utilized herein as this publication provides detailed background and guidance on equestrian trail planning issues. Understanding Horses The average light horse used for recreational riding or driving weighs about lbs. Horses are herd animals, therefore, they feel more secure in groups, because there is safety in numbers. Horses have a nearly 360-degree field of vision. Horses are prey animals. Their natural instinct is to run when frightened. As a last resort, they will turn and fight. From a horse s point of view fishing rods look suspiciously like buggy whips. The ticking of bicycle gears sounds like the electric fence charger at home. It hurts when you touch an electric fence. Therefore, (in equine logic) bicycles must hurt. Boisterous dogs look like wolves. Persons carrying canoes are perceived as large animals, threats to the horse. But horses are not so scared of motorized trail users (ATVs, dirt bikes, cars, trucks, 3-36 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

199 snowmobiles), loud music (often used in the show ring), or wildlife as they hang out with them in the pasture every day. When planning trail opportunities, consideration should be given to equestrians. The American Horse Council surveys indicate the equestrian community has a $112.1 billion dollar economic impact, with 6.9 million horses in the U.S, of which 2,970,000 are used for recreation purposes. A major concern of equestrians is safety. The safety of horses and their riders is dependent on minimizing opportunities for the horses to be frightened and providing acceptable trail tread. Minimizing Frightening Opportunities Horses have excellent vision, hearing, and tactile senses. They are capable of feeling vibrations through their hoofs, which often alert them to others long before the rider becomes aware. Horses need a comfortable operating space. When they can see something suspicious from afar, they can more easily evaluate the danger and react accordingly. What frightens horses is not always obvious. Anything that moves suddenly or makes an unexpected noise can rouse an animal s survival instincts and prime it to bolt. This natural reaction, often referred to as a startle reflex, is the result of remarkably acute senses. There is a fine line between what is comfortable for horses and what seems dangerous. In addition to confined spaces and predators, things that can startle a horse include: Loud or unexpected noises Buzzing model airplanes, exploding firecrackers, batting practice, or a falling tree Quick or unexpected movements Fast-moving bicycles, inquisitive children, running animals, or birds rustling in the underbrush Things in unusual combinations Hikers with large backpacks or vehicles with strange loads Highly contrasting or reflective surfaces A light-colored tread near dark soil, freshly cut logs, black or white rocks, or a manmade object in a natural setting Unfamiliar situations Activity at a golf driving range or a train nearby Wild or unfamiliar domestic animals Mountain lions, moose, emus, pigs, or llamas Narrow or constricted spaces Bridges, gates, or tight passages Unexpected trail obstacles Litter, fallen trees, or boulders So, what happens when horses are startled? They have a range of responses, from remaining calm to becoming severely frightened. The more conditioned the animal is to uncomfortable situations the more likely its response will be subdued. When something makes it nervous, an animal may dance around, inadvertently step on things, or balk. Horses or mules that are severely unnerved may run, jump, spin, or do a creative combination of all these things. When horses and mules feel the need to protect themselves, they may kick, bite, or strike. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 3-37

200 Experienced riders can hold a well-trained animal in check under most circumstances. There is a point, though, where a stimulus becomes so great that even the best conditioning will not override the animal s innate fight-or-flight instincts. Trail stock have highly developed memories for pleasure, pain, fear, people, and places. Many trail animals recognize a previously visited location or trail route. Once a horse or mule has had a particularly unpleasant or painful experience, the animal will try to avoid that location, condition, or object forever. Recreationists in many areas minimize potential conflicts by practicing trail etiquette that favors needs of horses and mules. Demand for Equestrian Opportunities One century ago, life in Pennsylvania revolved around the use of horses: for agriculture, transportation, even warfare. Today the horse is less visible in daily life, but still a large part of our culture and economy. Pennsylvania s equestrian events and breeders of competition horses are world-renowned, and Pennsylvania s Amish communities still rely on horse power for daily transport and farming. According to Pennsylvania s Equine Industry Inventory, Basic Economic and Demographic Characteristics, a 2003 study by the Penn State Department of Dairy and Animal Science and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, equine owners retain over 1,000,000 acres in Pennsylvania as farmland or recreational open space (trails, competition space, etc.). In addition, more than 27% of PA s horses are used for recreational (26%) and tourism (1%) activities including trail riding, other recreational riding, and outfit hunts on horseback. Such pursuits have given rise to numerous bed-n-breakfasts, guest farms, and working farms welcoming visitors. Interest in horse trails has seen significant recent growth in PA, and in some cases has even spurred formation of trail preservation organizations. Susquehanna Region Racehorse Population General Population Total Population County Rank Bradford 0 2,329 2, Columbia 111 2,209 2, Lycoming 29 1,678 1, Montour Northumberland , Snyder Sullivan Tioga 82 1,250 1, Union 59 1,422 1, Total ,285 11, Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

201 During the study, 1,135 equine (horses and ponies) were inventoried in Northumberland County. In terms of total equine population, the county ranked 47th among the 67 Pennsylvania counties. Using the statewide percentage of equine used in recreational and/or tourism activities (27%), this plan estimates 306 equine within the county, and 3,179 equine in the nine counties of the Susquehanna Region are being used for recreation or tourism. Susquehanna Region Total Equine County Rank Equine Value Related Acres Bradford 2, $10,619,355 24,636 Columbia 2, $10,072,770 13,085 Lycoming 1, $7,652,182 19,279 Montour $2,030,171 5,453 Northumberland $4,294,592 7,207 Snyder $2,732,922 10,811 Sullivan $1,874,004 4,522 Tioga 1, $5,700,095 30,131 Union 1, $6,480,930 4,111 Total 11,285 Region Rank-6 $51,457, ,235 Equestrian Trail Design Considerations Equestrian trail systems should be planned based upon a designed riding experience. In a normal walking gate, horses travel approximately three to five miles per hour. Therefore, it is important to plan trails based on the amount of time required to complete the ride. Looped trail systems can loop trails of varying lengths. This gives the rider the option of shorter or longer trail rides. - One hour loop: 3 to 5 miles - Two hour loop: 6 to 10 miles - Three hour loop: 18 to 15 miles Equestrian Trail Guidelines Vertical Clearance: feet Corridor Clearance: 5 6 feet (one lane) Tread Width: inches (one lane) Grade (Slope): 0-10% Max 10% sustained 20% shorter than 50 yd. Outslope 4% max Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 3-39

202 Trail length: minimum 5 miles (1 to 1.5 hours) Sight distance: feet (two way traffic) Trail Tread Surface: Natural trail surface is preferred if soils are appropriate. Avoid sharp gravel. Remove loose rocks (melon sized and up). Cut vegetation flush or below ground level. Remove dead or leaning trees. Remove protruding roots. Bridges Build bridges to support emergency & maintenance vehicles Flat, solid decking that doesn t bounce Minimum width 48 for small, low bridges; preferably same width as trail tread Create a safe, inviting approach Railings should be strong and high, the higher the bridge, higher the rail Consider surface and surrounding conditions. Equestrian Trail Amenities On-Trail Amenities Provide for horse water on trail (create a hardened, gentle slope down to a trailside stream or pond). Create loop trails vs. linear trails Provide destinations Trailhead Amenities Parking separated from other trail user parking; spacious, with level, pull-through design; parking pattern is clearly indicated; Hardened surface (gravel), pavement; centrally located to disperse use Parking stall size 30 x 80 to accommodate large truck and trailer combinations and loading and unloading Potable water Restrooms nearby Concrete bunker for manure disposal Several clearly marked trails out of parking area Picnic tables, shade Signs and maps Accessible Mounting Platforms Ordinary mounting blocks (stones, stumps) especially at places riders are Camping Areas Water is a must 3-40 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

203 Picket lines, corrals or stalls Separate horse camp from others Centrally located Priced appropriately Equestrian Trail Difficulty Rating: General guidelines for difficulty ratings associated with equestrian trails. Aspect Grade Tread Surface Obstacles Creek Crossings Easiest 5% or less average 15% maximum for a short distance More Difficult/ Intermediate 10% or less average 15% for longer distance Firm and stable Mostly stable, with some variability Avoidable or small obstacles easy to get around Bridges minimum 5-0 wide with railings where needed Larger and more frequent obstacles that require some horse control and maneuvering Shallow ford crossing that are relatively easy to maneuver through Source: Trail Planning, Design, and Development Guidelines, MN Department of Natural Resources Very Difficult / Advanced 15% or less average 15% to 20% for short distance Widely variable, some less stable footing Numerous unavoidable obstacles that require considerable horse control and maneuvering Deeper, more challenging fords requiring steady horse control Further information of the Pennsylvania Equine Council s Trail Stewardship Program can be obtained by contacting the: Pennsylvania Equine Council Post Office Box 62 Huntington Mills, PA info@pennsylvaniaequinecouncil.com ENDURANCE RIDING Endurance riding is an equestrian sport based on controlled long-distance races. It is one of the international competitions recognized by the Fédération Équestre Internationale, There are endurance rides worldwide. In the United States, endurance riding competitions are sanctioned by the American Endurance Riding Conference, There are two types of long-distance riding, competitive trail riding and endurance rides. In an endurance ride there is a mass start and riders are expected to establish a pace that is appropriate for their mounts skill and fitness levels. Horses are required to meet very stringent health standards at several veterinary checkpoints along the course. Contestants are ranked Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 3-41

204 by completion time, with special honors given to the Best Conditioned Horses, which is based on a veterinary evaluation after completion of the event. In the United States, sanctioned one day endurance rides are never more than 100 miles, and never less than 50 miles to discourage extended sprinting paces that might over-burden the veterinary control system. Shorter rides, called Limited Distance Competition, are organized for new riders to the sport or young horses being trained, but there is no recognition for ranking (pace) in these events. There are also a few longer, usually multi-day, rides run as well. As with human marathon running, many riders will participate to improve their horse s personal best performance, or to build on its mileage record to demonstrate longevity, and therefore consider any finish with an honorable veterinary approval a win. The fastest horses may complete 100-mile rides in 7-13 hours, depending on the terrain and climate. Competitive trail rides are typically 20 to 40 miles per day, and may extend for several days for a total of up to 100 miles. Horses and riders are released to the course singly or in small groups at regular intervals ½ to 2 minutes apart. Everyone is expected to complete the day s course in the same pre-established time (+/- 15 min.). The horses condition is scored at each mid-course check point and at the finish of each day. Awards are based on the cumulative veterinary scores. Some Competitive Trail Rides also score and recognize horsemanship skills of the rider. In the United States competitive trail rides are sanctioned by the North American Trail Ride Conference, and throughout the east coast many races are sanctioned by the Eastern Competitive Trail Ride Association, A typical regional endurance event requires local sponsorship and organization. The trail routes need to be established, and a 10 to 20 acre base camp is required to host the event. The base camp needs to accommodate event participants who arrive with livestock trailers and set up camp for the weekend in the base camp. Events generally take place over a weekend, with entrants arriving on Friday and competing throughout Saturday and Sunday. Events can include 25, 50, and 100 mile rides and include approximately 150 entrants. Entrances fees vary, ranging from $100 to $200 for a 50 mile event, to $200 to $400 for a 100 mile event. Current and Past Pennsylvania Endurance Rides Fort Armstrong Horsemen s Association mile endurance ride Ford City, Pennsylvania Genessee 25/50 &30/50 Endurance- Pennsdale, Pennsylvania Lick Ridge Challenge CTRs 25/25 miles - Huntington. PA Leo & Betty Glass Memorial CTRs - Huntingdon,PA Michaux Madness Endurance 30/55-30/50/75-30/50 Endurance - Penn State Mont Alto Tidioute Wilderness /50/25-50/25 Endurance - Tideoute, Pennsylvania Coal Cracker Challenge CTR Weatherly, Pennsylvania Muckleratz Run 25 7/25 - Elizabethville, Pennsylvania 3-42 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

205 SINGLE TRACK MOUNTAIN BIKE / HIKING TRAILS Consideration will be given to the level of trail development that is required based upon the location, use, and other factors. Some trails may be natural surface trails, while others may consist of more developed surfaces. We strongly recommend trails be designed in a sustainable manner following the International Mountain Bicycling Association s (IMBA) five essential elements of sustainable trails. These include: The Half Rule: A trail s grade should not exceed the half grade of the hillside or sideslope that the trail traverses. If grade does exceed half of the sideslope, its considered a fall line trail and susceptible to erosion. The Ten Percent Average Grade Guideline: Generally a trail with an average grade of 10% or less is most sustainable. This does not mean that all grades must be kept under 10%. Many sections of trail will have short steep sections greater than 10%, and some unique situations will allow average grades of more than 10%. Maximum Sustainable Grade Trails: Maximum sustainable grade is the steepest section of trail that is more than ten feet in length. When designing a trail, it is essential to determine early in the process the maximum grades the trail will be able to sustain given the local conditions. Variables that impact the maximum sustainable grade include: Soil Type Rock Annual Rainfall Amount Grade Reversals Type of Users Number of Users Level of Difficulty Grade Reversals: A grade reversal is a spot at which a climbing trail levels out and then changes direction, dropping subtly for about 10 to 50 linear feet before rising again. This change in grade forces water to exit the trail at the low point before it can gain volume, velocity, and erosive power. Grade reversals are also known as dips, grade breaks, drainage dip, and rolling dip. Outslope: As the trail contours across a hillside, the downhill or outer edge of the trail tread should tilt slightly down and away from the high side, encouraging water to sheet flow across and off the trail. Further, we recommend every effort be taken to avoid ten common trail building mistakes as summarized by IMBA. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 3-43

206 IMBA also notes the ten most common trail building mistakes, which should be avoided at all costs. 1. Not Getting Land Manager Approval: We know: you just want to build trails. But believe us when we tell you that nothing - not a single darned thing is more important before starting trail work than the approval of the land owner or manager. In our experience, a failure to secure permission is the single biggest cause of trail closures. When it comes to building trails, to ask for forgiveness is not better than to ask for permission. 2. Falling for the Fall Line: Put simply, fall line trails are erosion nightmares. They turbocharge natural and user-created erosion, exposing rocks and roots and generally living short lives before becoming loose, wide, ecosystem-damaging disasters. To build trails that last, use the Half Rule: trail grade, or steepness, shouldn t exceed half the grade, or steepness, of the hillside; and the 10 Percent Rule: overall trail grade should be 10 percent or less. 3. Guessing the Grade: Nobody, no matter how masterful their eye, can guess trail grades right every time. Trust us, we know. Sure, it s fun to try, but use a clinometer to confirm the grade whenever you re laying out trail - it s worth a regiment of selfpowered, Fantasia-style Pulaskis, because no amount of trail work can fix a trail built on an unsustainable grade. If you don t have a clinometer, we highly recommend an investment in this indispensable tool. 4. Going Against the Flow: Not even race courses - which are sometimes designed with erratic flow to throw off a racer s rhythm - should make this trail building faux pas. All trail builders should make smooth transitions their mantra. Bad flow, especially fast sections leading into sharp turns, is a primary cause of user conflict. When you are building, think flow - it s the key to an enjoyable trail. 5. Half Bench is Half Baked: The only time you should ever skimp on a fully bench cut trail is (1) when the sideslope is so steep - 80 percent or greater - that the backslope exceeds six feet in height, or (2) when your trail design forces you to build close to the downhill side of a large tree. In both cases, a proper crib wall should be built to support your partial bench, and, as in all trails, the tread should maintain a five to seven percent outslope. 6. The West Virginia Climbing Turn: Our friends in West Virginia affectionately gave this name to some of their steep, fall line turns, and while they ve gotten away with it in a few locations because of the soil and user types, most fall line turns will erode badly. If you want your climbing turns to endure, build them on sideslopes with no steeper than a seven to 10 percent grade. 7. Building Houses of Straw: Using shoddy materials when building trail structures leaves you and others similarly vulnerable by reducing the structure s safety and longevity. This opens the door to things like pain, guilt and even lawyers. Build it right. Keep the 3-44 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

207 wolves at bay. 8. Finishing a Line Before Its Time: We heartily support on-the-trail training, but some new trail builders are so eager to keep building more! new! better! trails that they don t devote enough time or care to each new trail section. Resist the temptation to move forward. Don t finish a line before its time, and always patch past mistakes. 9. Building a Pathway to Grandma s House: This is what we call some trail builders obsession with lining trail with logs. A properly constructed trail shouldn t need them. In fact, lining a trail with logs can trap water and increase erosion. 10. Ignoring Old Wounds: As mountain bikers we may think our scars are cool, but scars on the land left by closed trails are damaging wounds that need to heal. Always reclaim eroded areas with check dams - natural obstacles like logs or rocks that divert the flow of water and soil - and reclaim all closed trails with transplanted native vegetation that conceals the old corridor. Shine the spotlight on the great trails you ve built, not the ugly scars that have been left behind. GEOCACHING Geocaching is a high tech outdoor adventure sport in which adventure seekers use a handheld Global Positioning System (GPS) to locate hidden containers. The basic idea is to locate these hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment. The containers are called caches. A typical cache is a small waterproof container that holds a logbook and trinkets for participants to trade. Upon finding these containers, or geocaches, one can add or remove items to / from the geocache and share their experiences online. Geocache locations and coordinates can be found at Geocaching can attract visitors from the surrounding region, other counties, states, or even countries. It is a recommendation of this plan that Northumberland County permit geocaching in the AOAA, and develop an official geocache permit process, application form, and guidelines on geocache content and access. It is of concern to this Master Plan that geocaching in the AOAA rely mainly on existing trails for access. Formation of geocaching user-created trails could cause erosion problems on the AOAA s steep slopes and should be kept to a minimum. Examples of Geocache placement permits and guidelines are found in the appendices of this report. HUNTING Throughout the course of the master planning process, hunting was a controversial subject. On one hand, hunting is a well-established activity in Northumberland County as hunting has occurred on the County property for many generations. On the other hand, if hunting is permitted to occur on the property once the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area is Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 3-45

208 established, safety concerns dictate the facility should be closed to all other activities. A closed facility will not generate user fee revenues for the duration of the closing and it would be an unpopular decision to charge a user fee for those interested in hunting on the property. Also, as part of this analysis, an inventory of existing public hunting opportunities was conducted. There are twenty-seven state game lands, totaling approximately 137,600 acres, and 189,700 acres of State Forest, that are open to hunting, within 30 minutes of the proposed Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area. Given the amount of land open to hunting in proximity to the County land, a strong argument could be made that providing additional lands for hunting opportunities may not be warranted as sufficient opportunities are available in the region. That said, it would be a very unpopular decision from a political perspective. Each perspective was taken into consideration to determine whether a suitable compromise could be reached. The ideal compromise would be to limit the closure of the facility to off-peak times while permitting the hunting of each game species on the property. Typically, the off-peak use season for an OHV facility is during the late fall and winter months. The Pennsylvania Game Commission establishes the rules and regulations related to hunting in Pennsylvania and the open season for each species is dependent on the breeding seasons of the respective species. Of particular interest are the large game seasons. All of the seasons were reviewed to determine their overlap during the anticipated off-peak season of the facility. Refer to the attached table Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

209 2010 Hunting Seasons - Pennsylvania Game Commission Seasons Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Squirrel Grouse Rabbit Pheasant Quail Hare Turkey Spring Gobbler Black Bear - Archery Black Bear Elk Deer - Archery Deer - Rifle Deer - Muzzleloader Antlerless Deer - Flintlock Raccoon and Fox Bobcat Coyote and Groundhogs Year-round The County owned Enterprise Site will be closed year-round to motorized activity, and hunting will be permitted on the property year-round with respect to the various seasons established by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area Closed, Open for Hunting Only Based on this analysis we recommend providing a six week opportunity for hunting within the AOAA, by closing the AOAA Monday through Saturday, beginning with the Saturday before Thanksgiving through the first week of January. This encompasses a portion of the fall and winter small game (rabbit, squirrel, grouse, pheasant, quail, and turkey) season, bear season, deer (rifle season), a portion of the deer winter archery season, bobcat season, and a portion of the raccoon and fox seasons. Further, closing the facility during this time frame should have the least impact to the economics of the facility as this is the most likely time of year (between Thanksgiving and New Year s Day) for limited use of the facility by the motorized community. Given Pennsylvania Game Commission regulations prohibit hunting on Sundays, Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 3-47

210 the AOAA could be open on Sundays only throughout the designated hunting season at the AOAA. Many hikers, equestrians, and OHV enthusiasts typically stay out of the woods Monday through Saturday, and recognize they can enter them on Sundays without conflicting with hunters. Opening the AOAA one day a week during the proposed hunting period would allow non-motorized and motorized use of the AOAA. All trails would be open to use, and, there would be limited services as major facilities such as the campground would not be opened during this period as it would not be economically feasible. We recommend the County evaluate this policy on an annual basis to determine whether the policy should be modified. Further, we recommend the County track the attendance of hunters on the County property to determine the number being served. If it is determined the facility is being closed for a few hunters, and if it is anticipated that opening the facility would serve more visitors, then we recommend the policy hunting policy be eliminated. ROCK CLIMBING Rock climbing is a sport in which participants climb up or across natural rock formations or man-made rock walls with the goal of reaching the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route. Rock climbing is similar to scrambling (another activity involving the scaling of hills and similar formations), but climbing is generally differentiated by its need for the use of the climber s hands to hold his or her own weight and not just provide balance. Rock climbing is a physically and mentally demanding sport, one that often tests a climber s strength, endurance, agility, and balance along with his or her mental control. It can be a dangerous sport and knowledge of proper climbing techniques and use of specialized climbing equipment is crucial for the safe completion of routes. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources manages certain State Parks and Forests lands with long histories of climbing activities. Until recent, DCNR has not had policies on climbing related activities. However, while desiring to meet the recreational needs of climbing, repelling, and bouldering, DCNR also has a responsibility to conserve those areas with ecological, environmental, geological, archaeological or historic resources or values. Further, climbing management guidelines are necessary to prevent user conflicts, environmental degradation and to ensure an enjoyable experience for every climbing enthusiast and state forest visitor in general Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

211 Excerpts from Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Recreation Rock Climbing, Repelling, and Bouldering Management Policy and Guidelines In order to preserve the state forests and state parks unique geologic formations, historic and cultural resources, to protect sensitive flora and fauna resources and to ensure each Bureau s core policies regarding recreational use are adhered to, the time has arrived to address all of these concerns through the adoption of rock climbing management guidelines. In 2008, DCNR adopted climbing management guidelines. We recommend Northumberland County adopt similar policies for all climbing areas considered or proposed for the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area. Further, we recommend that those areas suitable for climbing, repelling, or bouldering be posted as such, and that visitors to the AOAA are to assume all areas of the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area are closed to these activities, unless posted otherwise. The following are DCNR s General Rock Climbing Guidelines, we recommend rock climbing at the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area be managed in a consistent manner according to the following PA DCNR guidelines. General Rock Climbing Guidelines The placement, removal, or replacement of fixed anchors, including bolts, coldshuts, and chains is not permitted without prior approval of the Department. Rivets and pitons are not permitted to be used for rock climbing purposes. It may, in certain instances, become necessary to close entire formations or particular climbing routes permanently or on a temporary basis to ensure resource or value concerns are protected. The aforementioned procedures shall be followed. In the event of a closure on State Forest land, the Bureau of Forestry shall post an area (or route) closed to climbing. The Bureau of State Parks will remove any signs indicating an area is open to climbing should issues develop necessitating the reversion to closure. The Regional Coordinator for the Access Fund and any local clubs should be notified. The duration of the closure should also be relayed. The Access Fund is the national advocacy organization that keeps U.S. climbing areas open and conserves the climbing environment. Founded in 1991, the Access Fund supports and represents over 1.6 million climbers nationwide in all forms of climbing; rock climbing, ice climbing, mountaineering, and bouldering. Five core programs support the mission on national and local levels: public policy, stewardship & conservation (including grants), grassroots activism, climber education, and land acquisition. Rock alterations by chipping, chiseling, sculpting, drilling, defacing, trundling, or gluing/epoxying of holds (hand & foot) are not permitted without prior approval of the Department. This also includes the practice of dry tooling which involves using ice climbing tools on rock surfaces. Climbing and/or repelling within a known habitat of any rare, threatened or endangered plant or animal species as well in areas determined by the Department to Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 3-49

212 be ecologically significant on DCNR land is not permitted. Brushing away or removing vegetation of any type to clear a climbing route is prohibited. Cleaning of individual holds is permitted. Climbers are permitted to use and remove temporary anchors without restriction. If a tree must be used for climbing purposes, padding must be used to prevent the rope, sling or chain from damaging the tree. Climbing is permitted in natural and wild areas, subject to the above restrictions. Repelling, bouldering and ice climbing are permitted on State Forest land in accordance with all local rules, regulations and/or restrictions. Repelling, bouldering and ice climbing are permitted on State Park land only in those areas posted open to such uses and in accordance with all local site restrictions. Climbing Ethics Approved, fixed anchors must be of high quality stainless steel, or the equivalent. Critical nesting sites are often found in cliff faces for many birds and other animals can use rock outcrops for shelter. Be aware of closures, both mandatory and voluntary, and follow them. Keep alert for animals protecting their home and change or abandon your route to leave them space. Remove and carry out all webbing & slings. Leave the area cleaner than you found it. Minimize chalk use, use chalk in a mesh bag, use chalk substitutes if available, and brush off heavily chalked holds. Climb in small numbers and disperse your activities. Remain on climbing routes to avoid fragile ecosystems. Even though rock is highly durable, continual climbing can wear it down and break pieces off. Avoid erodible or soft rocks. Use quick draws where possible to reduce wear on existing anchors. Minimize noise while waiting to climb. Climbers should avoid using climbing sites susceptible to erosion and compaction during or after rainfall events to minimize environmental degradation. Give other climbing parties plenty of room and time to climb at their pace. Or, politely ask if you can pass when it is convenient and safe. CANOPY TOURS / ZIP LINE TOURS / ADVENTURE TOURS Standards for ropes courses, canopy and zip line tours have been developed by the Professional Ropes Course Association (PRCA). The PRCA is currently undergoing a review of our standards per these procedures and looks to publish the first ever industry national standards in the near future through the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Having been first published in 2002 / 2003 and updated on a regular basis, the PRCA standards are the source of information for insurance companies, operators, travelers, and the cruise ship industry to name a few. The PRCA is the leading voice for the industry. Canopy tours and zip lines must be managed and operated by individuals who complete the specified ANSI PRCA certification process Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

213 PAINTBALL Paintball is a game, first played in 1981 in the U.S. in the State of New Hampshire, in which players compete, in teams or individually, to eliminate opponents by hitting them with capsules containing paint (referred to as paintballs) propelled from a device called a paintball marker. While oil-based paint was originally used, paintballs are actually made of a special non-toxic, biodegradable, water soluble mineral-oil. The game is regularly played at a sporting level with organized competition involving worldwide leagues, tournaments, professional teams, and players. Games are played on indoor or outdoor fields of varying sizes. A game field is scattered with natural or artificial terrain, which players use for strategic play. Rules for playing paintball vary, but can include capture the flag, elimination, defending or attacking a particular point or area, or capturing objects of interest hidden in the playing area. Depending on the variant played, games can last from seconds to hours, or even days in scenario play. a woods ball field for scenario players a speedball field for speedball players Operation Permits Annual Inspections Insurance and Liability Paintball Resources: National Professional Paintball League, National Collegiate Paintball Association, American Paintball Players Association, MODEL AERONAUTICS FIELD The Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) establishes standards, guidelines and policies for the planning, development, management and operations of model aeronautics fields, There are currently one-hundred and fifty-eight documents published by the AMA. When considering whether to develop a model aeronautics facility, it is important to initially consult the following AMA documents: Document 105 Document 106 Document 535B Document Official AMA National Model Aircraft Safety Code National Flying Site Rules Flying Site Safety and Operational Rules Recommended RC Flying Site Specifications Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 3-51

214 Document 706, Recommended RC Flying Site Specifications, establishes the recommended physical requirements for radio control flying facilities. Based on these recommendations, a minimum of fifty acres are required to be dedicated for the pits, taxi way, runway, overfly area, and safety zone. These are illustrated as follows: AMA Land Side Facilities Dimensions AMA Land Side Facilities Dimensions Radio Control Model Aeronautic Fields are typically developed, operated, and managed through a locally established AMA sanctioned club. The AMA offers its chartered clubs official contest sanction, insurance, and assistance in establishing and retaining flying sites. Capitol Area Flyers, Mechanicsburg, PA Conestoga R/C Club, Website: Stoney Lane, New Danville, PA 3-52 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

215 CONCEPT PLAN The Concept Plan described here is the result of the inventory and analysis of opportunities and constraints of the site, an understanding of the desired program opportunities, and input received through the public process. The Northumberland County properties being considered for the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area encompass an area between Big Mountain, across Little Mountain and, on and around Mahanoy Mountain, approximately 13 miles in length and 2.6 miles in width. Given the area covered by the proposed Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area the description of the Concept Plan is divided into two components, the Eastern Reserve (area east of State Route 125) and the Western Reserve (area west of State Route 125). EASTERN RESERVE AREA EAST OF STATE ROUTE 125 Traveling south on State Route 125, south of Shamokin from the intersection of Bear Valley Road and State Route 125, approximately 2.1 miles one reaches the proposed entrance to the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area located on the eastern side of State Route 125. This is proposed as the primary entrance into the AOAA and provides access to the Eastern Reserve property. An access road into the AOAA is proposed from State Route 125 and will extend into, and circle the perimeter of the heart of the Eastern Reserve. The Eastern Reserve consists of 27 county parcels totaling 2,780 acres. Upon turning east onto the proposed access road, from State Route 125, and heading east one will first arrive at the proposed AOAA administrative and operations office for the AOAA. This office will serve as the first point of contact for guests arriving through this primary access. The proposed administrative and operations office will contain offices for administrative and operations personnel, as well as meeting rooms, and comfort facilities. Employee and short term parking will be located immediately adjacent to the office for guests needing to do business in the office, and for the office employees. Just beyond the office, day use parking will be provided for day use guests. All parking areas will be designed to meet the requirements of non-motorized, motorized, and OHV users, including sufficient spaces for haul vehicles and trailers. Further, parking areas will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements by providing accessible parking spaces at a rate of two percent of the total number of parking spaces. Separate day use parking areas will be provided for non-motorized and motorized day use guests. Non-motorized parking areas will accommodate equestrian visitors and transports as well. Near the proposed motorized day use parking area, and within view of the office, we propose a motorized safety training area. This area should be designed to be multi-purpose in nature, accommodating a full range of OHV safety training program offerings. The main Motorized Trail Access (trailhead) will be immediately accessible from the motorized day use parking area. The Motorized Trail Access will contain an informational kiosk and direct guests to motorized trail offerings on both the Eastern and Western Reserves. Motorized trail opportunities on the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 3-53

216 Eastern Reserve will be limited to low speed and low density trails. Further the trails will be designed primarily for full size OHV and family style UTV, ATV, and OHM riding opportunities. A campground to serve motorized guests is proposed in proximity to the Motorized Trail Access. This campground should be designed to accommodate primitive, tent, and RV camping. Further, sites must accommodate not only campers but also their haul vehicles and motorized equipment. Driving further east, into the Eastern Reserve, one enters into the heart of the Eastern Reserve. In this area the Non-Motorized Trail Access (trailhead) is proposed. The non-motorized day use guest parking will be located near this trail access opportunity. The Non-Motorized Trail Access is intended for hiking, mountain biking, equestrian, and hunting access to non-motorized trails located on the Eastern Reserve. Typically separate trails will be provided for non-motorized and motorized uses. However, there may be instances where non-motorized and motorized use occurs on the same trails as previously discussed in the Synopsis on Multi-Use (motorized and non-motorized) Trail Philosophy. A network of trails is proposed in the Eastern Reserve to serve the hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian uses. The Non-Motorized Trail Access should also include a campground to serve non-motorized guests, their haul vehicles, and equipment. A limited motorized access buffer is proposed beyond the northeast corner of the nonmotorized area, adjacent to the Excelsior neighborhood. Motorized use in the area will be very limited and typically will only consist of AOAA authorized vehicle use, such as emergency response vehicles. In addition to the Non-Motorized Trails and Trail Access, an area has been designated for the proposed zip lines / canopy tours and an OHV rock crawling venue. The zip line / canopy tour area is proposed on the north side of Mahanoy Mountain and the OHV rock crawling venue is proposed further east on the north face of Mahanoy Mountain. The OHV rock crawling area is proposed to be created through the current PA DEP Bureau of Mine Reclamation project which is being completed in the area identified. The funding being provided by the PA DEP Bureau of Mine Reclamation for this project may be utilized to match other grant opportunities. The existing Enterprise (aka Alaska Site) site is proposed to contain non-motorized trails and shall be utilized to provide dedicated hunting opportunities. The finger of property extending along the ridge and southern face of Mahanoy Mountain east towards Helfenstein is proposed to be a limited use motorized buffer, to provide respite to the Helfenstein neighborhood located along State Route 2044 (aka Upper Road). These areas will be opened to non-motorized use while motorized use will be limited in density and speed. Two private parcels, encompassing an additional 1757 acres, are situated between the above finger and the Enterprise site. This parcel of land would provide an opportunity to expand the trail system provided a lease agreement could be reached between the County and the property owner Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

217 WEST ERN RESERVE AREA WEST OF STATE ROUTE 125 The Western Reserve is proposed to be accessed from the Eastern Reserve by a grade separated crossing which will pass beneath State Route 125. A grade separated crossing provides the safest alternative to reaching the Western Reserve from the Eastern Reserve. The Western Reserve is comprised of 66 county owned parcels and encompasses almost 3,800 acres. Making the connection between the Eastern and Western Reserve are two county owned parcels separated by several privately held parcels from the remaining County owned property in the Western Reserve. Connecting the County properties will require easement agreements with the following land owners: Burring Coal Inc. and FER Land Company, Inc. Upon reconnecting to the County owned parcels to the west, the internationally renowned Whaleback Anticline site is located immediately adjacent to the northern edge of the County property. The property which includes the Whaleback is privately held. Given the international significance of the Whaleback Anticline we recommend the County continue its efforts to lease, purchase, or otherwise preserve this outstanding geologic feature. The area of interest contains approximately 44 acres, which is a little more than 50% of the 77 acre parcel that it is situated on. Until such time the property can be leased or acquired, we recommend developing the informal overlook that exists along the northern edge of the County property. On the Inventory and Analysis Map this is waypoint number 101 and is identified as the Overlook. A property survey should be completed in this area to determine whether the user-created overlook is located on County or the adjacent private property. If located on the adjacent private property, we recommend the County lease a minimal amount of land from the land owner, one to five acres as required, so the existing user-created overlook can be enhanced with the addition of a small parking area, picnic tables, a picnic shelter, and a sign or kiosk interpreting the geologic significance of the Whaleback Anticline. Should the County succeed in its efforts to acquire the 44 acres which encompasses the Whaleback Anticline then recommend the area be further enhanced with hiking trails, motorized access around the northern perimeter, further overlook development, and further geologic and environmental interpretation opportunities be developed. Future programming opportunities could include non-motorized and motorized geologic tours of this extraordinary geologic feature. Consideration could also be given to developing a climbing and repelling policy as it can offer those opportunities as well if desired. Upon reaching the County property directly south of the Whaleback Anticline the heart of the AOAA motorized trail system is at hand. This area includes the ridge and northern face of Mahanoy Mountain, the area locally known as the Bowl (the valley located between Mahanoy and Big Mountains), and the southern face and ridge of Big Mountain. The access road extending from the grade separated crossing under State Route 125 is proposed to extend to, through and circle, the Western Reserve property. This portion for the property can Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 3-55

218

219 LEGEND Potential Secondary Access - Limited hours - Limited days / potentially weekend only Buffer - Limited Access Projects - Campground Heart Lake - Campground Potential Site Use Areas Non-Motorized Use Whaleback - Privately Owned - Potential Lease of Properties - Geologic and Environmental Interpretation - Hiking Trails - Potential Climbing Opportunities - Overlooks Old Trolley Line Buffer - Limited Motorized Access Buffer Area (Non-Motorized & Limited Motorized Use) Non-Motorized Trail Access - Hiking - Equestrian - Mountain Biking - Hunting Access - Day Use Parking - Non-Motorized Campground Main Entrance - Non-Motorized and Motorized Entrance - Motorized Trail Access - Office / Meeting Rooms / Comfort Facilities - Day Use Parking - RV and Motorized Campground - Safety Training Area Non-Motorized & Limited Motorized Use Motorized Use Motorized Play Area Coal Township The Mile Buffer - Limited Motorized Access Existing Trails Notes Property Boundaries are approximate. Buffer - Limited Motorized Access Project Zerbe Township Motorized Trails Mud Road Potential Western Entrance - Privately Owned - Potential Private Development - Motorized Entrance - Motorized Trail Access - Comfort Facilities - RV and Motorized Campground - Day Use Parking Heart Lake ATV Play Areas Privately Owned Potential Lease for Motorized Trails Carbon Run Site - Hiking - Equestrian - Mountain Biking - Hunting AMD Ponds The Pines Sand Pits Excelsior Springhouse Sinkholes Big Mine Shaft ATV Play Areas The Flats Mine Opening & Fan House Motorized Trails Motorized Trails North Slope Mine Site Old Mine Site Mine SinkholesDT OHV Rock Crawling Pole Line Ridge Reclaimation Site Privately Owned Potential Lease for Motorized Trails OHV Rock Crawling Motorized Trails Foundation Ruins Open Shaft OHV Rock Crawling Open Shaft Pole Line Hill ine Open Shaft Caves Overlook Excelsior Reservoir The Caves Zip L Potential Secondary Access & Trailhead - Limited hours - Limited days / potentially weekend only - private property - requires cooperation and easement Non-Motorized Trails and Limited Motorized Trails Mine w. Water Mount Carmel Township Non-Motorized Trails and Hunting Opportunity Enterprise Mine Easement Agreements - for Trail Access Mine Shaft x x x x Buffer - Limited Motorized Access West Cameron Township Whaleback Overlooks - Explore opportunities for Whaleback Overlooks on County property x Potential Secondary Access - Primarily non-motorized with limited motorized access - Opportunity for dedicated access to non-motorized trails Old Railroad Grade x x Buffer - Limited Access Buffer - Limited Motorized Access East Cameron Cameron Township Buffer - Limited Motorized Access Buffer - Limited Motorized Access Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area Concept Plan

220

221 provide trail opportunities for the full spectrum of OHVs, including: off highway motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs, full size 4 x 4 s, rock crawlers, and dune buggies. The concept plan identifies areas specific to rock crawling (along the ridge of Mahanoy Mountain) and OHM, ATV and UTV play areas in the area locally known as the Sands. Further, existing features locally known as the Pines, Heart Lake and the Projects provide focal points for rest areas and potential primitive camping areas, while features such as Mud Road provide challenging full size opportunities. A buffer area, for limited motorized access is proposed along Carbon Run and in the vicinity of the Fairview Rod and Gun Club. Ample opportunity exists to create a world class OHV trail system throughout the Western Reserve. The County owned land, isolated from the previous property, along the northern face of Big Mountain, and immediately adjacent to the Trevorton neighborhood is proposed as a limitedmotorized buffer, with the proposed secondary motorized trail access point following the former trolley line corridor up the mountain, as identified on the Concept Plan. This secondary access has been selected to provide direct access to the AOAA to eliminate the need to trailer machines from Trevorton to the main AOAA Trail Access located east of State Route 125. The proposed secondary access point need to be implemented in a neighbor-friendly manner, so it is not a nuisance to the surrounding property owners. Therefore, consideration should be given to policies governing all secondary accesses, such as day light use only, and potentially weekend use only. Immediately adjacent to the west of the County-owned property, and before reaching State Route 2044 (aka Franklin Avenue) is the area locally known as the Flats, encompassing approximately 287 acres of land in two parcels. Historically the Flats has served as a primary motorized trail access point. However, it is located on privately held land, and is in close proximity to Coal Hill, lying immediately to the west, also on private property, and a source of contention to municipal officials and surrounding neighbors due to dust, noise, and unsafe riding concerns. Coal Hill typically generates many more ATV accidents during the course of the year than does the 6,000 acres of County-owned property to its east. Although the Flats has been associated with negative aspects of OHV activities in the region, it has tremendous potential to serve the AOAA. If an agreement can be reached with the property owners to provide access from their property to the County-owned property the potential exists to provide lodging opportunities on the site, from an organized campground and camping cabins, up to and including hotel and hospitality opportunities. Additionally, this area could serve as a prime location for a secondary access into the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area, regardless of whether a campground or lodging is provided in the vicinity. Further, frontage along State Route 2044 could be developed by the private sector to further meet the needs of guests who visit the AOAA. Immediately north of the Flats is another parcel, 572 acres in size, that is privately held. This parcel, owner willing, can also provide the opportunity to expand motorized trail opportunities in conjunction with the trails of the Western Reserve. Last but not least, are the two parcels of County-owned land, totaling 242 acres in size, Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 3-59

222 situated on the western side of State Route 2044, along the ridge of Mahanoy Mountain. Given this parcel is disconnected from the remaining County-owned land, we recommend it be considered for limited motorized use. It has the potential to be developed as a special event area, catering to the rock crawling community. Secondary access is proposed to the southside of the Mountain, from State Route 2044 or Shamokin Street, in the Helfenstein neighborhood, following the former rail corridor which extends up the mountainside. FACILITY NAMING At the conception of this project the facility under consideration was referred to as the Northumberland County OHV Park. That said, from the onset it has always been the intent to plan for an all-inclusive recreation area that would meet the needs of all visitors, non-motorized and motorized alike. Further, it has also always been the intent to continue to provide opportunities for mineral extraction throughout the County properties as deemed feasible. Both Federal and State legislation provide language excluding or limiting mining activities in and within proximity to parks. Pennsylvania Code 25 Chapter says The proposed activities will not adversely affect any publicly owned parks or places included on the National Register of Historic... Pennsylvania Code 25 Chapter says «Areas where mining is prohibited or limited.... (10) Within 300 feet (91.44 meters) measured horizontally of a public building, school, church, community or institutional building or public park. « Areas where mining is prohibited or limited. Subject to valid existing rights as defined in 86.1 (relating to definitions), surface mining operations except those which existed on August 3, 1977, are not permitted: (1) On lands within the boundaries of the National Park System, the National Wildlife Refuge System, the National System of Trails, the National Wilderness Preservation System, the Wild and Scenic Rivers System, including study rivers designated under section 5(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C.A. 1276(a)) or study rivers or study river corridors as established in guidelines under that act and National Recreation Areas designated by act of Congress. (2) On Federal lands within the boundaries of a National forest. Surface mining operations may be permitted on the lands, if the Secretary of the United States Department of Interior and the Secretary find that there are no significant recreational, timber, economic or other values incompatible with surface mining operations and the surface mining operations and impacts are incident to an underground coal mine. (3) Which will adversely affect a publicly-owned park or a place included on the National Register of Historic Places, unless approved jointly by the Department and the Federal, 3-60 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

223 State or local governmental agency with jurisdiction over the park or places. (4) On lands within the State park system. Surface mining activities may be permitted if the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Department find that significant land and water conservation benefits will result when remining of previously mined land is proposed. (5) On lands within State forest picnic areas, State forest natural areas and State forest wild areas. Surface mining operations may be permitted on State forest lands other than picnic areas, natural areas and wild areas, if the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Department find that one or more of the following apply: (i) There will be no significant adverse impact to natural resources, including timber, water, wildlife, recreational and aesthetic values. (ii) Significant land and water conservation benefits will result when remining of previously mined lands is proposed. (6) On lands within the game land system of this Commonwealth. Surface mining operations may be permitted by the Department if the Game Commission consents and finds that one or more of the following apply: (i) There will be no significant long-term adverse impacts to aquatic or terrestrial wildlife populations and their habitats. (ii) Significant wildlife habitat and land and water conservation benefits will result when remining of previously mined lands is proposed. (7) On lands within the authorized boundaries of Pennsylvania Scenic River Systems which have been legislatively designated as such under the Pennsylvania Scenic Rivers Act (32 P. S ). Surface mining operations may be permitted if the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Department find that significant land and water conservation benefits will result when remining of previously mined lands is proposed, and that the surface mining operation is consistent with the Scenic Rivers System designation and will not adversely affect the values which the designation is designed to protect. (8) Within 100 feet (30.48 meters) measured horizontally of the outside right-of-way line of a public road, except: (i) For mine access roads or haulage at the point where they join the right-of-way lines. (ii) When the Department, with concurrence of the agency with jurisdiction over the road, allows the public road to be relocated or the area affected to be within 100 feet (30.48 meters) of the road, after the following: (A) Public notice and opportunity for a public hearing in accordance with (c) (relating to procedures). (B) Making a written finding that the interests of the affected public and landowners will be protected. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 3-61

224 (9) Within 300 feet (91.44 meters) measured horizontally from an occupied dwelling, unless one or more of the following exist: (i) The only part of the surface mining operations which is within 300 feet (91.44 meters) of the dwelling is a haul road or access road which connects with an existing public road on the side of the public road opposite the dwelling. (ii) The owner thereof has provided a written waiver by lease, deed or other conveyance clarifying that the owner and signatory had the legal right to deny surface mining operations and knowingly waived that right and consented to surface mining operations closer than 300 feet (91.44 meters) of the dwelling as specified. (A) A valid waiver shall remain in effect against subsequent owners who had actual or constructive knowledge of the existing waiver at the time of purchase. (B) Subsequent owners shall be deemed to have constructive knowledge if the waiver has been properly filed in public property records or if the surface mining operations have proceeded to within the 300 foot (91.44 meters) limit prior to the date of purchase. (iii) A new waiver is not required if the applicant for a permit had obtained a valid waiver prior to August 3, 1977, from the owner of an occupied dwelling to mine within 300 feet (91.44 meters) of the dwelling. (10) Within 300 feet (91.44 meters) measured horizontally of a public building, school, church, community or institutional building or public park. (11) Within 100 feet (30.48 meters) measured horizontally of a cemetery. Cemeteries may be relocated under the act of April 18, 1877 (P. L. 54, No. 54) (9 P. S )). (12) Within 100 feet (30.48 meters) measured horizontally of the bank of a perennial or intermittent stream. The Department may grant a variance from this distance requirement if the operator demonstrates beyond a reasonable doubt that there will be no adverse hydrologic impacts, water quality impacts or other environmental resources impacts as a result of the variance. The variance will be issued as a written order specifying the methods and techniques that shall be employed to prevent adverse impacts. Prior to granting a variance, the operator is required to give public notice of application thereof in two newspapers of general circulation in the area once a week for 2 successive weeks. If a person files an exception to the proposed variance within 20 days of the last publication thereof, the Department will conduct a public hearing with respect thereto. The Department will also consider information or comments submitted by the Fish and Boat Commission prior to taking action on a variance request. Taking these facts into consideration, the project steering committee concluded the name of this project should be changed and therefore, the committee recommended the project be referred to as the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area from this point forward Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

225 CHAPTER 4: Master Plan Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 4-1

226

227 CHAPTER 4: Master Plan INTRODUCTION The master plan for the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area is the result of careful analysis of the site, active public participation, and in depth discussion regarding the needs of the area, region, and state s motorized recreation users. The master plan provides the foundation to guide decision making for the creation of the proposed the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area. With this master plan, the County will be able to respond in an orderly and fiscally responsible manner, to the requests of various user organizations and individuals for specific facilities and activities. Good planning helps to reduce future conflicts and safety issues, and can reduce operation and maintenance costs. Further, a sound master plan has a greater chance of being funded by various agencies. The Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area has been comprehensively designed to meet the demands of Pennsylvania s 166,895 registered ATV users (as of June 1, 2011), the needs of Pennsylvania s off-highway motorcycle and off-highway vehicle users who are currently not required to register their vehicles, and the needs of Northumberland County residents nonmotorized recreation activities needs. The AOAA will become a world class destination for off-highway vehicle activities. The AOAA master plan was prepared to address aspects of: Safety Experience Environmental Considerations Financial Considerations It is the vision of Northumberland County to develop this facility in a manner that responds to the needs of its visitors. The OHV community generally is looking for places to pursue their sport, and typically less concerned about the polish of the offerings. Additionally, the nonmotorized hunting, hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian community are looking for a similar level of quality in facilities. Therefore, we recommend improvements be designed in a rustic, yet functional, and aesthetically pleasing manner, much like the design standards established for Pennsylvania State Parks. Further, we recommend the design standards promote the coal cultural heritage of the Anthracite region. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 4-3

228 The locations of facilities, activity areas, and trails were carefully thought out in order to: Contribute to the conservation ethic of the Area Encourage private investment in local and regional economic development opportunities Provide for effective and efficient management and operation of the Area Minimize infrastructure costs Maximize revenue opportunities Promote economic development and private investment 4-4 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

229 LEGEND Potential Secondary Access - Limited hours - Limited days / potentially weekend only - Hiking and Hunting Opportunities Trevorton Buffer - Limited Motorized Access - Hiking and Hunting Opportunities Project - Primitive Camp Area Heart Lake - Primitive Camp Area Existing & Proposed Roads and Trails Old Trolley Line LZ Non-Motorized Trails Motorized Play Area Proposed Wind Turbine Locations with DCNR Recommended Setback Primitive Camp Area x Enterprise Site LZ Non-Motorized Trails and Hunting Opportunities Carbon Run Excelsior Springhouse Pit w. Sinkhole Big Mine Shaft Western Reserve Caves Overlook Motorized Trails LZ Mine Site Pole Line Ridge Equestrian Hiking / Mountain Bicycling % % % Motorized Trail Mileage % % % Acreage by Use Abandoned Mine Land Concerns Medical Evacuation Landing Zone % % Trails Open to ORV Use Open Shaft 2, % 2, % Motorized Use Area Non-Motorized & Limited Motorized Use Area Trails Open to ATV Use Trails Open to OHM Use Buffer Areas LZ % Notes 1, % Northumberland County will request the assistance of local universities, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, and PA DCNR Office of Conservation Science to prepare forest management and wildlife habitat management plans for non-motorized, limited motorized, and limited motorized buffer use areas. AOAA improvements shall comply with American with Disability Act 2010 Standards. Helfenstein Buffer - Limited Motorized Access - Hiking, Equestrian and Hunting Opportunities Mine Openings & Sinkholes Mine Shaft Easement Agreements - for Trail Access West Cameron Township x x x Whaleback Overlooks - Opportunities for Whaleback Overlooks on County property State Route 2044 Buffer - Limited Motorized Access - Hiking and Hunting Opportunities Non-Motorized Trails OHM Mine Mine Reclaimation Site Buffer - Limited Motorized Access - Hiking and Hunting Opportunities Pole Line Hill Foundation Ruins Open Shaft Open Shaft Mine Site LZ Open Shaft Old Mine Site Mount Carmel Township Excelsior Reservoir The Caves North Slope ATV/SXS Property Boundaries are approximate. LZ Potential Secondary Access & Trailhead - Limited hours - Limited days / potentially weekend only - private property - requires cooperation and easement ORV Trail closures and re-routes will occur as necessary to allow continued resource extraction and remediation activities on the properties. Mine Opening LZ Mine Opening & Fan House Featured Lake / Pond Gate(s) LZ Sand Pits Access Roads Primary Access Road Secondary Access Road Exis ng ORV/ SXS / ATV / OHM Trails Rock ORV Crawling Trails Exis ng Dedicated ATV Trails Proposed Dedicated ATV Trails OHM Dedicated Single Track Trails Single Track Mountain Bike Trails Equestrian Trails Hiking Trails Total Miles Percentage of Total Motorized Use (hiking, equestrian, & Mountain Biking) Non Non-Motorized Trails ra and Limited Motorized ot dt Trails The Pines Mileage by Mode Type Motorized Trails Proposed Site Features Mud Road Play Area Trail Type Non-Motorized & Limited Motorized Use Eastern E rn Reserve erve LZ Buffer Area Boyers Knob Reclamation Area Zerbe Township Potential Secondary Access / Emergency Response Access - Limited hours - Limited days / potentially weekend only - private property - requires cooperation and easement Trail Mileage OHV Trail - More Difficult OHV Trail - Most Difficult OHV Trail - Rock Crawling SXS/ATV/OHM Trails (Dedicated Single Track Trails) Burnside Buffer - Limited Motorized Access - Hiking and Hunting Opportunities Non-Motorized (Non-Motorized & Limited Motorized Use) OHV Trail - Easiest Coal Township The Mile Carbon Run Buffer - Limited Motorized Access - limited to existing trails - Carbon Run / AMD restoration and stabilization - Hiking and Hunting Opportunities improvements Excelsior Buffer - Limited Motorized Access - Hiking and Hunting opportunities Non-Motorized Trail Access - Hiking - Equestrian - Mountain Biking - Hunting Access - Day Use Parking - Non-Motorized Campground AOAA Entrance and Trailhead (see enlargement) - Non-Motorized and Motorized Entrance - Motorized Trail Access - Office / Meeting Rooms / Comfort Facilities - Day Use Parking - RV and Motorized Campground - Safety Training Area - Commercial Outparcels Proposed Site Use Areas Primary Vehicular Access Road Easement Required Secondary Access Main Access Road, typical - Suitable for daily visitor vehicle access and first responder access x x OHV Rock Crawling Old Railroad Grade x x Potential Secondary Access - Primarily non-motorized with limited motorized access - Opportunity for dedicated access to non-motorized trails OHV Rock Crawling East Cameron Township Buffer - Limited Motorized Access - Hiking, Equestrian and Hunting Opportunities Helfenstein Buffer - Limited Motorized Access - Hiking, Equestrian and Hunting Opportunities Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area Master Plan

230 4-6 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

231 1 Entrance (sign and landscapeing) 11 Picnic Area 2 Commercial (1.7-2 acre parcels) 12 OHV Camping (250 sites) 3 Main Office 13 Overflow Parking (1000 spaces) 4 Maintenance / Storage / Emergency Vehicle 14 5 ATV / OHM Training Camp Office / Non-motorized Trail Head (20 spaces overflow spaces) 15 Picnic Area 16 Primitive Camping (36 sites) 17 Non-motorized / Equestrian Trail Head (10 spaces) Non-motorized / Equestrian Camping (24 sites) Easiest Trails 6 ORV Training 7 Day Use Parking (250 spaces) 8 Buggy Wash and Storage 9 Underpass Connection to Western Reserve 10 OHV Event Area AOAA improvements shall comply with American with Disability Act 2010 Standards LEGEND Existing & Proposed Roads and Trails Primary Vehicular Access Road Easement Required Secondary Access OHV Trail - Easiest 19 OHV Trail - More Difficult OHV Trail - Most Difficult OHV Trail - Rock Crawling SXS/ATV/OHM Trails (Dedicated Single Track Trails) Non-Motorized Trails (hiking, equestrian, & Mountain Biking) Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area Entrance & Trailhead Master Plan Northumberland County, Pennsylvania a pennsylvania corporation

232 4-8 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

233 MASTER PLAN DESCRIPTION As described earlier, the Northumberland County properties being considered for the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area encompass an area between Big Mountain, across Little Mountain and, on and around Mahanoy Mountain, approximately 13 miles in length and 2.6 miles in width. The properties are physically separated by State Route 125 with approximately one-half of the property being located east of State Route 125, and one-half being located west of State Route 125. Given the area covered by the proposed Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area the description of the Concept Plan is divided into two components, the Eastern Reserve (area east of State Route 125) and the Western Reserve (area west of State Route 125). EASTERN RESERVE (AREA EAST OF STATE ROUTE 125) Traveling south on State Route 125, south of Shamokin from the intersection of Bear Valley Road and State Route 125, approximately 2.1 miles one reaches the proposed entrance to the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area located on the eastern side of State Route 125. This is proposed as the primary entrance into the AOAA and provides access to the Eastern Reserve property. An access road into the AOAA is proposed from State Route 125 and will extend into, and circle the perimeter of the heart of the Eastern Reserve. The Eastern Reserve consists of 27 county parcels totaling 2,780 acres. Promoting safety, responsible riding, respect for the environment, and the heritage of the Anthracite Coal Region are all aspects that should be readily apparent and visible upon arriving to the AOAA. We recommend all facilities, activity areas, and trails be named in accordance with terminology associated with Anthracite Coal Heritage. The proposed AOAA must comply with local and County Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance requirements and zoning requirements. Applicable permits and approvals must be obtained before the development of the AOAA is begun. In addition, the proposed development must obtain: Cultural Resource Clearance from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission - the purpose of this clearance is to ensure there will not be any negative impacts to cultural (historic and/or archeological resources) that may be located on the property. Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory (PNDI) Clearances from: - Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to ensure there will be no negative impacts to rare threatened or endangered plants or invertebrates. - Pennsylvania Game Commission - to ensure there will be no negative impacts to Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 4-9

234 rare threatened or endangered mammals. - Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to ensure there will be no negative impacts to rare threatened or endangered aquatic, amphibian, or reptile species. - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - to ensure there will be no negative impacts to Federally regulated species. The PNDI process was initiated during the mastering planning process. The potential locations of Species of Special Concern were identified and Northumberland County is coordinating with the respective resource agencies to confirm or deny the presence of the various species, and where their presence is confirmed, develop a plan of action to ensure the development of the AOAA has no negative impact on such species. Further, Northumberland County has initiated discussions with the Pennsylvania Game Commission regarding the possibility of obtaining the Commission s assistance in preparing timber and habitat management plans for the AOAA property. Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection applicable permits related to earth disturbance, erosion control and stormwater management, mining activities including resolving mining hazards, sanitary facility and service permits, stream crossings, potential wetland impacts (if necessary), etc. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers where wetlands are located near proposed development the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers may require a Jurisdictional Wetland Determination to be performed to confirm the presence of jurisdictional wetlands, and to ensure no negative impacts will occur to the wetlands given the adjacent development near them. This may be a pre-requisite of the PA DEP to earth disturbance, erosion control, and stormwater management permitting process. KING COAL ROAD Visitors will arrive at the AOAA from State Route 125 by turning east onto the proposed King Coal Road. In order to establish this entrance PennDOT will require the operator of the AOAA to obtain a Highway Occupancy Permit. This permit ensures applicable design requirements and appropriate sight distances are provided for this new access along State Route 125. We recommend an entrance sign be located at this intersection. This primary entrance into the AOAA should be easily identified from State Route 125. As visitors arrive and travel along King Coal Road to reach the entrance and trailhead facilities the environmental ethic and environmental stewardship aspects of the AOAA should be readily apparent. We recommend stormwater management be addressed in this location through non-structural best management practices that utilize a sustainable and green approach to addressing the control of stormwater. Landscaping and habitat improvements should be implemented with native plant materials. Mowed lawn areas should be kept to a minimum to reduce maintenance requirements and minimize air pollution. In lieu of establishing mowed lawn areas we recommend field grassy meadows that would be mowed to create space for 4-10 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

235 special events on a seasonal basis. Where mowing is required we recommend using a propane fueled lawn mower as they provide an eighty percent reduction in toxic emissions and sixty percent fewer smog forming emissions than a gasoline mower. A conventional gasoline powered lawn mower pollutes as much in an hour as forty late model cars. Commercial Outparcels Immediately entering the AOAA, from State Route 125, approximately ten acres of land is recommended to be set aside for commercial opportunities that support the activities occurring at the AOAA. This land can be leased to private entities interested in establishing a business at the entrance into the AOAA. Such business ventures might include: OHV, SXS & ATV rentals; OHV, SXS, ATV, MX dealer; convenience store, restaurant / food & beverage sales; repair shop / garage, etc. The Breaker Following the King Coal Road into the site the first facility visitors will encounter is the Breaker, the administrative and operations office for the AOAA. Further, we recommend the Breaker contain exhibit space where artifacts representing the Anthracite Region s coal heritage can be displayed and interpreted. This office will serve as the first point of contact for guests arriving through this primary access. The proposed administrative and operations office will contain offices for administrative and operations personnel, a counter where visitors will conduct business with office staff, merchandise display area, multi-purpose meeting rooms, and comfort facilities. We recommend the building be designed to recall images of a coal breaker. Employee and short term parking will be located immediately adjacent to the Breaker for guests needing to conduct business in the office and for the office employees. To promote an environmental ethic we recommend the building be developed in accordance with LEED principals for sustainable building design, operation, and maintenance. The proposed building must comply with local and state building code requirements; therefore, applicable permits must be obtained. Given the proposed wind energy development slated to take place on an adjacent to the County property, we recommend a demonstration wind turbine be located adjacent to the Breaker. Electricity generated from this turbine may be used to meet the electric requirements of the building, and/or return electricity to the power grid. We recommend interpretive signage be located near the turbine to educate visitors on the benefits of wind energy. We also recommend an area near the Breaker be designated as a landing zone for medical and EMS helicopter responses. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 4-11

236 BURNSIDE COLLIERY Following King Coal Road east, just beyond the Breaker, one will arrive at the Burnside Colliery. The Burnside Colliery will contain motorized facility and activity areas, including: Day use parking area to accommodate two hundred and fifty day use guests. Parking areas will be designed to meet the requirements of motorized visitors, including sufficient spaces for haul vehicles and trailers. Further, parking areas will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements by providing accessible parking spaces at a rate of four percent of the total number of parking spaces. To promote safety we recommend an ORV, SXS, ATV, and MX safety training course be located near the proposed motorized day use parking area, and within view of the Breaker. This course should be visible to those arriving at the AOAA and should be directly connected to a multi-purpose room in the building for classroom activities associated with a hands-on safety training program. The safety training course should be should be designed to be multi-purpose in nature, accommodating a full range of OHV safety training program offerings, including the training requirements of PA DCNR, the ATV Safety Institute, and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. The primary Motorized Trail Access (trailhead) will be immediately accessible from the motorized day use parking area. The Motorized Trail Access will contain an informational kiosk and direct guests to motorized trail offerings on both the Eastern and Western Reserves. We recommend the kiosk not only contain a map of the AOAA and its trails, but also provide information to educate visitors on the aspects of responsible riding, environmental stewardship, and the Anthracite heritage of the region. To meet training needs for full size vehicles we recommend a Motorized Challenge Course be developed. The course should be accessible from the primary motorized trail access. The purpose of this course to provide visitors with no or little off-road experience with an opportunity to become comfortable with the various scenarios they may encounter throughout the property. Those scenarios will be provided in a controlled environment along a proposed access road that is planned to circle the Eastern Reserve property. The challenge course can also be utilized for programmed activities that the AOAA might offer such as 4x4 101, safety and first aid, etc. A campground to serve motorized guests is proposed in proximity to the Motorized Trail Access. This campground should be designed to accommodate primitive, tent, and RV camping and initially accommodate two hundred and fifty campsites, and have the potential for future expansion. Camp sites must accommodate not only campers but also their haul vehicles and motorized equipment. Camp sites will be semi-primitive and primitive in nature. Semi-primitive campsites will have electrical service. Picnic groves will be available around the perimeter for the campground to meet the needs of campers. Potable water and sanitary needs will be met by providing centralized 4-12 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

237 potable water stations and sanitary dump stations. An Overflow / Special Event Parking Area is proposed east and north of the motorized campground. This area will accommodate one thousand additional vehicles and trailers to meet the demand of large events that may occur at the AOAA. As with other parking areas at the AOAA this parking area will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements by providing accessible parking spaces at a rate of four percent of the total number of parking spaces. A medical / EMS response helicopter landing zone is also proposed in this area. HENRY CLAY COLLIERY Driving further east into the Eastern Reserve, past the proposed Burnside Colliery, one enters the heart of the Eastern Reserve. The Henry Clay Colliery will contain non- motorized facility and activity areas: In this area the Non-Motorized Trail Access (trailhead) is proposed. The non-motorized day use guest parking will be located near this trail access opportunity. The Non-Motorized Trail Access is intended for hiking, mountain biking, equestrian, and hunting access to nonmotorized trails located on the Eastern Reserve. The primary Non-Motorized Trail Access (trailhead) will be immediately accessible from the motorized day use parking area. The Non-Motorized Trail Access will contain an informational kiosk and direct guests to non-motorized trail offerings primarily located on the Eastern Reserve. Access will be provided to equestrian, hiking, and mountain bicycling trails. We recommend the kiosk not only contain a map of the AOAA and its trails, but also provide information to educate visitors on the aspects of responsible trail use, environmental stewardship, and the Anthracite heritage of the region. A campground for non-motorized visitors is proposed to serve non-motorized guests, their haul vehicles, and equipment. This includes equestrians, hikers, and mountain bikers. Initially forty camp sites should be provided, and two group camping areas accommodating ten to fifteen sites each, all with the opportunity for future expansion. Camp sites will be semi-primitive and primitive in nature. Semi-primitive campsites will have electrical service. A centralized picnic grove is proposed to meet the needs of campers. To meet the needs of equestrian campers we recommend providing two horse stalls for each camp site. Potable water and sanitary needs will be met by providing a centralized potable water station and sanitary dump station. EASTERN RESERVE TRAILS The Eastern Reserve will provide both motorized and non-motorized trail opportunities. Motorized trail opportunities on the Eastern Reserve will be limited to low speed and low density trails. Further the trails will be designed primarily for full size OHV and family style Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 4-13

238 SXS, ATV, and OHM riding opportunities. In addition several rock crawling areas will provide opportunities for the general rock crawling ORV visitors as well as a venue for competitive rock crawling events. An OHV rock crawling area is proposed to be created in and around the current PA DEP Bureau of Mine Reclamation project, locally known as Boyers Knob. The funding being provided by the PA DEP Bureau of Mine Reclamation for this project may be utilized to match other grant opportunities. Typically separate trails will be provided for non-motorized and motorized uses. However, there may be instances where non-motorized and motorized use occurs on the same trails as discussed earlier in Chapter Three, Synopsis on Multi-Use (motorized and non-motorized) Trail Philosophy. A network of trails is proposed in the Eastern Reserve to serve the hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian uses. Mile markers will be located along all trails at one-half mile intervals and at the intersection of all trails. These markers not only serve to keep trail users oriented, but also to identify their location should they need to be located. BURNSIDE PATCH The existing patch neighborhood of Burnside is located eight-tenths of a mile northwest of the proposed Burnside Colliery. A limited use buffer provides residents of this area respite from the motorized activities located on the AOAA property. This buffer area extends eight hundred to one thousand feet from the rear property lines of the Burnside neighborhood. At the request of Burnside residents, no motorized access is provided from this neighborhood into the AOAA. Should this access be desired by Burnside residents at a future point in time, it can be re-evaluated at that time. UPPER EXCELSIOR PATCH The existing patch neighborhood of Upper Excelsior is located immediately south of State Route 901. A limited use buffer provides residents of this area respite from the motorized activities located on the AOAA property. This buffer area extends eight hundred to one thousand feet from the rear property lines of the Upper Excelsior neighborhood. At the request of Upper Excelsior residents, no motorized access is provided from this neighborhood into the AOAA. Should this access be desired by Upper Excelsior residents at a future point in time, it can be re-evaluated at that time. The existing access from Upper Excelsior should be gated and locked, and only emergency response and maintenance vehicles should be permitted to access the AOAA from Excelsior. We recommend a medical / EMS response helicopter landing zone be established near the Excelsior Patch gate to accommodate emergency response to this portion of the AOAA property Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

239 ENTERPRISE COLLIERY The existing Enterprise (aka Alaska Site) site is proposed to contain non-motorized trails and shall be utilized to provide dedicated hunting opportunities. HELFENSTEIN PATCH The eastern finger of AOAA property extending along the ridge and southern face of Mahanoy Mountain east towards Helfenstein is proposed to be a limited motorized use buffer, to provide respite to the Helfenstein neighborhood located along State Route 2044 (aka High Road). This buffer areas can be utilized for non-motorized trail use. These areas will be opened to non-motorized use and motorized use will be limited in density and speed. We recommend exploring the possibility of establishing a small equestrian trail access point where the AOAA property fronts Shamokin Street in the Helfenstein neighborhood. A seven 2.5 megawatt turbine wind energy farm is proposed along the ridge of Mahanoy Mountain as it extends through this area. Within this area of the property the County has a lease agreement with Penn Wind, LCC for the development of three turbines on the County s property. Two private parcels, encompassing an additional 1757 acres, are situated between the north of AOAA property situated near Helfenstein and south of the Enterprise site. These parcels of land would provide an opportunity to expand the trail system provided a lease agreement could be reached between the County and the property owner. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 4-15

240 4-16 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

241 WESTERN RESERVE (AREA WEST OF STATE ROUTE 125) The Western Reserve is proposed to be accessed from the Eastern Reserve ultimately by a grade separated crossing which will pass beneath State Route 125. A grade separated crossing provides the safest alternative to reaching the Western Reserve from the Eastern Reserve. In the short term the crossing is proposed to be at-grade. The Western Reserve is comprised of 66 county owned parcels and encompasses almost 3,800 acres. Ample opportunity exists to create a world class motorized trail system throughout the Western Reserve. WESTERN RESERVE CONNECTOR To make the connection between the Eastern and Western Reserves there are two county owned parcels separated by several privately held parcels before reaching the remaining County owned property in the Western Reserve. Connecting the Eastern and Western Reserve County properties will require easement agreements with the following land owners: Burring Coal Inc. and FER Land Company, Inc. Preliminary discussions have been held between Northumberland County staff and the property owners in this area during the master planning process. These property owners appear to be amenable to providing easements to provide an ORV trail connection between the Eastern and Western Reserves. These easements should be acquired immediately so that development of the motorized trails on the Western Reserve can occur with the first phase of development of the AOAA. There are also other opportunities for making this connection that involve additional land owners. If desired and / or necessary those options should be explored. WHALEBACK Upon reconnecting to the County owned parcels to the west, the internationally renowned geologic feature, the Whaleback Anticline, is located immediately adjacent to the northern edge of the County property. As described earlier in Chapter One Background Inventory and Analysis, the Whaleback Anticline is a geological feature of international interest. The property which includes the Whaleback is privately held. The owner of this property was approached to discuss their interest in leasing the Whaleback property to the County. The property owner was not interested at that time. Given the international significance of the Whaleback Anticline we recommend the County continue its efforts to work with the property owner and /or other interested parties to lease, purchase, or otherwise preserve this outstanding geologic feature. The area of interest contains approximately forty-four acres, which is a little more than fifty percent of the seventyseven acre parcel that it resides upon. Should the County succeed in its efforts to acquire the forty-four acres which encompasses the Whaleback Anticline, then we recommend the area be further enhanced with hiking trails, motorized access around the northern perimeter, further overlook development, and further geologic and environmental interpretation opportunities be developed. Future programming opportunities could include non-motorized and motorized geologic tours of this extraordinary Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 4-17

242 geologic feature. Consideration could also be given to developing a climbing and repelling policy as it can offer those opportunities as well if desired. A property survey should be completed in this area to determine whether the existing usercreated overlook is located on County or the adjacent private property. If located on the adjacent private property, we recommend the County continue to pursue a lease for a minimal amount of land from the owner, one to five acres as required, so the existing user-created overlook can be enhanced with the addition of a small parking area, picnic tables, a picnic shelter, and a sign or kiosk interpreting the geologic significance of the Whaleback Anticline. Opportunities may exist to provide overlooks to the Whaleback property from surrounding private properties. Therefore if leasing a portion of the actual Whaleback parcel, then off-site lease opportunities should be explored. If viable the County may be able to negotiate a lease to acquire access to these areas in order to provide opportunities for geologic interpretation of this internationally significant geological feature from adjacent property. Conversations with a staff geologist at the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Topography and Geology indicated it would be very difficult and length process to obtain Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection permits for resource extraction that impact the Whaleback formation in a negative manner. MAHANOY MOUNTAIN, BEAR VALLEY, AND BIG MOUNTAIN Upon reaching the County property directly south of the Whaleback Anticline the heart of the AOAA motorized trail system is at hand. This area includes the ridge and northern face of Mahanoy Mountain, Bear Valley, locally known as the Bowl, and the southern face, ridge, and northern face of Big Mountain. The access road extending from the grade separated crossing under State Route 125 is proposed to extend to, through and circle, the Western Reserve property. This portion for the property provides trail opportunities for the full spectrum of OHVs, including: off highway motorcycles, ATVs, SXSs, full size 4 x 4 s, rock crawlers, and dune buggies. The Master Plan identifies areas specific to rock crawling (along the ridge of Mahanoy Mountain) and OHM, SXS, ATV, and ORV play areas in the area locally known as the Sands. Further, existing features locally known as the Pines, Heart Lake and the Projects provide focal points for rest areas and potential primitive camping areas, while features such as Mud Road provide challenging full size opportunities. Carbon Run begins in the center of Bear Valley and extends eastward through the County property as it flows towards the Fairview Ferndale neighborhood located in the western side of the City of Shamokin. The areas along Carbon Run may contain plant species classified by DCNR as Species of Concern. Therefore DCNR recommends a 500 foot no-disturbance buffer be placed along the stream and its headwaters. In addition, they recommend steps be taken to limit access 4-18 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

243 of ORVs to the streamside habitats. The master plan proposes the recommended buffer and Northumberland County has invited DCNR Office of Conservation Science to conduct a field view to confirm whether the species of concern exist in the area. Further, we recommend stream crossings and trails located within the buffer area be limited to existing the crossings and trails provided they do not have any negative impacts to wetlands, water, or the habitat of the species of concern. A secondary access to the AOAA property can be considered to provide access from the adjacent Fairview Rod and Gun Club property should it be desired. If desired, issues of security and control must be adequately addressed. Four landing zones are proposed in this area to meet the needs of emergency responders. The are proposed near: 1. Bear Valley / Upper Patch Road Entrance into the property 2. Near The Projects 3. Near Heart Lake 4. On the County property near The Flats gate TREVORTON PATCH The County owned land, isolated from the Mahanoy Mountain, Bear Valley, and Big Mountain properties described above, along the northern face of Big Mountain and immediately adjacent to the Trevorton neighborhood is proposed as a limited-motorized buffer, with the proposed secondary motorized trail access point following the former trolley line corridor up the mountain, as identified on the Master Plan. This secondary access has been selected to provide direct access to the AOAA to eliminate the need to trailer machines from Trevorton to the main AOAA Trail Access located east of State Route 125. The proposed secondary access point needs to be implemented in a neighbor-friendly manner so it is not a nuisance to the surrounding property owners. Therefore, consideration should be given to policies governing all secondary accesses, such as day light use only, and potentially weekend use only. THE FLATS AND COAL HILL Immediately adjacent to the west of the County-owned property, and before reaching State Route 2044 (aka Franklin Avenue) is the area locally known as the Flats, encompassing approximately 287 acres of land in two parcels. Historically the Flats has served as a primary motorized trail access point. However, it is located on privately held land, and is in close proximity to Coal Hill, lying immediately to the west, also on private property, and a source of contention to municipal officials and surrounding neighbors due to dust, noise, and unsafe riding concerns. Coal Hill typically generates many more ATV accidents during the course of the year than does the 6,000 acres of County-owned property to its east. Although the Flats has been associated with negative aspects of OHV activities in the region, it has tremendous potential to serve the AOAA. If an agreement can be reached with the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 4-19

244 property owners to provide access from their property to the County-owned property the potential exists to provide lodging opportunities on the site, from an organized campground and camping cabins, up to and including hotel and hospitality opportunities. Additionally, this area could serve as a prime location for a secondary access into the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area, regardless of whether a campground or lodging is provided in the vicinity. Further, frontage along State Route 2044 could be developed by the private sector to further meet the needs of guests who visit the AOAA. Immediately north of The Flats is another parcel, 572 acres in size, that is privately held. This parcel, owner willing, can also provide the opportunity to expand motorized trail opportunities in conjunction with the trails of the Western Reserve. MAHANOY MOUNTAIN WEST Last but not least, are the two parcels of County-owned land, totaling 242 acres in size, situated on the western side of State Route 2044, along the ridge of Mahanoy Mountain. Given this parcel is disconnected from the remaining County-owned land, we recommend it be considered for limited motorized use. It has the potential to be developed as a special event area, catering to the rock crawling community Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

245 ANTHRACITE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE AREA TRAIL SYSTEM A total of over two hundred and ten miles of existing and proposed motorized and nonmotorized trails are shown on the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area Master Plan. This two hundred and ten plus mile network of trails results in over three hundred and eighteen miles of trail use potential by the various user modes. Further, as the facility develops and ages, there are opportunities to expand the trail system by between twenty-five and fifty percent. The trails identified on the master plan are a combination of existing and proposed trails. Further, they are shown conceptually. This means that as AOAA transitions from planning to design and implementation, both the existing and proposed trail corridors need to be evaluated in the field to determine their ability and potential to serve the intended users. This should be accomplished by using specific criteria. We recommend the County adopt the U.S. Forest Service s soon to be published Comprehensive Framework for Off-Highway Vehicle Trail Management as the guiding document for establishing policy and the management frame work of the trail system. Further, the trails should conform to the design principles and requirements highlighted in Chapter Three. The following table identifies the mileage associated with each mode of motorized use as delineated on the master plan: Mileage by Mode Type Motorized Trails Non-Motorized Trails Trail Type Access Roads ORV SXS/ATV OHM Equestrian Hiking / Mountain Bicycling Primary Access Road Secondary Access Road Existing ORV/ SXS / ATV / OHM Trails Rock ORV Crawling Trails Existing Dedicated ATV Trails Proposed Dedicated ATV Trails OHM Dedicated Single Track Trails Single Track Mountain Bike Trails Equestrian Trails Hiking Trails Total Miles Percentage of Total 8.58% 20.63% 31.41% 24.18% 4.71% 10.49% Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 4-21

246 When comparing only the motorized trail uses trail types, and excluding access roads, the breakdown as follows: Motorized Trail Mileage % % Trails Open to ORV Use Trails Open to ATV Use Trails Open to OHM Use % As the master plan is implemented and final design of the AOAA is started decisions on trail use will be made. This will involve criteria adopted from the U.S. Forest Service s Comprehensive Framework for Off-Highway Vehicle Trail Management. Criteria will include: Trail type Trail class Managed use Designed use Design parameters Once the travel mode is identified for a particular segment of trail, then the trail will be designed in accordance with recognized design standards for the intended use. These include: Design Tread Width: expressed in terms of single lane, double lane, and the minimum tread width on trail structures. Design Surface: expressed in terms of surface type, protrusions, and obstacles. Design Grade: expressed in terms of target grade, short pitch maximum grade, and maximum pitch density. Design Cross Slope: expressed in terms of target cross slope and maximum cross slope. Design Clearing: expressed in terms of width, height, and shoulder clearance. Design Turns: expressed in terms of the turning radius. The trail management framework allows the basic trail sustainability elements to be applied is a systematic manner. The ten elements recommended in the U.S. Forest Service s publication 4-22 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

247 Comprehensive Framework for Off-Highway Vehicle Trail Management provide the trail manager with guidance on information collection, data evaluation, decision making, and program development and implementation. The ten trail management elements are: 1. Preliminary status assessment 2. Environmental analysis 3. Trail management objectives 4. Documentation of trail location 5. Trail condition assessment 6. Evaluation of management options 7. Trail prescriptions 8. Trail maintenance 9. Implementation 10. Trail monitoring and evaluation This process will include reviewing and evaluating existing trails to eliminate unsustainable trails, to eliminate negative environmental impacts, and to direct users away from potential liability concerns that may exist on the property. Further, it will identify and provide recommendations for seasonal closures due to weather patterns, trail use, and the desired management practices of the AOAA. This process is applicable to both the motorized and nonmotorized trail system. This process should be completed during the design, permitting, and construction document phase as it will establish the trail system which will become available to the public when the AOAA opens. As long as this process is followed, new trails (not indicated on the master plan) can continue to be developed in accordance with the guiding principles of the master plan, and in accordance with the carrying capacity of the property. For example, the Mahanoy Mountain, Bear Valley, and Big Mountain area of the Western Reserve contains the area known as the Bowl. In the Master Plan this area is proposed for a high density of trail development. Therefore, the above process is followed, and it deemed that there is sufficient carrying capacity to add additional miles of single track SXS / ATV trails in the area, without negatively impacting the environment, and without increasing potential liability, then it would be acceptable to design and construct additional trails in the Bowl. Another example, in the Master Plan much of the Eastern Reserve is programmed for limited motorized access and non-motorized trail development. Trail density in these areas should be sparse to reduce potential conflicts between motorized and non-motorized trail uses. Therefore, if the planning and design process is followed and it is determined additional motorized trails cannot be developed without negatively impacting the non-motorized trail system and users, then additional trails should not be developed in those areas. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 4-23

248 CONSERVATION Motorized recreation and conservation are not mutually exclusive. A primary goal of the AOAA is to improve the condition of the land, water, and habitat located on the property. During the master planning process care was taken to locate facilities, trails, and activity areas in a manner that respects the habitat, water, and landscape resources present on the site. Refinement of the locations of these facilities, during the design process, and over time as the master plan may be revised and refined, must also take these resources into consideration. Although motorized and non-motorized trails extend throughout much of the property, their impact is limited to the narrow corridor which the typically occupy. The following chart illustrates that two-thirds of the property is allocated for buffer, non-motorized, and limited motorized use. Acreage by Use 2, % 2, % Motorized Use Area Non-Motorized & Limited Motorized Use Area Buffer Areas 1, % To actively implement the goal of improving the condition of the land, water, and habitat located on the property, we recommend the following best management strategies be incorporated into the design and implementation of the AOAA: a. Evaluate existing trails to determine whether they are sustainable. If a desired existing trail is not sustainable, then the trail layout needs to be evaluated to determine if the unsustainable sections can be re-routed in a sustainable manner. If the unsustainable sections cannot be re-routed, then the trail should be abandoned, and the ends of the trail need to be obliterated. This applies to both motorized and non-motorized trails Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

249 b. AOAA management should continue to engage and partner with conservation organizations to implement habitat, landscape improvement and acid mine drainage remediation projects throughout the property. c. Management of the AOAA must actively and passively educate visitors to the AOAA on the conservation ethic, and TreadLightly / Leave No Trace philosophies and policies. This should occur from management s first point of contact with potential visitors, through promotional material and the AOAA website; when visitors arrive at the AOAA through brochures, signage, and staff contact with visitors; and through signage and enforcement at problem locations throughout the property. All staff, management, maintenance and security must understand and promote the conservation ethic in all respects of performing their duties at the AOAA. d. Conservation and timber management planning should be incorporated into the overall management structure of the AOAA. Opportunities exist to partner with the Penn State Cooperative Extension District Forest, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, and other public agencies to prepare specific recommendations for the future of the landscape of the AOAA. These opportunities should be explored and capitalized upon. PA DEP BAMR MINE HAZARD PRIORITIES In Chapter One: Inventory & Analysis we identified the locations of abandoned mine land hazard areas as documented in the PA DEP BAMR s Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Inventory database. Although the PA DEP BAMR database acknowledges AML hazards located on the County property, the field review identified additional AML hazard areas that are not documented. These locations, as documented in Chapter One, were provided to PA DEP BAMR, and they requested to be invited by Northumberland County to conduct a field view of these locations so they can determine whether they should be added to the AML Inventory Database. The inclusion of all AML hazard areas in the database is important as inclusion with the database provides access to funding that may be available from the Federal Office of Surface Mining, which is administered in Pennsylvania by PA DEP. We recommend that both the AML Inventory database priorities and the undocumented AML areas identified during this planning process be further reviewed by PA DEP BAMR at the request of Northumberland County. During this review process we recommend the following considerations be given to each AML feature: 1. What and where are the hazards that present liabilities should the properties be opened to the public? 2. Can the AML hazards be adequately protected / cordoned off so the liability is eliminated / drastically reduced? How is that accomplished in each specific instance? 3. Are there any remaining liabilities that need major capital investment to address before opening to the public? 4. What should the priorities be for AML investment and hazard mitigation given the public use of the properties? Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 4-25

250 At the time of this study PA DEP BAMR had one active remediation process that was in the process of planning and design. This is the Boyers Knob Reclamation project as identified on the master plan. It is anticipated this project will be completed within the next two years. All AML remediation projects must take into consideration the future use of the property which is to provide motorized and non-motorized trail opportunities. In many cases traditional AML remediation projects will eliminate features desired by the motorized trail users. Therefore, each remediation project needs to be carefully coordinated with the County and AOAA management so that it is implemented in a complementary manner to future uses instead of having negative impacts to / or eliminating desired features for future use. AML remediation projects typically require a significant financial commitment of OSM funds. The value of this work can often be utilized as a local match, especially with the DCNR grant programs. Therefore, we recommend the AML projects be coordinated and timed so the OSM funding can be used to leverage DCNR funding for AOAA development activities. SUSTAINABLE DESIGN Up to this point emphasis has been placed on sustainable trail design, it does not end there. Sustainable design practices should be implemented throughout all phases of AOAA development, management, operations, maintenance and security. During the design process, consideration was given to construction and lifecycle costs based on the physical layout of the proposed facility and activity areas on the site. Because the site is over six thousand acres in size, those design alternatives that consolidated activity areas and reduced road construction were determined to be more appealing than the alternatives than did not. In addition, consideration was given to the lifecycle cost of proposed improvements utilizing a sustainable design approach. If there was no sustainable design solution to the particular item, or the sustainable design approach was substantially greater than a traditional design or engineering solution, then consideration was given to the various methods of achieving the need through traditional design and engineering practices. To fully understand the impact of materials and design options, one must have an understanding of sustainable design, and how it can reduce the life cycle costs of development. Sustainable design, green design, green building, and high performance building are interchangeable terms that reflect a sensitivity of site and building improvements to the environment, and to those who occupy and visit the improvements. In Guiding Principles of Sustainable Design, the National Park Service defines a sustainable design philosophy as follows: Site design is a process of intervention involving the location of circulation, structures, and utilities, and making natural and cultural values available to visitors. The process encompasses 4-26 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

251 many steps from planning to construction, including initial inventory, assessment, alternative analysis, detailed design, and construction procedures and services. In many places, the land is more damaged than previously believed. Soil erosion, groundwater contamination, acid rain, and other industrial pollutants are damaging the health of plant communities, thereby intensifying the challenge and necessity to restore habitats. As only one component of an interdependent natural system, the human species must develop a respect for the landscape and expend more effort towards understanding the interrelationships of soils, water, plant communities and associations, and habitats, as well as the impacts of human uses on them. Beyond a change in basic approach, sustainable site design requires holistic, ecologically based strategies to create projects that do not alter or impair, but instead help repair and restore existing site systems. Site systems such as plant and animal communities, soils, and hydrology must be respected as patterns and processes of the living world. These strategies apply to all landscapes, no matter how small, how urban, or how degraded it has become. The Guiding Principles of Sustainable Design offers the following general and specific design considerations that should be made as one plans for the development of a site. General Sustainable Site Design Considerations Promote spiritual harmony with, and embody an ethical responsibility to, the native landscape and its resources. Plan landscape development according to the surrounding context, rather than by overlaying familiar patterns and solutions. Do not sacrifice ecological integrity or economic viability in a sustainable development; both are equally important factors in the development process. Understand the site as an integrated ecosystem with changes occurring over time in dynamic balance; the impacts of development must be confined within these natural changes. Allow simplicity of functions to prevail, while respecting basic human needs of comfort and safety. Recognize there is no such thing as waste, only resources out of place. Assess feasibility of development in long-term social and environmental costs, not just short-term construction costs. Analyze and model water and nutrient cycles prior to development intervention - First, do no harm. Minimize areas of vegetation disturbance, earth grading, and water channel alternation. Locate structures to take maximum advantage of passive energy technologies to provide for human comfort. Provide space for processing all wastes created onsite, so no hazardous or destructive wastes will be released into the environment. Determine environmentally safe means of onsite energy production and storage in the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 4-27

252 early stages of site planning. Phase development to allow for the monitoring of cumulative environmental impacts of development. Allow the natural ecosystem to be self-maintaining to the greatest extent possible. Develop facilities to integrate selected maintenance functions such as energy conservation, waste reduction, recycling, and resource conservation into the visitor experience. Incorporate indigenous materials and crafts into structures, native plants into landscaping, and local customs into programs and operations PA DCNR s publication Creating Sustainable Community Parks and Landscapes A Guide to Improving Quality of Life by Protecting Natural Resources documents sustainable recommendations and practices that are applicable to the AOAA. These include: Enhancing Wildlife Habitat Conserving and Protecting Water Resources Monitor and Minimize Water Uses Reuse Water Create and Enhance Riparian Buffers Protect Wetlands and Critical Recharge Areas Manage Stormwater Naturally Minimize Hard, Non-Porous Surfaces and Turf Areas Reduce Soil Compaction Reduce the Use of Chemicals Plant Selection Proper Tree Care Maintaining Soils Fertilizing Composting Mulching Vegetation Maintenance Pruning Turfgrass Weed and Pest Control Invasive Species Prevention Integrated Pest Management Water Use and Conservation Public Relations Educational Materials and Programs Volunteer Programs Staff and Volunteer Training It is important to evaluate materials and design options during the master planning process 4-28 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

253 and throughout the design and implementation phases, to ensure that life cycle costs of the improvements being proposed are as are low as possible. This assists those responsible for the management and operations of the improvements in avoiding unnecessary financial burdens in operating, maintaining, improving and repairing the development. PROPOSED GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS The following is a recommended list of rules and regulations for visitors to the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area. These rules have been developed from a review of similar facilities across the USA. Some have been modified to fit the needs of the AOAA. While these are typical rules for similar facilities, the management of AOAA can amend, adjust, eliminate or add as they determine is in the best interest of safety, operations, and promoting an enjoyable experience at the AOAA. THESE RULES ARE TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY! Visitors that disregard the rules and regulations or pose a safety threat to themselves or others will at a minimum, be ejected from the area without a refund and may be suspended from future visits to the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area. All visitors of the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area must abide by all laws of the Commonwealth of PA and the local municipalities. Parking is permitted in designated areas only. No person may enter the Anthracite Outdoor Recreation Area except through designated entrances. No person is permitted in the Anthracite Outdoor Recreation Area except during posted hours of operation. No alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs may be carried onto or consumed on the property. No person under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or any illegal substances that may hinder thinking ability or reaction time will be permitted access to the property. Coolers may be inspected at any time on the grounds to enforce this rule. Firearms or weapons of any kind are prohibited (except as permitted by Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or US law.) A responsible adult must be with and supervise minors at all times. Overnight camping is permitted only in designated areas. Prohibited Activities Starting or maintaining a fire except in a fire pit, grill, stove. Leaving a fire unattended. Disposing hot charcoal except in a facility designated for charcoal disposal. Cutting, picking, digging, damaging or removing, in whole or in part, a living or dead tree, shrub or plant. Damaging, defacing, cutting or removing rock, shale, sand, clay, soil or other mineral product, natural object or material. Feeding wildlife. Releasing an animal that was brought into the Area. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 4-29

254 Depositing, dumping or causing to be deposited or dumped, litter, trash, refuse, garbage, bottles, and pollutants. Disposing material that was not accumulated during use of the Area. Disorderly conduct of any kind. Swimming, except in designated swimming area. Additional rules may be adopted for the use of swimming areas. The following activities are prohibited without written permission of the County or Authority: Engaging in construction or excavation. Moving, removing, damaging or defacing an AOAA sign, structure, facility or equipment. Possessing, discharging or causing to be discharged a firecracker, explosive, torpedo, rocket or other pyrotechnical material. Using a chain saw. Engaging in commercial activity. Posting or displaying a sign or printed matter. Soliciting funds. Removing or disturbing a historical or archeological artifact, relic or object. Trespassing A person, who violates any of the rules described herein, disregards an instruction or warning given by an official of the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area or interferes in the performance of the duties of an Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area employee may be ordered to leave the Area. A person who refuses to leave the Area after receiving an order to leave from an Anthracite Outdoor Recreation Area employee or official representative shall be considered to be trespassing and shall be subject to criminal prosecution. When you Arrive Report to the Guest Services Building Provide proof of valid ATV Registration, we honor other states registrations that honor ours! If you don t have registration someone at the Welcome Center will be able to assist you in purchasing an Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area Registration. Provide Photo ID. Anyone without Photo ID must provide proof of age or have a Parent s consent. Before You Can Ride All riders must use designated entrances only. All visitors to the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area must check-in at the Welcome Center before using the area. All trail users must have a valid Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area Permit. All riders and passengers must complete and sign the insurance waiver. All riders/passengers under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian sign the insurance waiver Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

255 Your Personal Conduct No alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs may be carried onto or consumed on Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area property. No person under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or any illegal substances that may hinder thinking ability or reaction time will be permitted access to the property. Coolers may be inspected at any time on Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area grounds to enforce this rule. No firearms or weapons are permitted while riding on Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area property. No disorderly conduct No Littering. Please pack out what you pack in. A responsible adult must be with and supervise minors at all times. Be courteous of other drivers and Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area employees on and off the trails. Your Vehicle All ATVs and off-highway motorcycles must have a properly functioning muffler and USFS approved spark arrestor. ATVs and motorcycles may not exceed an engine noise limit above 96 decibels as tested under SAE J1287. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area is not required nor should be expected to recover, repair, or escort non-emergencies out of the facility. Please have a way to get yourself out of the facility if you are broken down. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area staff, if able to do so, will do their best to offer assistance. All full-size vehicles must have the following: at least one tow point (example: tow hook or receiver hitch), proper roll-over protection to include the passengers, battery tie down (no bungee cords), seatbelts for everyone in the vehicle, fire extinguisher, and trash bag for liquid spills. Front and rear tow points are mandatory for the harder trails along with a winch and locker. Your Ride All riders/passengers of all types of ATV s and off-highway motorcycles are required to wear the following while riding at Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area: - DOT, SNELL or other approved Helmet - Goggles - Long Sleeve Shirt - Long Pants - Closed Toe Over the Ankle Shoes - Other suggestions: Gloves, Chest Protector, etc. The parking lot is for parking and unloading your vehicles only. No speeding, tricks, or horseplay permitted. For the safety of all visitors, these rules will be strictly enforced. Travel is permitted on designated routes only. The trail is clearly marked with sign posts at each intersection. Blazing new trails is strictly prohibited and can lead to disciplinary actions including ejection from the facility. This not only protects the facility from problems with adjacent properties but allows the staff to focus its efforts on maintaining a safe and fun trail system for you instead of repairing illegal activity! Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 4-31

256 All vehicles must operate in a manner to avoid incidents and/or accidents while in the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area. All off road vehicle drivers and riders should follow the vehicle manufacturer s safe operating procedures. Please be sure that your OHV has the appropriate equipment needed to operate on the rough terrain in the area. All trails at Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area are two way trails! Please be courteous to oncoming traffic and utilize proper trail etiquette. Practicality dictates that the vehicle(s) that can pull over with the least amount of difficulty should do so and yield to oncoming traffic. Ride the trails appropriate for your machine and skill level. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area offers a variety of trails to suit almost every rider; please select your routes carefully. Stay within the boundaries of facility and away from posted areas. For your safety, all riders are required to be in groups of two or more. Riding solo can leave you vulnerable if you have an accident or breakdown. Designate a meeting place in case of separation. Non-operative vehicles should be moved to the side of the trails and attended to immediately. All visitors must leave the facility within 15 minutes of closing time. Please allow yourself plenty of time to return to the parking area, pack up and leave. The Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area If you find yourself in need of a winch, please use tree saver straps on an appropriate size tree to protect the scenic beauty of the trail. Under no circumstances is the cutting of any tree permissible. The Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area is neither liable nor responsible for damage, loss or theft of personal property or injury to visitors. Tread Lightly - Please review and abide by our Tread Lightly standards. Failure to comply with the above rules, regulations and safe operating procedures may result in arrest, fines, temporary or permanent banning from using the area or participating in any future area activities or events. Discussion on Pets Initially the proposed Rules and Regulations included a no pet policy. During the public input process and during steering committee input the question was raised as to why a no pet policy was being recommended. Not permitting any pets makes it easier to enforce pet restrictions. Pets my include dogs, cats, birds, pigs, goats, rodents (guinea pigs, hamsters), exotic animals, and snakes, to name a few. People can make pets of virtually any animal. Stating no pets are permitted addresses all of these without having to list them individually. To allow a certain type of pet and not others requires AOAA to provide justification as why one and not the other. The specific question has been asked about allowing dogs in the campground or even throughout other areas of the facility including both the motorized and non-motorized areas Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

257 Most pet owners are responsible about their care and concern for their pets, the safety of others, and not being a nuisance. Many, however, are not. A dog that is leashed and under the control of its owner will usually not present a problem. Some pet owners, however, are unable to keep their dogs under control and quiet. These become both safety and nuisance issues to other users requiring enforcement of the AOAA staff and/or volunteers. Sometimes these types of safety and nuisance issues are very subjective leaving opportunity for confrontation and disagreements among visitors and putting enforcement staff in awkward situations. If dogs are to be permitted in the general areas of the AOAA, there are additional risk with dogs, vehicles, and equestrians. When at home, dog owners keep their pets away from busy roads and high traffic areas. Bringing pets to the AOAA creates a direct conflict of uses putting animals in the same places as multiple kinds of vehicles, and with horses in the non-motorized areas of the AOAA. Vehicles are often travelling quickly on trails with limited visibility due to other vehicles, winding trails, and overgrowth of vegetation. Unexpected pets in the area are a hazard to both the rider and the pet. Horses can be easily spooked by dogs and throw its rider. Further dogs, not use to horses, are apt to want to play and/or chase horses. Each of these instances may create additional liability issues. After discussing the issues associated with permitting pets it was the consensus of the steering committee to recommend not addressing pets in the proposed Rules & Regulations. Rather if it becomes an issue in the AOAA the policies can be modified at that time. We recommend the County review and evaluate each rule and regulation on an annual basis to determine whether modifications are necessary. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 4-33

258 4-34 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

259 OPINION OF PROBABLE CONSTRUCTION COSTS An Opinion of Probable Construction Cost was developed to project the costs to design and construct the improvements proposed within the AOAA. These projections were based on a number of assumptions as described herein. Costs for construction activities, in each phase, were assigned based on our experience with construction costs. These costs are typically based upon publicly bid projects that pay prevailing wage rates, exceptions are noted in the tables. Exceptions include such items such as trail and campground improvements that can be constructed through volunteer and in-kind services. In addition, the cost projections take into account the following: The condition of the corridor at the time of construction will be similar to its condition in Property lease / acquisition costs have not been incorporated into the opinion of probable construction costs. Opinions of probable construction costs should be confirmed / revised upon completion of preliminary design. For budgetary purposes 15% of the estimated construction costs have been included in the projections to provide a contingency to address design revisions, unknown, and / or unforeseen conditions that may arise during design and construction. To budget for inflation, a four percent annual inflation rate should be applied to the projected construction costs, for each year past The opinions of probable construction costs presented herein are liberal in nature and assume the following costs that may, or may not be required depending on the requirements of funding sources utilized on the project. The overall development costs for the facilities and activities proposed within the AOAA are projected on the tables on the following pages. Cost projects are broken down into to categories: 1. Entrance and Trailhead Facilities and Activities 2. Trail Development Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 4-35

260 4-36 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

261 ENTRANCE AND TRAILHEAD FACILITY & ACTIVITY DEVELOPMENT OPINION OF PROBABLE COSTS Entrance and Trailhead Facility & Activities Qty. Unit Cost per Unit Extension 1. Trailhead Entrance Road and Short Term Parking Notes a. Clearing and grubbing 3.25 AC $1,250 $4,063 b. Asphalt entrance road, incl. esc & stormwater management, & entrance sign 3200 SY $125 $400,000 c. Pervious short term parking at office 4900 SY $25 $122,500 All construction to be d. Walkways 835 SY $25 $20,875 completed through public Trailhead Entrance Road and Parking Subtotal $547,438 bidding process. 15% Contingency $82,116 Design, Engineering, & Permitting $54,744 Trailhead Entrance Road and Parking Total $684, Office Notes a. b. Office / Comfort Station / Meeting Room Building incl. plumbing, electric, HVAC Potable Water Service, on-lot treatment system 4850 SF $200 $970,000 1 LS $350,000 $350,000 c. Sanitary Disposal, drip irrigation 1 LS $200,000 $200,000 d. Primary Electric Extension 1 LS $40,000 $40,000 Office Subtotal $1,560,000 15% Contingency $234,000 Design, Engineering, & Permitting $156,000 Office Total $1,950,000 All construction to be completed through public bidding process. Building to be stick-built construction basedon anthracite heritage theme. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 4-37

262 3. Maintenance, Safety, & Security Building Notes a. Clearing and grubbing 1.40 AC $12,500 $17,500 b. Access road 675 SY $30 $20,250 c. Maintenance, Safety, & Security Building 1800 SF $150 $270,000 d. Maintenance Yard 5000 SY $4 $20,000 e. Potable Water Service, extend from office building, sanitary service not provided 1 LS $20,000 $20,000 f. Primary Electric Extension 1 LS $5,000 $5,000 Subtotal Maintenance, Safety, & Security Building $352,750 15% Contingency $52,913 Design, Engineering, & Permitting $35,275 Maintenance, Safety, & Security Building Total $440, ORV Challenge Course, ATV, & OHM Training Areas Notes a. Clearing and grubbing 1.50 AC $1,250 $1,875 b. ORV Challenge Course 1 LS $150,000 $150,000 c. ATV / OHM Training Area 1 LS $50,000 $50,000 Subtotal ORV Challenge Course, ATV, & OHM Training Areas $201,875 15% Contingency $30,281 Design, Engineering, & Permitting $20,188 ORV Challenge Course, ATV, & OHM Training Areas Total $252,344 All construction to be completed through public bidding process. Building to be pre-fab steel building primarily for equipment and materials storage. All construction to be completed through public bidding process Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

263 5. ORV Day Use Parking Area (250 spaces) Notes a. Clearing and grubbing AC $1,250 $12,500 b. Access roads SY $15 $251,250 c. Picnic groves 4 EA $50,000 $200,000 d. Buggy wash, no soap water only, therefore no sanitary requirement 3 EA $90,000 $270,000 e. N0n-Potable Water Well 1 LS $30,000 $30,000 g. Primary Electric Extension 1 LS $15,000 $15,000 h. Storage units (10x15 each) 20 EA $4,000 $80,000 Subtotal Day Use Parking Area $858,750 15% Contingency $128,813 Design, Engineering, & Permitting $85,875 Day Use Parking Area Total $1,073, ORV Campground Notes a. Clearing and grubbing 20 ac $1,250 $25,000 b. Access road extension SY $5 $156,000 c. Graded camp roads SY $5 $156,000 d. 250 primitive campsites 250 EA $1,500 $375,000 e. Campground Picnic Grove 6 EA $60,000 $360,000 f. Sanitary Dump Station, in-ground tanks 1 EA $15,000 $15,000 Subtotal ORV Campground $1,087,000 15% Contingency $163,050 Design, Engineering, & Permitting $108,700 ORV Campground Total $1,358,750 Construction to occur with OHV facility staff / volunteers. Aggregate for roads will be obtained and crushed on-site. Construction to occur with OHV facility staff / volunteers with exception of dump station which will be constructed through public bidding process. Aggregate for roads will be obtained and crushed on-site. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 4-39

264 7. Overflow Parking Area Notes a. Clearing and grubbing 25 AC $2,500 $62,500 b. Access road extension 700 SY $15 $10,500 Construction to occur c. Minor grading 15 AC $2,500 $37,500 with OHV facility staff / Subtotal Overflow Parking Area $110,500 volunteers. Aggregate for 15% Contingency $16,575 roads will be obtained and Design, Engineering, & Permitting $11,050 crushed on-site. Overflow Parking Total $138, Hiking / Equestrian / Mountain Biking Trailhead Notes a. Clearing and grubbing 2.00 AC $2,500 $5,000 b. Access road extension 1640 SY $15 $24,600 Construction to occur with OHV facility staff / c. Satellite office 600 SF $200 $120,000 volunteers, except for d. Trailhead parking area 1060 SY $20 $21,200 satellite office which will be Subtotal Non-Motorized Trailhead $170,800 constructed through public 15% Contingency $25,620 bidding process. Aggregate for roads will be obtained Design, Engineering, & Permitting $17,080 and crushed on-site. Non-Motorized Trailhead Total $213, Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

265 9. Hiking / Equestrian / Mountain Biking Campground Notes a. Clearing and grubbing 5.00 AC $2,500 $12,500 b. Graded camp roads SY $5 $75,750 c. 36 primitive campsites 36 EA $5,000 $180,000 d. Equestrian camp stables (1 per 3 sites) 8 EA $2,500 $20, Day use stable (ten stalls) 10 EA $2,500 $25,000 f. Primitive group camp area sites 48 EA $2,500 $120,000 g. Campground Picnic Grove 3 EA $60,000 $180,000 h. Sanitary Dump Station, in-ground tanks 1 EA $15,000 $15,000 Subtotal Non-Motorized Campground $628,250 15% Contingency $94,238 Design, Engineering, & Permitting $62,825 Non-Motorized Campground Total $785,313 Total $4,946,703 Construction to occur with OHV facility staff / volunteers, except for camp stables, day use stables, and dump station which will be constructed through public bidding process. Aggregate for roads will be obtained and crushed on-site. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 4-41

266 4-42 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

267 TRAIL DEVELOPMENT OPINION OF PROBABLE COSTS Trail Type Qty Unit Cost per Unit Extension Notes 1. Primary Access Road Notes a. Grading of existing road Mile $25,000 $297,500 Assumes existing haul roads through b. New access road construction 2.00 Mile $125,000 $250,000 properties will be utilized for 90% of the c. Access control gates 20 Each $7,500 $150,000 primary access road; road improvements will be limited to fine grading, and d. Traffic Control Signs 13 Each $200 $2,600 stablization of limited problem areas; e. Mile Markers / Directional Signs 26 Each $50 $1,300 as an existing road on the property f. Final design for permitting 1 LS $12,000 $12,000 it is assumed no further stormwater g. Permitting 1 LS $12,500 $12,500 management facilities will be required; primary road width will be limited to Subtotal Primary Access Roads $725,900 widths of between maximum. 15% Contingency $108,885 Aggregate for roads will be obtained Primary Access Roads Total $834,785 and crushed on-site. 2. Secondary Access Roads Notes a. Grading of existing road Mile $12,500 $168,000 Assumes existing haul roads through b. Access control gates 10 Each $7,500 $75,000 properties will be utilized for 90% of the secondary access road; road c. Traffic Control Signs 18 Each $200 $3,600 d. Mile Markers / Directional Signs 28 Each $50 $1,400 e. Final design for permitting 1 LS $13,000 $13,000 f. Permitting 1 LS $13,000 $13,000 Subtotal Secondary Access Roads $274,000 15% Contingency $41,100 Secondary Access Roads Total $315,100 improvements will be limited to fine grading, and stablization of limited problem areas; as an existing road on the property it is assumed no further stormwater management facilities will be required; primary road width will be limited to widths of between maximum. Aggregate for roads will be obtained and crushed on-site. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 4-43

268 3. Easy ORV Trails Notes a. ESC, stormwater controls, existing trail rehabilitation Mile $3,000 $90,000 b. New trail construction 1.50 Mile $6,000 $9,000 c. Traffic Control Signs 62 Each $200 $12,400 d. Mile Markers / Directional Signs 120 Each $50 $6,000 e. Field staking, final design for permitting 1 LS $40,000 $40,000 f. Permitting 1 LS $20,000 $20,000 Subtotal Easy ORV Trails $177,400 15% Contingency $26,610 Easy ORV Trails Total $204, More Difficult ORV Trails Notes a. ESC, stormwater controls, existing trail rehabilitation Mile $4,500 $49,320 b. Traffic Control Signs 22 Each $200 $4,400 c. Mile Markers / Directional Signs 44 Each $50 $2,200 d. Field staking, final design for permitting 1 LS $22,000 $22,000 e. Permitting 1 LS $11,000 $11,000 Subtotal More Difficult ORV Trails $88,920 15% Contingency $13,338 More Difficult ORV Trails Total $102,258 Assumes majority of the Easy ORV trails will follow existing trails throughout the site; volunteers will construct new trail segments; volunteers will install traffic control signs, mile markers, and directional signs; PA DEP will require construction drawings locating existing trails to be included in NPDES Earth Distrubance Permit, with corresponding erosion, sedimentation, and permanent stormwater management controls being estasblished to comply with State and Federal regulations. Assumes majority of the More Difficult ORV trails will follow existing trails throughout the site; volunteers will construct new trail segments; volunteers will install traffic control signs, mile markers, and directional signs; PA DEP will require construction drawings locating existing trails to be included in NPDES Earth Distrubance Permit, with corresponding erosion, sedimentation, and permanent stormwater management controls being estasblished to comply with State and Federal regulations Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

269 5. Most Difficult ORV Trails Notes a. ESC, stormwater controls, existing trail rehabilitation 5.05 Mile $6,000 $30,300 b. New trail construction 5.05 Mile $8,000 $40,400 c. Traffic Control Signs 22 Each $200 $4,400 d. Mile Markers / Directional Signs 48 Each $50 $2,400 e. Field staking, final design for permitting 1 LS $21,000 $21,000 f. Permitting 1 LS $11,000 $11,000 Subtotal Most Difficult ORV Trails $109,500 15% Contingency $16,425 Most Difficult ORV Trails Total $125, Rock Crawling ORV Trails Notes a. ESC, stormwater controls, existing trail rehabilitation 6.60 Mile $3,000 $19,800 b. New trail construction 6.60 Mile $12,500 $82,500 c. Traffic Control Signs 26 Each $200 $5,200 d. Mile Markers / Directional Signs 60 Each $50 $3,000 e. Field staking, final design for permitting 1 LS $26,000 $26,000 f. Permitting 1 LS $13,600 $13,600 Subtotal Rock Crawling ORV Trails $150,100 15% Contingency $22,515 Rock Crawling ORV Trails Total $172,615 Assumes some of the More Difficult ORV trails will follow existing trails throughout the site; volunteers will construct new trail segments; volunteers will install traffic control signs, mile markers, and directional signs; PA DEP will require construction drawings locating existing trails to be included in NPDES Earth Distrubance Permit, with corresponding erosion, sedimentation, and permanent stormwater management controls being estasblished to comply with State and Federal regulations. Assumes some of the Rock Crawling ORV trails will follow existing trails throughout the site; volunteers will construct new trail segments; volunteers will install traffic control signs, mile markers, and directional signs; PA DEP will require construction drawings locating existing trails to be included in NPDES Earth Distrubance Permit, with corresponding erosion, sedimentation, and permanent stormwater management controls being estasblished to comply with State and Federal regulations. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 4-45

270 7. ATV Trails Notes a. New trail construction Mile $6,000 $147,120 Assumes all ATV trails will be b. Traffic Control Signs 50 Each $200 $10,000 constructed / ridden-in by volunteers; c. Mile Markers / Directional Signs 100 Each $50 $5,000 volunteers will install traffic control signs, mile markers, and directional d. Field staking, final design for 1 LS $50,000 $50,000 signs; PA DEP will require construction permitting drawings locating existing trails to be e. Permitting 1 LS $25,000 $25,000 included in NPDES Earth Distrubance Subtotal ATV Trails $237,120 Permit, with corresponding erosion, 15% Contingency $35,568 sedimentation, and permanent stormwater management controls being ATV Trails Total $272,688 estasblished to comply with State and Federal regulations. 8. OHM Single Track Trails Notes a. New trail construction Mile $2,500 $61,300 Assumes all OHM Single Track trails will b. Traffic Control Signs 50 Each $200 $10,000 be constructed / ridden-in by volunteers; c. Mile Markers / Directional Signs 100 Each $50 $5,000 volunteers will install traffic control d. Field staking, final design for permitting 1 LS $50,000 $50,000 e. Permitting 1 LS $25,000 $25,000 Subtotal OHM Trails $151,300 15% Contingency $22,695 OHM Trails Total $173,995 signs, mile markers, and directional signs; PA DEP will require construction drawings locating existing trails to be included in NPDES Earth Distrubance Permit, with corresponding erosion, sedimentation, and permanent stormwater management controls being estasblished to comply with State and Federal regulations Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

271 9. Single Track Mountain Bike Trails Notes a. New trail construction Mile $2,500 $58,575 Assumes all Single Track Mountain Bike b. Traffic Control Signs 24 Each $200 $4,800 trails will be constructed / ridden-in by volunteers; volunteers will install c. Mile Markers / Directional Signs 48 Each $50 $2,400 d. Field staking, final design for permitting 1 LS $48,000 $48,000 e. Permitting 1 LS $24,000 $24,000 Subtotal OHM Trails $137,775 15% Contingency $20,666 Single Track Mountain Bike Trails Total $158, Equestrian Trails Notes traffic control signs, mile markers, and directional signs; PA DEP will require construction drawings locating existing trails to be included in NPDES Earth Distrubance Permit, with corresponding erosion, sedimentation, and permanent stormwater management controls being estasblished to comply with State and Federal regulations. a. New trail construction Mile $4,000 $60,000 Assumes all Equestrian trails will be b. Traffic Control Signs 15 Each $200 $3,000 constructed / ridden-in by volunteers; volunteers will install traffic control c. Mile Markers / Directional Signs 30 Each $50 $1,500 d. Field staking, final design for permitting 1 LS $48,000 $48,000 e. Permitting 1 LS $24,000 $24,000 Subtotal Equestrian Trails $136,500 15% Contingency $20,475 Equestrian Trails Total $156,975 signs, mile markers, and directional signs; PA DEP will require construction drawings locating existing trails to be included in NPDES Earth Distrubance Permit, with corresponding erosion, sedimentation, and permanent stormwater management controls being estasblished to comply with State and Federal regulations. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 4-47

272 11. Hiking Trails Notes a. New trail construction Mile $1,250 $12,500 Assumes all hiking trails will be b. Traffic Control Signs 10 Each $200 $2,000 constructed / walked-in by volunteers; c. Mile Markers / Directional Signs 20 Each $50 $1,000 volunteers will install traffic control signs, mile markers, and directional signs; PA d. Field staking, final design for 1 LS $10,000 $10,000 DEP will require construction drawings permitting locating existing trails to be included in e. Permitting 1 LS $5,000 $5,000 NPDES Earth Distrubance Permit, with Subtotal Hiking Trails $30,500 corresponding erosion, sedimentation, 15% Contingency $4,575 and permanent stormwater management controls being estasblished to comply with Hiking Trails Total $35,075 State and Federal regulations. 12. Trail Obliteration Notes a. Trail Obliteration 500 Each $200 $100,000 Trail obliteration will be performed Subtotal Trail Obliteration $100,000 in conjunction with permitting and construction of specific trail types, 15% Contingency $15,000 includes obiliterating first 100 of trails to Trail Obliteration Total $115,000 be closed. 13. General Site Improvements Notes a. Steel Pipe Gate with Lock Box 25 Each $7,000 $175,000 Includes: purchasing fabricated gates b. Boundary Fencing 5 Mile $45,000 $225,000 installation by volunteers; all signs c. Boundary Markers 1000 Each $50 $50,000 and markers installed by volunteers; d. Sensitive Environmental Area Markers 250 Each $50 $12,500 e. Abandoned Mine Opening Barriers 10 Each $10,000 $100,000 Subtotal General Site Improvements $562,500 15% Contingency $84,375 General Site Improvements Total $646,875 Total $2,167,715 boundary fencing to be highway right-ofway fence installed by contractor; mile markers, sensitive area markers, and boundary markers shall be reinforced fiberglass markers with adhesive stickers for identification; abandoned mine land opening barriers shall consist of markers / fencing / barriers, as required Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

273 PHASING RECOMMENDATIONS Ideally, the Athracite Outdoor Adventure Area would be developed in one phase, minimizing construction activities, disruptions, and realizing economies of scale savings. However, few facilities of this nature can be developed in this manner.therefore, it is it more appropriate to phase construction of improvements over a period of time. We recommend the improvements to the AOAA be constructed in a series of logical phases. Depending on the AOAA s financial situation, and the success of grant writing efforts, this phasing plan may be expedited, or lengthened, depending on the financial capabilities of the AOAA. Taking into consideration grant opportunities and availability, we have outlined five phases of improvements within the AOAA. Improvements not included in these initial phases are considered lower priorities, and will be re-visited upon completion of the work described herein. The five phases recommended with the concensus of the steering committee. The illustrated on the following pages. The financial oblications required to implement Phase I are as follows: DCNR Outside Total Facility or Area Funds 1. Primary Access Road & Short Term Parking 348, , , Building - Maintenance, Safety, Security 400, ,000 Additional for Electric, Phone, Water 150, , ORV Day Use Parking Area 125 Spaces 150, , Trail Obliteration 100, , Combined #8 Non-motorized Trailhead 323, ,348 Permitting for ORV Trails & Development 375, ,000 Boundary Surveys 100, ,000 Total 400,000 1,546, ,000 2,246,648 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 4-49

274 4-50 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

275 PHASING PLAN OPINION OF PROBABLE COST SUMMARY Facility / Area Phase Ia Phase Ib Phase II 1 Trailhead Entrance Road and Short Term Parking $684,297 2 Office $1,950,000 3 Maintenance, Safety, & Security Building $440,938 4 ORV Challenge Course, ATV, & OHM Training Areas 5 ORV Day Use Parking Area (250 spaces) $134,180 $268,359 6 ORV Campground $339,688 $339,688 7 Overflow Parking Area 8 Hiking / Equestrian / Mountain Biking Trailhead $213,500 9 Hiking / Equestrian / Mountain Biking Campground 10 Primary Access Road $362,950 $362, Secondary Access Roads 12 ORV Trails $177, Rock Crawling ORV Trails $375, ATV Trails $237, OHM Single Track Trails 16 Equestrian Trails 17 Hiking Trails 18 Trail Obliteration $100, General Site Improvements $646,875 $161,719 Total $2,353,792 $1,094,555 $3,319,836 Notes 1. Refer to Trailhead and Entrance, and Trail Development Opinion of Probable Cost for further cost breakdowns. 2. Phase I proposes Maintenance, Safety, & Security Building will function as AOAA office, without potable water and site sanitary service upon facility opening. Portable toilet units will be utilized for sanitary disposal. 3. Projections do not include costs for extension of public water and sanitary sewer to the site which will be required to lease proposed commercial parcels. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 4-51

276 PHASING PLAN OPINION OF PROBABLE COST SUMMARY (continued) Facility / Area Phase III Phase IV 1 Trailhead Entrance Road and Short Term Parking 2 Office 3 Maintenance, Safety, & Security Building 4 ORV Challenge Course, ATV, & OHM Training Areas $252,344 5 ORV Day Use Parking Area (250 spaces) $402,539 $268,359 6 ORV Campground $339,688 $339,688 7 Overflow Parking Area $138,125 8 Hiking / Equestrian / Mountain Biking Trailhead $213,500 9 Hiking / Equestrian / Mountain Biking Campground $785, Primary Access Road 11 Secondary Access Roads $274, ORV Trails 13 Rock Crawling ORV Trails 14 ATV Trails 15 OHM Single Track Trails $151, Equestrian Trails $136, Hiking Trails $30, Trail Obliteration $100, General Site Improvements $161,719 Total $1,856,214 $1,737, Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

277 OVERALL OPINION OF PROBABLE COST SUMMARY Facility / Area Total 1 Trailhead Entrance Road and Short Term Parking $684,297 2 Office $1,950,000 3 Maintenance, Safety, & Security Building $440,938 4 ORV Challenge Course, ATV, & OHM Training Areas $252,344 5 ORV Day Use Parking Area (250 spaces) $1,073,438 6 ORV Campground $1,358,750 7 Overflow Parking Area $138,125 8 Hiking / Equestrian / Mountain Biking Trailhead $213,500 9 Hiking / Equestrian / Mountain Biking Campground $785, Primary Access Road $725, Secondary Access Roads $274, ORV Trails $375, Rock Crawling ORV Trails $150, ATV Trails $237, OHM Single Track Trails $151, Equestrian Trails $136, Hiking Trails $30, Trail Obliteration $100, General Site Improvements $646,875 Total $9,724,818 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 4-53

278 4-54 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

279 CHAPTER 5: Business Plan Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 5-1

280

281 CHAPTER 5: Business Plan INTRODUCTION The financial expectation of the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area is that it will be fiscally successful year after year by producing operating revenues in excess of operating expenses. It is further expected, that from the beginning, the AOAA will need to rely on outside sources to provide the greatest share of development funding. These outside sources will include the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant programs, grants from other state and federal agencies, private businesses, foundations, non-profit organizations, and others. Northumberland County is expected to contribute to the AOAA in many forms, including continued planning, grant writing, and other in-kind services. In addition to direct funding of the development of the facility, volunteers will play a significant role as they assist in development of trails, riding areas, support facilities, and amenities. Municipally operated recreation facilities have long been considered community services. Often, such facilities are operated using financial principles of government that tend to focus on providing a community service at the lowest possible cost. They tend to look to be subsidized by government funds and fundraising rather than establishing a financial structure in which expenses incurred are covered by revenues produced. They are seen as providers of services rather than operators of a business. While these operational practices are often quite appropriate for these types of organizations, they will not promote the long-term success of the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area. In the interest of operating the AOAA as a financially successful operation, it is the recommendation of this Plan that the County create an Operating Authority to develop, manage, maintain, and operate the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area. The County and the Authority must recognize that this facility must function primarily as a business, employing typical business practices in its operations. The AOAA will be a unique combination of two governmental entities brought together to operate a community business. The expectation of the AOAA is that from an operational position it will be completely selfsufficient. The results of this study suggest that its on-going operation can be self-sustaining if it is operated under sound business principles. However, it is highly unlikely that it can be completely self-sustaining in its construction and development. As a business, AOAA will need to be creative in its efforts to consider all sources of income for both operations and development. The business operations of AOAA will be completely separate from County functions. The Authority essentially stands as an independent agency. Their business approach must encompass all aspects of AOAA s operations, fees, operating and development expenses, staffing, programming, safety and security, marketing, and much more. All decisions must be made from a business perspective. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 5-3

282 The remainder of this Chapter, including its analyses and recommendations, presume operations under typical business management practices. MANAGEMENT OF THE ANTHRACITE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE AREA CURRENT OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT Northumberland County currently owns and manages all of the properties related to the AOAA. As the landowner, they are completely responsible for all management, maintenance, security, operations and development of anything that takes place on the property. The Northumberland County Planning Department, an agency of the County, has been charged with managing the planning and development of a master plan for the site. As part of the master plan, a business and management plan is being developed to determine the best method of managing and operating the AOAA for the future. In recent years, a small group of volunteers has been integrally involved in assisting the Planning Department in evaluating existing conditions of the properties and casting the vision to develop it into a county recreational facility. They have not, however, been responsible for management or operations of the site. Additionally, a study committee consisting of one County Commissioner / State Representative, Planning Department Staff, the County Human Resource Director, and twelve other county residents has represented the County in the development of this master plan. One of their functions has been to assist the planning consultant in identifying the best method of management of the AOAA for the future. EXISTING AND ANTICIPATED SITE USES The proposed Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area includes multiple uses. Some of them are, or will be, related to the recreational aspects of the site, while others exist independent of any recreational use. Non-recreational uses must be managed differently than the recreational uses. Existing and potential non-recreational uses include: Mineral extraction Oil and gas extraction Reclamation of mine lands Water resource management Utility transmission lines 5-4 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

283 Water treatment ponds Roads Windmills for the production of wind energy Cell phone and 911 tower(s) Lease and/or sale of portions of the property for commercial use in support of the AOAA Disposal of surplus property Potential recreational uses of the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area include: Management, operations and maintenance of AOAA facilities and trails including nonmotorized and motorized activities and facilities. Safety and security operations related to AOAA activities and facilities. Marketing and promotion of AOAA and all special events. Implementation of conservation, wildlife habitat, and forestry management improvement recommendations. The above potential non-recreational and recreational uses just touch the surface and there are and will be many uses not identified herein which will arise. MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS SYSTEMS Three potential management options were evaluated by the Consultant and presented to the Study Committee for discussion. The following presents the synopsis of those discussions and a description of pros and cons identified by the committee. OPTION 1 COUNTY OWNERSHIP/COUNTY OPERATION Under this option, all property and facilities are owned and operated by Northumberland County. The County could utilize an existing county department and/or current staff to manage operations or they could create a new department and/or new staff positions to operate and manage the facility. Pros: Cons: The County would maintain ownership of the property; the County would control use of the property; the property would be developed primarily as a recreational facility; residents would have a say in the planning and development of the site. Would require an expansion of county government; the county is not set up to manage such a business oriented facility; it becomes part of the overall county political climate; counties don t tend to operate under the same business model that will be required by this facility; the facility may require larger subsidies of cash than if it is operated by a business-orientated entity. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 5-5

284 OPTION 2 COUNTY OWNERSHIP/OTHER OPERATION With this option, Northumberland County still owns the property but through a contractual agreement another organization would manage and operate the property, facilities, and programming. The agreement could be with any number of agencies or organizations including: Pros: Cons: County Opera ng Authority A private company or non-profit organiza on Land and opera ons leased to another organiza on Same as in Option 1 plus: A managing entity could be required to operate with a specified county subsidy or strictly as a for-profit business with no subsidy; the operating organization would need to be efficient in its operation and user driven to maintain success; The County would have little input into general operations; County politics could still come into play as the Commissioners appoint Authority Board members; environmental issues and county mandates could impede profitability. OPTION 3 OWNERSHIP AND OPERATIONS BY OTHERS In this option, the County would lease or sell the property to a private company who would own and operate it as an OHV facility. The lease or sales agreement would include legal stipulations and restrictions on the development of the property to ensure its development as a recreational OHV facility. Sale of the property could be limited by existing restrictions on the property and its legal uses as well as by the fact that mineral rights are owned by a third party. This scenario would mean very limited, if any, county involvement in development and use of the property. Pros: A private owner would have to operate at a profit in order to stay in business; there would be no County subsidy required; the business would need to be efficient in its operation and user driven to maintain success; the County would benefit financially from the lease / sale of the property. Cons: The County would have no input into operations; the county would no longer control or own the property; if the business failed the County would have few options to continue operation of the OHV facility. Recommended Ownership and Management Structure The consultant and the committee concurred that the best option is for the County to maintain ownership of the property and to create an operating authority to manage and operate it as described in Option Two. 5-6 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

285 PROPOSE GENERAL ROLES, RIGHTS, AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COUNTY AND THE AUTHORITY Allocation of Revenues All (100%) of the revenues produced by the recreational portion of the project shall be used by the AOAA Authority for supporting those purposes. Revenues produced from the lease or rental of properties or facilities located on the proposed commercial area of the site are considered to be part of the recreational uses of the property as they are intended to specifically support these uses. All revenues produced from non-recreational activities related to those facilities and functions of the County Commissioners shall be used for the County at their discretion. Grants Either Board may acquire grants for development of the project and may agree to pass through the funding to the other Board. Consent shall not be unreasonably held from one Board to the other, so long as the Board has complied with the terms of the grant and appropriate laws of procurement, and so long as the grant project does not materially, negatively impact the Master Site Plan. Northumberland County will have the right and responsibility to: Carry out all matters to which they are legally bound Create the operating authority for the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area Appoint the members of the Authority Board Manage and operate only non-recreational uses of the property that are compatible with DCNR s deed restrictions Have fiduciary responsibility for all functions and activities not specifically passed on to the Authority Retain ownership of all property currently under County ownership Maintain general insurance for its liability related to facilities, properties, activities, and functions that are the responsibility of the County Approve modifications to the Master Site plan Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area Authority will have the right and responsibility to: Operate as a Pennsylvania Authority Establish its own bylaws and methods of conducting business Have fiduciary responsibility for all functions and activities assigned to the Authority Manage and operate all recreational facilities, programs, activities and portions of the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area property. It may be necessary to delineate certain portions of the property to be used exclusively for recreational purposes, others as mixed-use areas, and others for non-recreational uses. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 5-7

286 Contract for, purchase, or otherwise acquire, sell or otherwise dispose of materials, supplies, equipment, services, or anything else related to its operation Establish and charge fees for goods or services, and utilize those fees for its conduct of business Apply for, secure, acquire, receive, administer, and dispense funds from municipal, state, federal, private or other sources Have authority to borrow money, but not commit any property of the County as collateral for such loans Have exclusive right to make decisions regarding the use of its own monies and other assets Develop the AOAA in accordance with established Master Site Plan that has been approved by the County Comply with terms of all grant agreements Maintain all insurances required by law, as well as general liability insurance and property insurance. May need to work with the County to acquire some insurance. The County may need to be included as an additional insured Reinvest all monies received from operation of the property back into operations and/or development Have the right, responsibility, and authority to conduct all business related to operating the AOAA s recreational facilities and activities. This will include management and administration Steps for Creating the Authority The following list is a summary outline of the steps required to create the Authority. All steps may not occur in the order listed. More detail on each step can be found in the Act. 1. Agree that the creation of an authority is the best method of operation of the AOAA. 2. Adopt a resolution or ordinance announcing the County s intention to create the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area Authority. 3. Develop the articles of incorporation. 4. Hold a public meeting to allow public comment concerning the County s intent to create the Authority. 5. Adopt the resolution or ordinance to create the Authority. (No sooner than 30 days after the public meeting.) 6. Publish notice of the adopted resolution in the legal periodical of the county and at least one time in a newspaper published and in general circulation. The notice must contain a brief statement of the substance of the resolution or ordinance, including the substance of the articles making reference to the Act. 7. File the articles of incorporation with the Secretary of the Commonwealth. (The Act includes details of what must be included in this filing.) 8. County Commissioners must execute the articles of incorporation. 9. If all is in order, the Secretary of the Commonwealth will certify the incorporation. 10. Report to the Secretary of the Commonwealth a listing of the names and addresses of the authority board members and the principle location of the authority. 5-8 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

287 of all functions of the AOAA; employment of personnel; assurance of safety and security; administration of finances and funding; production of revenue; programming; development of facilities; maintenance of facilities; acquisition of goods and services necessary for operation of the AOAA; marketing; application for and administration of grants; coordination with outside agencies; and any other function related to AOAA operations. CREATION OF A MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY TO OPERATE THE ANTHRACITE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE AREA Summary of the Municipal Authorities Act The Municipal Authorities act of 1945 and all of its related updates govern the creation and operation of Authorities within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Act clearly details as law methods of incorporation, steps for creation of the authority, purposes and powers of authorities, minimum qualifications for board members, limitations and prohibitions, financing and financial management, ownership of property, coordination with municipalities, and operating rights and responsibilities. According to the PA Governor s Center for Local Government Services publication entitles Municipal Authorities in Pennsylvania, The municipal authority in Pennsylvania is an alternate vehicle for accomplishing public purposes rather than through direct action of counties, municipalities and school districts. According to the Act, an authority, among other things, is authorized to acquire, construct, finance, improve, maintain, and operate projects. An authority is not an agency or representative of the municipality, but is an independent agency of the Commonwealth. The municipality is responsible to create the authority and to appoint its board members but the authority is not a part of its government. Instead, it is a public corporation engaged in the administration of civil government. An authority is a separate legal entity. Authorities are often created under the assumption they operate business-like services more efficiently and effectively than a municipal government. A function such as the operation of the AOAA requires it to operate under sound business principles more often found in the private sector. The structure of an authority can allow it to hold to such principles. The authority board can make decisions based on what is best for the long-term success of the operation without concerning themselves with short-term political influences. As well, it removes the burden of such a major undertaking from the County Commissioners freeing up their time and energies to be spent on more typical government functions. Key Components of the Act Prior to the creation of the authority, all parties involved must be sure they clearly understand the PA Authorities Act of 1945 and agree to the standards and regulations it establishes for the creation and conduct of an authority. While all aspects of the Act are important, the following are several direct excerpts from the Act that will be of particular interest to the AOAA and the County. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 5-9

288 Article Purposes and Powers Section a. Scope of projects permitted. Every authority incorporated under this chapter shall be a body corporate and politic and shall be for the purposes of financing working capital; acquiring, holding, constructing, financing, improving, maintaining and operating, owning or leasing, either in the capacity of lessor or lessee, projects of the following kind and character Parks, recreation grounds and facilities Section d. Powers. (partial list of 33 total included in the Act) 1. To acquire, purchase, hold, lease as lessee and use any franchise, property, real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible, or any interest therein necessary or desirable for carrying out the purposes of the authority, and to sell, lease as lessor, transfer and dispose of any property or interest therein at any time acquired by it. 2. To acquire by purchase, lease or otherwise and to construct, improve, maintain, repair and operate projects. 3. To finance projects by making loans which may be evidenced by and secured as may be provided in loan agreements, mortgages, security agreements or any other contracts, instruments or agreements, which contracts, instruments or agreements may contain such provisions as the authority shall deem necessary or desirable for the security or protection of the authority or its bondholders. 4. To make bylaws for the management and regulation of its affairs. 5. To appoint officers, agents, employees and servants, to prescribe their duties and to fix their compensation. 6. To fix, alter, charge and collect rates and other charges in the area served by its facilities at reasonable and uniform rates to be determined exclusively by it for the purpose of providing for the payment of the expenses of the authority, the construction, improvement, repair, maintenance and operation of its facilities and properties. 7. To make contracts of every name and nature and to execute all instruments necessary or convenient for the carrying on of its business. 8. Without limitation of the foregoing, to borrow money and accept grants from and to enter into contracts, leases or other transactions with any Federal agency, the commonwealth or a municipality, school district, corporation or authority. 9. To do all acts and things necessary or convenient for the promotion of its business and the general welfare of the authority to carry out the powers granted to it by this chapter or other law. 10. To make contracts of insurance with an insurance company, association or exchange authorized to transact business in this Commonwealth, insuring its employees and appointed officers and officials under a policy or policies of insurance covering life, accidental death and dismemberment and disability income. Statutory requirements for such insurance, including, but not limited to, requisite number of eligible employees, appointed officers and officials 11. To appoint police officers who shall have the same rights as other peace officers in this Commonwealth with respect to the property of the authority Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

289 Article Transfer of existing facilities to authority. Section a. Authorization. Any municipality, school district or owner may sell, lease, lend, grant, convey, transfer or pay over to any authority with or without consideration any project or any part of it, any interest in real or personal property, any funds available for building construction or improvement purposes, including the proceeds of bonds previously or hereafter issued for building construction or improvement purposes, which may be used by the authority in the construction, improvement, maintenance or operation of any project. BUSINESS MODELS Management of a business is one of the key components in creating a successful business plan. It is critical that management practices and philosophy match with the business model under which the organization will operate. The consultant conducted research on dozens of OHV facilities across the United States to determine the types of business models under which they functioned. Most OHV facilities fall into one of four categories private ownership, state parks, club management/ownership, or leases on public land. Below is a description of each model. PRIVATE OWNERSHIP The primary purpose of a privately owned facility is to make a profit for the owner by providing a service for which people are willing to adequately pay. The owner s focus is on producing revenue that is greater than expenses incurred. That means providing services that the customer is willing to pay for or that provide added value to increase profits. This typically means that amenities that are profitable are provided and those that are not profitable are not provided. In most cases, being environmentally concerned about the property on which the facility is situated is not profitable. Protecting environmentally sensitive areas, protecting habitat, and constructing in environmentally sensitive ways does not often produce revenue or profit. Therefore environmental concerns are most often viewed as just something required by the government and only the absolute minimum is done to meet requirements. A profit must be made in order to stay in business. There are no government subsidies and few grants available to private businesses. Examples of Privately Owned facilities Included in the Research for this Study Rausch Creek Off-Road Park, PA Mountain Ridge Trails Resort, PA Northwoods Overland, WI Badlands Off-Road Park, IN Burning Rock Outdoor Adventure Park, WV Coal Creek OHV Area, TN Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 5-11

290 STATE AND NATIONAL PARKS AND FORESTS State and national parks and forests have, as one of their primary functions, the protection and preservation of natural resources. That expectation takes precedence over individual activities that occur within the parks and forests. OHVs are permitted within the parks if it is determined that trails can be developed and managed in ways to accomplish that objective. In some cases, it has been determined that providing specific locations for OHV use will serve to protect other areas of natural resources. At the same time, it is the responsibility of the state and federal governments to provide for recreational activities of its residents. In most cases, facilities are provided through the use of tax dollars and little or no additional fee is charged for use. This is the case with most OHV trails located on state and federal lands. Most states that operate under this philosophy find a balance between providing adequate trails and protecting natural resources. This is typically done with the use of tax dollars. Some states have initiated a gasoline tax, vehicle tax, or registration fees to provide the funding to develop and operate ATV trails and parks. Examples of State Parks and Forests Included in the Research for this Study California Prairie City, Hungry Valley, Carnegie Park, Hollister Hills West Virginia Hatfield and McCoy Recreation Authority Minnesota Iron Range Kentucky Harland County Outdoor Recreation Michigan Department of Natural Resources Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry CLUB MANAGEMENT/OWNERSHIP Several OHV clubs across the US have acquired or leased property for the development of OHV trails. In cases of club ownership or operation, users must be members or guests of the owner/ operator OHV Club. Non-members are not permitted to use the facilities. Club members typically build and maintain all trails and supporting facilities. The Club is responsible for all activity related to the facility. They are also responsible for all finances. Funding is usually raised through membership fees, donations, fundraisers, and special events. The intent is to re-invest all revenues back into development and operation of the trails. Examples of OHV Club Owned/Operated Facilities Included in the Research for this Study Tri-County ATV Recreation and Rescue, PA Snowshoe Rails to Trails, PA Indian Creek Valley, PA 5-12 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

291 Business Model Conclusion The consultant has concluded and the Committee agreed that the Business Model for AOAA would be a hybrid. As a municipal authority, it will be a municipal entity but will not function under the political structure of a governmental body. It will have some of the rights that are generally reserved for governments, such as eligibility to receive state and federal grants and freedom from taxation on it assets and revenues. However, its only operating revenues will be produced through fees and charges for the services it provides, thereby making it very similar to a business operation. Sufficient revenues must be produced to offset expenses. Its operating focus will follow a for-profit model as it seeks to be completely self-sustaining. It will also have components of the club model as it creates a volunteer group to assist with development, maintenance, operations, and security. The authority and the county must recognize that to make the hybrid model successful it will require an exceptional commitment to cooperation and to keeping the vision of a successful OHV facility at the forefront of all they do. It will not be an easy task. PROPERTY FEASIBILITY The property being considered for the Anthracite Outdoor Recreation Area is owned and under the control of the Northumberland County Commissioners. As a property owner has the right to determine how to use their property and for what purpose, the County Commissioners have the authority to use the property as they desire. Until the proposal for the AOAA was conceived, the County chose not to enforce trespassing on the property. Rather they cast a blind eye to the unauthorized activities occurring on the County s land. Unauthorized activities included both positive and negative use of the property. Some of these activities include: OHV Use Camping Environmental Restoration Hunting Dumping Drug Use Vandalism Arson All of which can be deemed illegal if the County would have chosen to enforce no trespassing on the property. Not to mention enforcement of other laws of local, county, and state agencies having jurisdiction on the property. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 5-13

292 In the current state the public use of the County property presents the county, and its taxpayers, with a large amount of liability. Therefore, the County has several options to consider for the property: Option One Hire or contract for security to reduce the use / monitor the property. Perhaps allowing everyone to use the property for free, but be monitored and in accordance with rules established by the County. With an average cost for a security guard at approximately $40,000 per year between salary and benefits, plus costs for vehicles, maintenance, equipment, and signage, it is projected it would cost, at a minimum, $200,000 a year to operate in this manner, without any income to offset the costs, resulting in increased burden on the County s taxpayers. Option Two Sell the property to a private entity. This option would result in a one-time cash influx to the County, no promise of increased taxes, and no promise of public access to the property. Option Three Sell the property to a public entity, i.e. the game commission. The maximum price paid by the Pennsylvania Game Commission is below market rate, therefore, the County would receive less for the property selling to a public agency than it would to the private sector. Sale to a public agency likely means loss of access to the property for motorized uses as those uses are not compatible with the mission of Pennsylvania Game Commission, and other public agencies. Option Four Recognize what and how the property is being used for currently and find a way to mitigate the hazards, increase the attractiveness, eliminate the financial burden on the County, and spur economic development while preserving access for County residents in the best possible form. The proposal to create the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area will accomplish several goals of the County, including: 1. Preserving the use of the land for legal recreation opportunities. Without formalizing a plan for the property and having it remain idle, the future of the property is not guaranteed. It could be sold to the private sector that could use it as they see fit. This could include establishing a land fill, or other use that is not consistent with the region s vision for the area or the property. Acquisition of the property by a private entity could very well mean the loss of public access to the property for current and future generations of Northumberland County. If the County proceeds with the plans for implementing the AOAA, public use of the land will be preserved for all. 2. Taking the opportunity to repurpose economically underutilized land to foster 5-14 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

293 economic development and capitalize of the economic potential of the AOAA in the Lower Anthracite Region. By implementing the plans for the AOAA Northumberland County is undertaking a process to turn the current liability into an asset by increasing the tax base, reducing liability, and attracting tourists, while providing for the recreation needs of County residents. 3. As it sits today, the County property produces no revenue for the county, the municipalities, and the school districts. There are some coal royalty payments that are made, but they typically do not exceed $30,000 per year in total. The same can be said for it after development of the AOAA. That said, with the development of the AOAA there are tremendous opportunities for creation of businesses to provide the goods and services desired by visitors of the AOAA, all of which will pay taxes. These opportunities are projected to have a significant positive impact to the tax base of the County, municipalities, and school district. 4. Reducing liability to the county, the municipalities, and their citizens by formalizing the AOAA as a motorized and non-motorized recreation area. Expectations for use of the property will be formalized and enforced. Fatalities have occurred on the property and fortunately to date the County has not been sued by trespassers on this property. Other surrounding coal operators have been sued multiple times for negligence and other charges by trespassers on their properties directly adjacent to the county property. If the County does not attempt to do something to control the property the County could be facing the same fate. Based on the analysis conducted during this planning process, we believe the most prudent option would be for the County to move forward with the implementation of the AOAA at a scale and pace which is financially self-sustaining. BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS The business and operations section of this chapter describes the expectations and general operations of the AOAA. It discusses staffing needs, the anticipated season and hours of operation, expected users of the facilities and from where they will come. From the financial perspective, the section proposes a pricing plan and describes marketing strategies. It ends with a description of anticipated revenues and expenses along with pro-forma financial projections. STAFFING PLAN There will be a variety of staff needed to manage, operate, and maintain the AOAA. Staffing can be divided into two types in four different categories. The two types of staff will be paid staff and volunteers. The categories of staff are management, operations, maintenance, and security. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 5-15

294 Volunteer and paid staff should be hired, managed, and treated the same. The only difference between the two should be that some are paid and some are not. Volunteers will serve in an array of job functions quite similar to those of paid staff. All staff will be employees of the Authority. MANAGEMENT STAFF Management staff will be responsible for the overall management of the organization and the AOAA. Management staff will include the AOAA Manager, and eventually an Assistant Manager, and Safety and Security Director. The Manager will report directly to the Authority Board of Directors. He or she shall be responsible for all management functions of the organization. This will include the oversight of daily operations, management of all staff, administration of finances, supervision of programming and facilities, management of maintenance and security, application for and administration of grants, supervision of marketing and public relations, short and longterm planning, and implementation of the Master Plan. As this job could be much too overwhelming for one person to fulfill, the Board must develop a plan that will delineate responsibility appropriately between the Board and the Manager. An Assistant Manager does not need to be hired immediately upon opening of the AOAA but should be hired as work dictates and funding is available. The job responsibilities of the Assistant Manager should be identified to relieve operational responsibilities from the Manager. Such responsibilities will likely include management of daily operations and operations staff, supervision of maintenance, marketing, and public relations. A Safety and Security Director will be needed as the AOAA begins to grow. The Safety Director should be responsible to assure that the Safety Policy is being implemented as planned. Other management staff may need to be considered as the AOAA expands. OPERATIONS STAFF A variety of operations staff will be needed to fulfill a host of functions. These may include staff for collecting admission fees, selling concessions, directing and parking vehicles, performing administrative assistance, and supervising the campground, or other facilities. As the AOAA opens, it is anticipated that the staffing need will be limited to several seasonal / part-time admissions and administrative assistance staff. Other staff will be added as demand dictates and funds are available. MAINTENANCE STAFF Maintenance staff will be key to assuring the maintenance and development of the AOAA. In the beginning one full-time and three seasonal maintenance workers will be needed to adequately maintain the AOAA. It is recommended that future maintenance workers be hired as part of the construction crew during the early phases of AOAA development. This will also 5-16 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

295 help them to learn and understand the design and function of the trail system so they can know better how to maintain it. If one or more of these trainees are able to adequately learn the construction system, it would be wise to train them and eventually hire them to serve as AOAA staff. This would allow the AOAA to construct future trails with its own staff rather than contracting out all construction work. This could save a tremendous amount of money in the long term. SAFETY AND SECURITY STAFF The safety and security section of this chapter provides greater detail concerning the staffing for this category of staff. VOLUNTEERS In the early stages of operation of AOAA, it is expected that there will be very few paid staff. Volunteer staff, including the Board of Directors, will play a vital role in all operations. All staff, whether paid or volunteer, must be appropriately trained to understand the roles they play as volunteer staff members. Volunteer staff need to understand that they will be treated with the same respect as paid staff and will be held to the same level of expectation as well. AOAA should pay for the cost for required training for volunteers. As well, all staff should be involved in on-site safety education, in-services training, and safety drills. Volunteers should be considered as unpaid staff and should be treated as such. They should agree to perform certain functions within the facility and commit to the required certification processes. They should be expected to perform all functions in an exemplary manner and should be held to a higher standard than other AOAA visitors. Volunteers should be held accountable for their actions. A volunteer safety and patrol team should be created to assist with a variety of safety and security functions. A complete description of the role of this group can be found in safety and security section of this chapter. A similar group can be used to provide maintenance and assist in development of trails and facilities. START UP STAFFING The following chart details the staffing needs and associated costs for the first five years of operation of the AOAA. It should be understood that the AOAA may grow at a different rate than projected in this chart. Planning for adjustments to staffing needs should be based on the need for additional positions and the amount of funding available for new positions. Staffing will most likely be the largest single expense category in the budget. The AOAA Board and management staff should exercise extreme caution in creating new staff positions. A complete analysis of the financial impact of adding new staff should be conducted before they are added. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 5-17

296 Projected Staffing Number Hrs/ Day Days/ Week Weeks Pay Rate Total Wages Manager $40,000 Maintenance Director $14.00 $29,120 Seasonal Maintenance $8.00 $19,200 Administrative Assistant $12.00 $11,232 Seasonal Admissions Staff $8.00 $11,200 Weekend Admission Staff $8.00 $4,096 Total Staff Costs $114,848 The Manager and Maintenance Director will need to be full-time, year-round positions with an Administrative Assistant working part-time year-round. The administrative assistant position may need to become full-time within the first five years. All other start-up staff will be parttime and seasonal. As the AOAA grows, maintenance and administrative staff may need to increase both the number of hours per week as well as the number of weeks per year. Thus should be done as demand dictates and funds are available. Some-time between the third and the sixth year, a permanent safety director and an assistant director will likely be required. Both of these positions could start out as part-time and grow as needed. Salary for the safety director, if the position is full-time would be about $38,000 annually while annual full-time wages for the assistant director would be about $31,000. SEASON AND HOURS OF OPERATION The proposed seasons and hours of operation are based on several factors. The AOAA is primarily designed as a motorized vehicle recreational facility. Therefore the greatest opportunities will be available to accommodate those users. Secondary uses for nonmotorized trails and other activities will be provided as well. Finally, seasonal use should consider appropriate rest periods for protection of the area against overuse and abuse, maintenance needs, and protection against damage. With these factors in mind, the following seasons are recommended. OHV Season Open year-round with some limitations in November, December, and January to accommodate hunting. Open Daily 10:00 a.m. till Dusk Hun ng Season Saturday before Thanksgiving through the second Saturday in 5-18 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

297 January. Operations hours are governed by PA Game Commission laws. Open to recreational OHV use on Sundays only. AOAA closed Monday through Saturday. Par al Closures Sections of the AOAA will need to be closed at the discretion of the management to repair and rehabilitate trails, protect against environmental impacts or hazards, allow for regeneration of seasonal vegetation, promote wildlife propagation, protect against trail damage, prepare trails for use, or other reasons as determined by the management. PRIMARY MARKET SEGMENTS It is anticipated that the AOAA will draw users from four primary user groups off-road recreational vehicles (ORVs defined as full size motorized vehicles designed for off-road recreational use); all-terrain vehicles (ATV) and off-highway motorcycles OHN); equestrians; and other non-motorized recreational uses such as fishermen, hunters, hikers, mountain bikers. A fifth market category of potential users may include more specialized activities that may or may not be related to AOAA s motorized theme. OFF ROAD RECREATIONAL VEHICLES ORVs may not be the largest users of AOAA but they will likely be the most recognizable. These will include Jeeps, Hummers, and other brands of 4x4 street-legal, modified, and hand-built vehicles. Local and Regional Competing Facilities Just three facilities for these types of vehicles are identified within Pennsylvania. They are Rausch Creek Off-Road Park located in Tremont, Schuylkill County; Rock Run Recreation Area in Patton, Cambria and Clearfield Counties, and Outback Off-Road Adventures in Eau Clair, Butler County. Rausch Creek has a good following of users that come to the park regularly. Rock Run currently has a small ORV component. Outback Off-road Adventures is a club operated facility that holds several special events each year. While all of these facilities will draw for their own share of the ORV market, AOAA should consider opportunities to partner and cooperate with each of the facilities to enhance use at all facilities. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 5-19

298 Anticipated Uses of AOAA by ORVs Daily use Wile there will be some daily use by individual vehicles, the majority of ORV visits will be through group use. Weekly group outings and tours will be the most commons use by ORVs. These will include: o Multiple groups of varying sizes on most weekends throughout the year. o Some will desire tours of AOAA that will allow them to learn the facility and find their way around. Tours are an added revenue stream for AOAA. o Generally there will be 8-35 vehicles per group. o AOAA can plan for groups per year. o Some will include overnight stays Large group outings o Typically from further away. o vehicles per group o These groups may have specialized needs such as multiple tours, reserving of specific trail areas, group parking, and overnight accommodations. o Often they may include family members looking for other recreational activities within or outside the AOAA. AOAA officials should identify these opportunities and provide information to those who are interested. Offering package deals for surrounding recreational opportunities could also provide an additional revenues stream for AOAA. o Most of the users in this group will spend one or two nights in local hotels. Local and regional Special Events These will be large events that will draw as many as vehicles per event with the possibility for hundreds of spectators. It would be likely that the AOAA could accommodate five or six events per year. Events could include: o Vehicle brand gatherings Chevy, Ford, Dodge, Jeep, Hummer, etc. o Competitions o Swap meets o Seasonal events o Rallies o Trail rides National special events AOAA will certainly be attractive to large national events. AOAA should anticipate holding one or two such events annually with primary operation of these events being done by the event sponsor. Use and Revenue Potential ORV use will provide an extremely good source of on-going use and revenue Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

299 ATV AND OHM Local and Regional Competing Facilities There are fourteen privately operated ATV/OHM facilities and seventeen publicly operated facilities distributed across Pennsylvania yet riders are continually asking for more (see map in Chapter 2). Nearby to AOAA are the Reading Anthracite properties, Rausch Creek ATV Trails, Allegheny National Forest, and several State Forest riding areas. Anticipated Uses by ATVs and OHMs Daily use This category of vehicles will undoubtedly provide the greatest number of regular users at the AOAA. It is easier to get an ATV or OHM to the facility than any other type of vehicle. These will ride AOAA every day and use will be even greater on weekends. Year-round use should be expected. Weekly group outings and tours should be anticipated as well with ATVs per visit on average. These will come from: o ATV club outings o Group visits from regional areas o Some will desire tours. Large group outings o Typically from further away. o Up to 50 vehicles per group o Similar to ORV groups, ATV/OHM groups may have specialized needs such as multiple tours, reserving of specific trail areas, and group parking. o They may also include family members looking for other recreational activities. o Many will spend one or two nights camping or in local hotels Local and regional special events These will be mostly club events and fundraisers that will draw ATVS or more per event. AOAA could anticipate events per year. Each event could draw hundreds of visitors. National and State special events AOAA has the space and amenities to attract large state and national events. AOAA should expect 1-3 events per year with up to 1,000 or more ATVs per event and thousands of visitors. These might include Fisher World ATV, GNCC, Mud and Sand Nationals, National ATV Jamboree. These events may require closing large sections of the AOAA to general use during the events. Use and Revenue Potential There is a high usage with good revenue potential from all uses by ATVs and OHMs. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 5-21

300 EQUESTRIAN Anticipated Uses of AOAA by Equestrian Users Daily use Has the potential for moderate to high daily use over the long-term. Greater on weekends. Year-round users. Special events will draw additional users. Boarding, training, guided trail rides could also promote greater equestrian use of AOAA. Use and Revenue Potential AOAA should anticipate moderate overall use from the equestrian community that will provide a supplemental revenue potential. HIKING, BIKING, FISHING, HUNTING Anticipated Uses of AOAA by hikers, bikers, fishers, and hunters Daily use Low daily use expected. Greater use can be anticipated on weekends. Yearround users. Increased use by fishers during peak fishing seasons Significant increase in hunters during the season the entire area is open to hunting. Use and Revenue Potential Low overall use with limited revenue potential should be expected. OTHER USES Safety officer training Canopy tours and zip-lines ATV/OHM Train the Trainer program for military branches Robotics Research and Design Paintball Use and Revenue Potential All have the potential to produce supplemental revenue Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

301 FINANCIAL RECOMMENDATIONS AND PROJECTIONS The following financial recommendations and projections are made based on conservative estimates of revenues and reasonable estimates of expenses. All financial projections are subjective and dependent upon operations and management decisions made by the Authority, and may be impacted by decisions and requirements of the County and DCNR. The fewer impacts and requirements placed on the Authority by outside organizations the greater the opportunity for financial success. One of the biggest negative impacts on the profitability of the AOAA will be the requirements from anticipated non-recreational uses of the property, including mineral extraction, mine reclamation, and AMD remediation. AOAA will have little control over these uses that will be scattered across the entire acreage of the Area. One of the proposed methods to offset the costs associated with these impacts is to utilize revenues produced by private enterprise as an investment back into the AOAA. The Master Plan proposes ten acres of commercial property adjacent to the AOAA main entrance to be leased to private enterprise. The resulting revenues are to be utilized by AOAA for development and operations. AOAA USAGE NOW AND IN THE FUTURE For purposes of projecting both revenue and expenses, it is necessary to understand the market place and to estimate the number of users on an annual basis. This projection needs to consider both the early years of operation and operation in future years. Chapter 2 of this report analyzes the potential demand for the AOAA and makes estimates for its future use. These projections suggest that by the fifth year of operation, total motorized visits will reach 41,500 per year. In 2008 the US Forest Service titled published a report titled Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation in the United States and its Regions and States: An Update National Report from the National Survey on Recreation and the Environment (NSRE) the report is provided to aid interested individuals and organizations gain access to statistics describing Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) recreational use and users in the United States. The source of these statistics is the National Survey on Recreation and the Environment. 1 The focus of this report is on tabulated statistics describing off-highway driving of motor vehicles as a recreational activity. [It] refers to off-highway use to capture a broad band of motorized land-based uses that include backcountry roads, trails and cross-country riding. 2 This essentially means all off-road motor vehicles. Using this definition of off-highway use the report identifies the following total number of users in Pennsylvania and surrounding states. 1 Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation in the United States and its Regions and States: A National Report from the National Survey on Recreation and the Environment (NSRE), February, 2008 H. Ken Cordell, Carter J. Betz, Gary T. Green, and Becky Stephens. 2 Ibid, page 1 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 5-23

302 Further, the report states, From 1982 to , driving motor vehicles off-road became one of the fastest growing categories of outdoor activity in the country. Growth continued from to the most recent NSRE interviewing period, the fall of Added were about 3 million OHV users. The proportion of people age 16 and older who said they participated in OHV recreation increased from 17.5 percent in to a peak of 23.2 percent State Participation in users age 16 and older (millions) Percent of State Population age 16 and older Pennsylvania % New York % New Jersey % Maryland % West Virginia % Virginia % National Average 18.6% in fall 2002 through summer After this peak, percent of the population participating decreased somewhat to 19.2 percent in The chart to the right displays the 2007 usage rates and percent of the overall population by users age 16 and older for Pennsylvania and surrounding states. 4 These are very encouraging statistics for the development of the AOAA. While OHV user estimates appear to have leveled out, other data shown throughout this report show that there is a significant demand for legal places to ride. There are very few places in the northeastern United States for full size ORVs to ride. At the same time, other factors suggest a need for caution and wise decision-making as the AOAA moves forward with implementation. Numerous trail facilities are in various stages of planning and development both in Pennsylvania and surrounding states. Pennsylvania has recently awarded grants to at least three OHV facilities to expand existing facilities or develop new ones. Additionally, southwest Virginia s Regional Recreation Authority is in the process of implementing a plan to make their seven county area a major OHV attraction. The West Virginia Hatfield and McCoy Trail system continues to expand both in size and use. While the AOAA must continue to be aware of the competitive marketplace for OHVs, there is still great opportunity to create a highly successful project in Northumberland County. Leaders will need to be vigilant in their continued analysis and decision-making so as to find their market niche and make it successful. As well, anecdotal information suggests that attendance at motorized sports facilities and activities has experienced varying levels of decreased attendance in the recent economic recession. 3 Ibid, pages Ibid, pages Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

303 The Consultant has concluded from this that OHV trails and facilities will continue to be a popular and growing recreational activity for years to come. The current downturn in use at motorized sports facilities and activities will reverse as the economy picks up again. AOAA must position itself to compete as a strong business enterprise in a growing field. This Plan proposes a viable strategy for a successful business operation. As is the case with any business in a competitive field, AOAA must be prepared to address the changing character of the business over the years. The business must be able to change with the times to continue to provide high quality products and services that meet the everchanging demands of its users. It will be vital to constantly monitor user demands and adjust to meet those demands. It will be crucial to operate as a first-class business that understands the industry and the clients it serves. AOAA will need to continually manage its business plan to be on the cutting edge of the industry. The Board should be planning for five to ten years into the future but should also be prepared to make immediate changes in operations and fiscal policy as required. AOAA management must be deliberate and purposeful in guiding its own growth so as not to become too big too quickly. AOAA will need at several years of regulated growth to be able to effectively manage its on-going operations. AOAA management should target to stay within the projected usage identified in the accompanying chart. This type of growth will allow management and operations efforts to keep pace with usage. It will also allow for realistic financial planning to ensure both short and long-term fiscal success. Growing too quickly could place undue strain on management and operations resulting in unproductive management of overall facility use, unsafe conditions, inability to meet user needs and expectations, and ineffective decision-making for the long-term. Slower growth will require a disciplined approach but will result in a stronger operations system to manage the long-term needs of the facility. The site will be better controlled and safer; decision-making will be more effective; users will be more satisfied; and the opportunity for on-going fiscal success will be significantly enhanced. Based on the demand analysis and the strategies outlined in this Plan, the Consultant projects that usage will increase annually from about 15,000 daily uses in Year 1 of operation to as many as 41,500 by the Year 5 (see Chapter 2). The projections are based on utilization of the proposed fee schedule prepared as part of this report. It also assumes continual progress toward fulfillment of the AOAA Master Site Plan. Three different types of passes are proposed to be sold one day, two day, and annual passes. The chart below projects usage of AOAA for each type of pass. Annual admission from day passes equals one admission for each pass sold; for two day passes, admission is two times the number passes sold; and for season passes it is estimated that each of these users will use the AOAA an average of ten times each year. The chart below provides the details of projected use and associated revenues for the first five years of operation. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 5-25

304 Projected Use by Admission Category Annual Membership Passes Total Annual Number Season Pass Cost Total Revenue Sold Total per year Total Attendance Year 1 One Day Pass $ ,000 $25,000 1,000 Two Day Pass $ ,000 $80,000 4,000 Annual Pass $ ,000 $80,000 10,000 Total 4,000 $185,000 $185,000 15,000 15,000 Year 2 One Day Pass $ ,200 $24,000 1,200 Two Day Pass $ ,000 $80,000 4,000 Annual Pass $ ,500 $120,000 15,000 Total 4,700 $224,000 $224,000 20,200 20,200 Year 3 One Day Pass $ ,500 $30,000 1,500 Two Day Pass $ ,500 $100,000 5,000 Annual Pass $ ,500 $200,000 25,000 Total 6,500 $330,000 $330,000 31,500 31,500 Year 4 One Day Pass $ ,800 $36,000 1,800 Two Day Pass $ ,500 $100,000 5,000 Annual Pass $ ,000 $240,000 30,000 Total 7,300 $376,000 $376,000 36,800 36,800 Year 5 One Day Pass $ ,000 $40,000 2,000 Two Day Pass $ ,500 $100,000 5,000 Annual Pass $ ,500 $280,000 35,000 Total 8,000 $420,000 $420,000 42,000 42,000 PRICING AND MARKET STRATEGIES PRICING A variety of pricing strategies are used in OHV facilities throughout the country. Most strategies provide a series of pricing levels dependent upon age, residency, proximity to the facility, subsidies provided by government agencies, and type of use. Two pricing models were analyzed for the AOAA Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

305 Pricing Model 1 Model 1 uses higher admission fees that would require fewer admissions to cover expenses but would likely bring fewer users to the site. Under this model, annual fees would be around $125 to $150 per person with some fee reductions for multiple family members. Daily admissions would range from $20 to $35 depending on the type of vehicle. This fee structure is typical of most OHV facilities in Pennsylvania with some of the annual fees as high as $300 or more. Most of these facilities are competing with each other and not with nationally recognized parks throughout the US that use different pricing models. With this model, in order to produce $200,000 of revenue, 1,600 annual passes would need to be sold at $125 each. Higher fees will likely result in fewer users, at least in the early years of operation. This could be good as the AOAA grows during the early years of operation. Fewer users means less staff, maintenance, programming, etc., resulting in lower overall costs. A smaller operation will allow management to focus more on start-up functions and plan for future growth. However, with the slower growth in admissions may not provide the influx of revenue needed to grow the AOAA into a nationally recognized facility. With a higher fee model, AOAA will limit itself to the finite number of users who are willing to pay that fee. If AOAA intends to compete on a national level, it must compare itself with facilities across the US of similar scale. To become a nationally known facility, AOAA must be able to produce sufficient revenues in its early years to support its growth. This higher price model might be more appropriate for a local or regional facility that is intending to draw only from a few hours away but to draw the numbers needed to become a first class facility, the pricing model must be able to compete in the national OHV market. The higher fees have been one of the strongest objections to the facility from local residents. Residents who have ridden the area for years without paying are vehemently objecting to high use fees. The higher fees will likely keep many local users away. The higher fees may even keep the AOAA from reaching its fullest use potential. Local riders have other riding options that are in the same price range. Customers from further away will compare the fees with other large facilities that have significantly lower fees. While they would be likely use AOAA occasionally, it is more likely they would opt for the facilities with lower fees for their regular use. Pricing Model 2 The second model is similar to those used at places like Hatfield-McCoy in West Virginia and Black Mountain Off-Road Adventure Area in Kentucky. These locations maintain lower admission fees with the expectation that the affordability will produce greater use of the facilities. The larger volume of riders produces higher income for each facility. Annual admission rates range from $20 to $50. The focus of these types of facilities is as much on tourism as it is on use of the OHV facility. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 5-27

306 Under this model, the proposed rates for AOAA are $25 for a single day pass; $40 for a two day pass; and $80 for an annual pass. Although these are slightly higher than Hatfield-McCoy and Black Mountain, they are certainly competitive. At these rates, in order to produce $200,000 in revenue, about 3,000 passes would need to be sold almost twice as many as in Model 1. However, these proposed rates set the AOAA at the low end of fee structures of nearby facilities as Proposed Admission Fee Schedule well as most across PA. This should boost the sale of passes to meet AOAA s financial needs. One Day Pass Two Day Pass $25 $40 The sale of more passes will result in more visitors using the AOAA potentially a lot more visitors. The expectation is that the lower rate will produce a greater influx of cash that will allow the AOAA to hire additional staff and purchase supplies and maintenance equipment to accommodate the enhanced use. Annual Pass $80 Spectator/non-motorized daily pass $10 Spectator/non-motorized annual pass $25 Among the primary objectives of the AOAA are to provide first-class OHV facilities for both local and distant users and to boost the economy of the region by attracting visitors from all across the eastern United States and Canada. This pricing model creates a facility that will be extremely competitive in the OHV community and will attract individuals and groups, as well as a host of local, regional, and national events. This kind of attraction will provide for all the needs of local riders while, at the same time, boosting the local economy as thousands of visitors come from outside the area. With a great facility that will rank among the best in the country and the attractive pricing structure proposed in this model, AOAA should be able to meet both its use and financial goals. Our economic impact analysis projects that every 1,000 OHV visitors from outside of Northumberland County produces $116,037 in total economic impact (see Chapter 2). The economic impact will, therefore, be significant in the County. While business decisions for AOAA cannot be made based on economic impact, which does not provide direct revenue to AOAA, the economic impact must be considered in evaluating the overall success of the facility. The development of the Business Plan for the AOAA has been completed base on the proposed admission fee schedule in Pricing Model 2 above. The financial analysis indicates that it provides the best opportunity for the financial success of the AOAA. The AOAA Study Committee and the general public have expressed the need to have a lower rate for Northumberland County residents and a higher rate for non-residents. If the AOAA Board chooses to adopt such a policy, the consultant recommends a maximum of $90 and a minimum of $70 for an annual pass. Additionally, the consultant recommends that anyone under the age of 18 pay half the price of an annual pass when being purchased with an accompanying adult annual pass Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

307 In both models, the admission fee or pass provides access to basic services. These services include trail riding, access to general parking, restrooms, safety and security, and most specialized facilities, including hill climbs, water play areas, children s learning and practice areas, and training facilities. An additional fee may be charged for limited use or other specialized facilities. These may include the campground, professional tracks, buggy wash and storage, and special event parking. Fees for facilities and programs not included in the general admission should be priced to cover all direct and indirect costs associated with the respective program or facility, and to provide an established profit rate. Pricing Model 2 is the recommended model that will best meet the needs and expectations of the AOAA. MARKETING STRATEGIES The projected marketing area for AOAA is expected to extend up to 500 miles from the site. Chapter 2 provides a general description of the market area. Some market segmentation is done by dividing this area into five concentric circles with AOAA as the center point. Different marketing strategies will be needed for each of the areas based on its expected market potential. The Internet will serve as a key marketing tool in all market areas. AOAA s current website serves as its primary source of marketing. AOAA should be sure to maintain the site as an attractive, easy to use web site. All other AOAA publicity should refer users to the AOAA website. The website should provide the most detailed information available. At a minimum, it should include directions; admission and season pass rates, available facilities, trail conditions, safety and security policies, future plans, and contact information. It should also provide a street address to allow those using digital navigation to easily find the it. One of the most detrimental marketing efforts is a web site that is poorly designed, poorly maintained, and out of date. Users become very frustrated and assume that information on the site is inaccurate and not relevant. Many will not return to the site, thus minimizing its intended marketing value. In addition to its own website, the internet provides many other marketing opportunities to AOAA. AOAA should work diligently to include a link to its website on as many other related sites as possible. Many of these links are provided at no charge. Sites that could provide links to AOAA include PAOHV, ATVingPA; ORV, ATV and motocross club sites; other OHV parks within the 500-mile market area; vehicle sales sites; tourism sites; and, many others. AOAA may also want to consider purchasing advertising on key sites. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 5-29

308 Many users communicate among themselves on internet-based discussion boards developed specifically for OHV users. AOAA officials should monitor these communications regularly and use this venue to point potential users to the AOAA. The Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau has shown a particular interest in the AOAA. They are anticipating it as a strong tourist attraction in the region. The Visitor Bureau, as well as local chambers of commerce should play key roles in promoting the AOAA as part of the regions tourism opportunities. Other forms of marketing that should be utilized include: Word of mouth ORV, ATV, and snowmobile dealers OHV Clubs Local print media brochures, local magazines, flyers, newspaper Distant print media magazines, newspapers Local and distant radio and TV Local and distant billboards up to 150 miles away Market Regions Within 50 Miles The first circle encompasses an area within fifty miles of the AOAA includes all local riders. People in this area are expected to be the most frequent users of the AOAA. The largest group of these users will be ATV riders. Special attention should be paid to recruiting these users and they will provide a significant portion of the annual income. These are most likely to purchase annual membership passes and ride several times per week. The hope is that these people will take a strong interest in the AOAA and even feel a sense of ownership in it. Marketing should be focused on selling season passes and getting users to buy into the fact that this is their place to ride. In the local communities, word of mouth and an inundation of flyers, posters, news articles, brochures, street banners, signs and the Internet will serve as the best means to attract these users early on. Personal contact will also play a key role in outreach to this market segment. Positive publicity in the local communities will be an absolute necessity to expanding usage to a wider area. If local folks are excited about the facility and share their excitement with others, use will grow quickly. If they are not particularly excited or if they provide negative perceptions to outside users, it will be more difficult to bring in new users. Local merchants should be a part of the local marketing plan. AOAA officials should provide well-designed, thorough information to all local business. As potential users visit these businesses, they should find them very knowledgeable about the AOAA and able to provide accurate information and accurate directions Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

309 Within 100 Miles Those within 100 miles will be the next most frequent users of AOAA. Many of these users will ride at the AOAA several times per month, frequently on weekends. Most of this region is still within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It includes the central and western portions of the state, which typically has high ridership potential, as well as the Harrisburg and Philadelphia market areas. Once again, word of mouth will be a key marketing factor in this area. Many potential riders will hear about the AOAA from friends and fellow riders. Marketing to this area will be similar to that of the local area although more emphasis should be print media such as newspapers and local magazines. Brochures, flyers, and posters will also be tremendously important, as many will look to the Internet for information about the AOAA. Within 150 Miles This region extends through most of Pennsylvania, includes all of New Jersey, and extends to portions of New York, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. Most of these potential users are within a four hour drive of AOAA. They will be primarily weekend users. Some will come for a day while others will stay for the entire weekend. The will rely primarily on the Internet for information about the AOAA. AOAA s internet publicity should include OHV Blogs, discussion boards, and advertisements on other OHV related sites. Billboards should also be considered as part of the marketing plan for this user group. Billboards located along major highways will attract great attention for these more distant users. The billboard should refer the viewer to the AOAA s website and provide simple directions to AOAA. A great resource for marketing in this area would be the OHV clubs, local ATV and snowmobile dealerships, and statewide PHV organizations. Riders are always asking at these places about new locations to ride. Within 250 to 500 Miles This area extends from South Carolina to Maine; from Tennessee to Michigan, and even into parts of Canada. Marketing to these areas should not be neglected. A large group of users are willing to travel hundreds of miles for the right facility. AOAA, as it develops, will be of the caliber that will attract users from these locations. Most of these potential users will rely in the Internet to find information about riding places. AOAA should take full advantage of internet advertising opportunities. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 5-31

310 FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS MAJOR SOURCES OF REVENUE AND EXPENSE Revenue Admission Passes Admission fees will be the basic source of revenue for the AOAA. These fees will provide the largest source of operational income. A proposed fee structure is outlined as part of this report. It includes fees for multiple types of uses including both motorized and non-motorized. Fees will be charged for nearly all uses of the AOAA, with the exception of hunting as the AOAA will be closed for all other purposes. Fees will include daily admissions, season passes, week-end passes, and could be expanded as user demand dictates. In addition to the various entrance fees, charges should be levied for a variety of other uses. These could include camping, buggy wash, rental of OHV storage units, picnic shelter rentals, and other services provided. Group Tours A 6,000 acre facility is quite daunting to many users. Tours will help users to familiarize themselves with the AOAA to make them feel more comfortable and safe when using the trails on their own. Groups tours should be available every weekend at specified times and provided to larger groups by appointment. Many weekend users, whether in small or large groups, will need assistance to maximize their time at the AOAA. Tours fees should be charged in addition to the regular admission fee. Sponsor Fees Local, regional, national and even international businesses frequently provide sponsorships for facilities, programs, and activities that provide them with appropriate publicity. There will be many opportunities at the AOAA to offer these types of sponsorships to businesses. Businesses may be interested in providing development funds for specific facilities to which their name would be attached. These could include trails, rock crawl areas, trailheads, and others. Others may be willing to be full or partial sponsors for special events or fundraisers. A little bit of creativity can be attractive to potential sponsors for a wide variety of offerings. For instance, a medical supplier or drug store chain may be interested in sponsoring a medical services ATV, or an OHV manufacturer or supplier may be interested in sponsoring an entrance sign, or directional signs throughout the facility may include a company s logo. Sponsorships could provide significant revenues for both development and operations. Advertising There will be plenty of locations in the Area for placement of business advertisements. Banners can be placed on fencing, billboards can be placed at key facilities, and posters can be used at special events. Merchandise Sales AOAA should develop its own series of logo merchandise. This could include t-shirts, mugs, hats, and many specialty items. The AOAA Logo and name should be registered and/or copyrighted to protect against unwanted use and to allow the AOAA to receive a royalty any time it is used by any person or organization other than AOAA Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

311 Food and Beverage Concessions AOAA should plan to provide a food and beverage concession from the outset. In the early stages of operation vending machines may adequately meet the needs for food and beverages. As use of the facility grows, the clientele will begin to demand a greater variety of food and beverages than can be adequately provided by vending machines. Some type of concession stand will be needed. Management will need to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of operating a concession stand on its own as compared to contracting it out. The objective is to make a profit on the stand while providing needed services to users. Concessionaires and Promoters AOAA should consider using private concessionaires or promoters to operate specialized facilities, programs, and events. Several of the large-scale events will be leased to such concessionaires. These would include events like the GNCC, Jeep Jamboree, and many national programs. A concessionaire may also be contracted with to develop, operate, and maintain specialized facilities at AOAA. One such facility that should be considered for such an endeavor is the equestrian center. Since most of the AOAA Authority is expected to be comprised of persons familiar with the operations of OHV facilities, it would make sense to lease out the operation of the major non-ohv facility on the site. The length and type of the contract between the concessionaire and AOAA will be determined by the initial investment provided by the concessionaire and the type of activities to be operated. Special Events A host of special events can be operated either by the AOAA itself or through promoters. Special events can include poker runs, motocross or ATV races, 4X4 challenges, rock crawl competitions, tug-of-wars, new vehicles shows, rallies, and many others. Events not only offer an exciting deviation from the standard use of the facility but also serve as a way to attract new users. If the user has a good experience he or she will return for other uses of the AOAA. Fundraising Events Fundraising events can be considered special events as well. The primary difference is that fundraising events are specifically intended to raise funds for development of the AOAA or for specific purposes. Fundraising events should be planned to earn a higher profit than can be expected from other special events. Camping Camping should be primarily provided in the private sector around the AOAA. Several campsites, however, that will be established on-site that will meet a small portion of the camping demand. A fee structure will need to be established for camping that is competitive with the private market surrounding AOAA. Hiking, Equestrian, Mountain Biking While an entrance fee is proposed for all of these uses the one that has the greatest opportunity for revenue production is the equestrian area. Use fees for private equestrian facilities in Pennsylvania are similar to those proposed in this plan for ATV/OHM uses. If additional amenities such as stables, arenas, indoor facilities, lessons, and tours are included revenues could increase significantly. Earlier in this chapter, the recommendation is made to lease these facilities to a concessionaire to develop, manage, and Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 5-33

312 operate the equestrian facilities. Other Sources of Operating Revenue There will likely be a variety of other sources of income that are not yet identified. AOAA officials should always be looking for opportunities to produce other income from both current and potential users. Non-Recreation Related Revenue There will be a number of sources of non-recreation related revenue produced from the AOAA. Some of those will be a direct result of AOAA operations and others will be produced from non-recreation operations. There are two specific non-recreation opportunities that will likely be able to provide the greatest amount of revenue for the County and the Authority. 1. One of the sources of revenue from non-recreation related functions directly associated with the operation of the AOAA will be the leasing of property to commercial entities related to AOAA use and operations. A parcel of property located near the AOAA main entrance and welcome center has been set aside for future commercial development. This property will provide for commercial enterprise related to AOAA visitors that may include outfitters, ATV rentals, OHV supplies stores, repair shop, gas station, convenience store, restaurant or other similar businesses. The leasing of these parcels will provide a direct source of income to AOAA. All revenues produced by these leases should go directly to AOAA for reinvestment into the operations and development of the facility. 2. The second significant opportunity for non-recreation based revenue will be from the leases and agreements for natural resource extraction on the property. There are existing coal leases on the property and the opportunity for future extraction of natural gas, methane gas, and timber. Additionally, the County is currently in negations for use of a section of the property for wind power generation. Unfortunately, these activities could have a negative impact on the recreational use of the property. In any situation where expenditures need to be made to modify the existing recreational activities, the cost associate with that modification should be paid for either by the lessee or by the County from revenues received through the lease. Otherwise, all revenues produced through the leases will go directly to the County. Grants As of the writing of this report, Northumberland County has been awarded a $400,000 grant from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) for the planning and development of AOAA. AOAA is required to match this grant with a minimum of $100,000. Additionally, a $20,000 grant has been awarded from DCNR Grant Funding Full development of the AOAA cannot take place without an ongoing commitment from DCNR to provide significant grant funding Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

313 Yamaha Corporation for signage and mapping; and an application has been submitted to the Appalachian Regional Commission for a $300,000 development grant. The ARC grant will also require a match of at least $75,000. The Bureau of Mine Reclamation is also investing $1.8 million in a reclamation project on the site. This project can be used as a match toward of grants awarded. The most significant grant funding available for AOAA development is through DCNR who administers the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund (Key 93), PA Recreational Trails Program (PRT), and the ATV/Snowmobile Fund. Both grant programs provide development grants for trail facilities, while the PRT program also has grants available for equipment and training. Full development of the AOAA cannot take place without an ongoing commitment from DCNR to provide significant grant funding. Northumberland County has proceeded with its plans for development and operation of the AOAA based on the commitment of DCNR to continue to provide development funding. However, the County and AOAA must continue look to other sources to supplement the DCNR funds. Other state agencies, including the Department of Community and Economic Development, Department of Commerce, Department of Transportation, Department of Environmental Protection, and others, also provide grants. Federal grant programs, grants from private businesses, non-profit agencies and foundations are available as well. AOAA should take full advantage of available state, federal, and private grant funding. Other grants are available to non-profit 501 (c ) 3 organizations that are not accessible to governmental agencies. The AOAA should create a Friends of Anthracite Recreation (FOAR) organization that would meet these criteria. The Friends organization should research and apply for foundation grants, corporate and business contributions, and private contributions as additional funding opportunities for the AOAA. AOAA should request a $140,000 grant from DCNR for acquisition of start-up maintenance equipment. A list of needed equipment with associated costs is included later in this chapter. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 5-35

314 In-Kind Services While not providing direct cash contributions, a variety of individuals and organizations can provide valuable services that reduce expenses and the need to produce revenue for many facilities, operational functions, programs, and activities. In-kind services can come in the form of technical assistance, manpower, professional expertise, promotion, and much more. During this planning process, more than sixty individuals, organizations, and business have indicated a willingness to provide these services. AOAA should take advantage of the multitude of in-kind services available. In-Kind Services More than 60 organizations and individuals have offered services. They include: Geisinger Medical Center Safety training; children s injury and trauma prevention Fingerlakes 4x4 Clean-up and trail development PaOHV Harrisburg advocate; public relations PA Jeeps, Inc. Trail development SRV Visitor Bureau - Promotion Quadratech Sponsor trail, provide give-away items VP ATV Club Trail building, maintenance, mapping Charles B. Haws Legal assistance Evelyn Tyson Civil engineer services Bloomsburg University Business assistance American Motorcycle Association Promote events SEDA-COG Website development Studio K Graphic design TNT Motorcycles Promotion Adventurous 4x4 Facility and event sponsor Valley Forge Trail Riders Organize Hare Scramble Hummer Club Promote national events 5-36 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

315 Expenses The major categories of expenses of AOAA will be: Planning and Development Full build out, as recommended in the master plan, of the AOAA is projected to cost approximately ten million dollars. Some of the funding for this development will come from grants and other outside sources. The County and AOAA should expect that at least thirty to fifty percent of the cost will need to come from within. This could include revenues produced through AOAA operations, contributions from the County general fund, staff time, volunteers, and in-kind services. A portion of local funding for planning and development is projected in the operations budget. A Capital Fund should be maintained as part of the operations budget. It should be funded with $50,000 to $500,000 annual contributions from the operating fund. The initial budget projection shows a smaller contribution in the first five years of operation. Staffing This will be the number one operating expense. In the first five years of operation, wages and related costs are expected to be just under 50% of the total projected expenses. As the facility expands, the percent of expenditures for staff costs should be expected to rise. Details of staffing are described elsewhere in this chapter. Included in staff expenses will be payroll taxes and related insurances. Maintenance Maintenance costs will be relatively low in the early years of operation while most trails and facilities are new but will increase as years pass. With the wide variety and types of facilities and amenities anticipated at the AOAA, maintenance will be a significant expense. Included in the maintenance expense will be staffing, materials, supplies, contracted services, and equipment. Materials and supplies Materials and supplies includes such items as needed for ongoing operations and maintenances. Vehicle Repair This will be dependent upon how many vehicles are provided by various dealerships as opposed to ones that much be purchased and maintained by the AOAA. An amount is included in the budget with the expectation that AOAA will be required to maintain some of their own vehicles. Utilities Electricity, water, heating, air conditioning, and telecommunication services will all be needed for basic operation of AOAA. Building Occupancy includes all expenses related to operation and use of AOAA s buildings. Equipment and Tools An annual allocation should be included to fund ongoing replacement and upgrades for equipment and tools needed in the operation and maintenance of the AOAA. Insurances The cost of liability insurance will likely be the biggest insurance expense. It is Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 5-37

316 very difficult to estimate a cost at this time. There continue to be too many variables for an insurance company to be willing to provide even an estimate at this stage of planning. As soon as AOAA is established as the legal organization to operate the facility, it should begin investigation into liability insurance. There are few companies that write policies for this type of business. Other necessary insurances will include directors and officers insurance, casualty loss, commercial automobile, business interruption, and a number of personnel insurances. Marketing This category of expenses is described more fully in its own section of this chapter. Administration includes all expenses related to the operation of the AOAA offices. These include such items as office supplies and equipment, stationary, postage, and office equipment. Security Security is not projected to be a great expense in the first five years of operation but as security and safety staff is added the cost will rise dramatically. Professional services AOAA may need the services of an accountant, solicitor, planning consultant, business consultant or other professional services. Contribution to Municipalities in Lieu of Taxes AOAA should consider making a contribution to local municipalities and school districts since AOAA does not pay property taxes, yet will utilize municipal services Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

317 STARTUP COSTS There will be costs associated with startup of the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area that will be over and above the projected operations budget. The AOAA will need to secure startup funding to cover these expenses. The expenses will fall into three basic categories maintenance equipment, office expenses, and operating capital. Maintenance Equipment In order to be prepared for the maintenance and security tasks that will be needed as the facility opens, the AOAA Board will need to have appropriate maintenance equipment on hand. At a minimum this equipment should include: SWECO 480 Trail Dozer This will be the primary machine used for major maintenance on the trail system. It is also likely that the trails will be constructed using this machine. The SWECO 480 will dramatically simplify trail maintenance and allow it to be conducted in the most efficient and effective manner. Despite its higher cost, it will pay for itself over time by reducing the number of maintenance staff needed. Pickup Truck A one-ton 4x4 pickup truck will be necessary for general use by the AOAA manager and maintenance staff. A second will likely be needed within a year or two of opening. Utility 4x4 Jeep type vehicle to travel around the site and to use for maintenance, administrative, and programmatic functions. Utility ATV s Two side-by-side utility type ATV s and one standard ATV will be needed for use by maintenance and operations staff. Staff will have over 300 miles of trail to travel, inspect, secure, and maintain in the first phases of development. There will also be the need for maintenance and upkeep of many items directly related to the trails including signs, fencing, parking areas, roads, buildings, tracks, and more. These machines will be used to transport staff and equipment as maintenance, operations, and security tasks are performed. Commercial Grade Utility Tractor (with related attachments) A tractor is needed for maintenance and construction of much of the structure supporting the trail system. A full complement of accessories should include a back and front blade, stone rake, auger, bucket, and mower. Other Equipment Other equipment needed will include two utility trailers, air compressor, a portable generator capable of operating power equipment in the field, miscellaneous power tools, and hand tools. Much of this equipment will be eligible for purchase through the PA Trails Program Grant administered by DCNR. This grant program can pay for up to 80% of the cost of the equipment. The AOAA should submit an application for this grant so that equipment can be acquired prior to opening. A backhoe with frontend loading capabilities may be needed as well but may be able to be rented for specific work tasks during early years of operation. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 5-39

318 The ATVs and other OHVs identified for purchase may be able to be acquired at no cost through an agreement with one or more vehicle manufacturers or vendors. This will reduce start-up costs. Start-up Budget Receipts: Start-up Equipment and Supplies Loan $124,000 Cash Flow Loan $80,000 DCNR Equipment Grant $140,000 Total Receipts $344,000 Expenses 1 SWECO Trail Dozer w attachments * $82, x4 Pick Up Truck* $25,000 2 Side by Side ATV s (Rhino*) $24,000 4x4 Jeep type vehicle $24,000 1 Utility ATV (Grizzly)* $10,000 1 Tractor* $20,000 Tractor Attachments* $10,000 2 Utility Trailers* $6,000 Air Compressor* $2,000 Air Tools* $2,500 Portable generator* $2,500 Miscellaneous Power Tools* $3,000 Miscellaneous Hand Tools* $3,000 Office Set-up $20,000 Maintenance Building Set-up $10,000 Initial Marketing Blitz $10,000 Other Startup Expenses $10,000 Total Expenses $264,000 Loan Balance for Operating Capital $80,000 *Match with DCNR PA Trails Grant 5-40 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

319 Office/Marketing Expenses It will also cost tens of thousands of dollars to get the AOAA administration and operations office up and running. Computers, printers, a copier, desks chairs, tables, file cabinets, telephones, and all other equipment needed to run an office will need to be purchased. Office and administrative supplies will also need to be acquired. Everything from letterhead to staples, computer software to pencils, and cell phones to paper will be needed. Finally, a major marketing campaign will need to be undertaken. This will involve print media, web page development, billboards, radio, and television. All of this should be addressed well in advance of the AOAA opening so that staff is ready to handle management of the business as it gets up and running. Operating Capital In order to avert cash flow difficulties in the early operation of AOAA there must be a source of available cash to use for ongoing operations. Cash will be needed not only during the early months when insufficient revenue is being produced but also throughout the early years of operation to offset anticipated peaks and valleys of cash flow. The AOAA Board should plan on needing up to eighty thousand dollars for these purposes. Funding Start-up Costs The AOAA Board will need to secure a business loan to cover the startup costs for equipment, office expenses, and operating capital. Based on the budget shown on the previous page, approximately $204,000 will be needed. In addition to the loan, a grant will be needed from DCNR to help cover the cost of maintenance equipment. The amount of this grant will directly affect the amount of the loan. The larger the grant, the lower the loan amount will need to be. The proposed budget includes a monthly payment on a $204,000 loan for five years at 6.0% interest. The estimated quarterly payment is $12,000. The cashflow loan could be taken as a $80,000 line of credit. The advantage to a line of credit is that interest is charged only for the amount of the loan each month. If only $25,000 is needed, interest is only being paid on that amount rather than the full $80,000. This would reduce the monthly payments on the loan. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 5-41

320 FIVE-YEAR PRO-FORMA OF INCOME AND EXPENSE AND BREAK- EVEN ANALYSIS The Pro Forma estimates both revenue and expenses through the first five years of operation. It is based upon ongoing implementation of the Master Site Plan. By the third year of operation, the pro-forma projects that annual revenues will exceed annual expenses, however, because expenses are projected to exceed revenues in the first two years, breakeven does not occur until the fifth year of operation. Although all revenue and expense categories have already been described, the following notes will provide clarification in understanding the projections. Notes on Expenses: 1. Staff expenses account for 50% of the annual expenses. 2. Most staff positions show a 3% increase in wages annually unless otherwise noted. 3. Health insurance is included for full-time staff. 4. In year three, the budget includes additional staffing expenses for adding a security director and staff; increasing the hours of the seasonal maintenance staff; and changing the administrative assistant position from part-time to full-time. 5. Repayment of the start-up loan is based on a $204,000 loan at 6% interest for five years. 6. An allocation of $5,000 is made each year for unexpected expenses. It is difficult to project all expenses for a new business. This amount will help offset these unforeseen expenses. 7. Beginning in year 4, $50,000 is allocated annually for the capital fund. Notes on Revenues: 1. Admission Passes are expected to account for about 80% of the annual income. 2. Many revenue categories that have expenses directly associated with them are shown as net receipts. That is, the balance of revenue after expenses. Direct expense categories are not included in the budget. 3. The start-up loan will be paid off in year five leaving and additional $48,000 per year of available funds beginning in year six. 4. There is still much uncertainty concerning revenue production from camping on the site. While most camping is expected to be developed by the private sector, some will be available on site. 5. The revenue projections do not account for income that is anticipated with the development of the proposed commercial business area on the site. As this revenue becomes a reality, it should be used to further develop the AOAA and/or to support its operations Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

321 Operating Budget Projections Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Expense AOAA Manager Wages $40,000 $41,200 $42,400 $43,700 $45,000 Maintenance Director $29,120 $30,000 $30,900 $31,800 $32,800 Security Director $0 $0 $38,000 $39,100 $40,300 Security Staff $0 $0 $20,000 $20,000 $20,000 Seasonal Maint Staff $19,200 $19,800 $30,400 $31,300 $32,200 Administrative Assistant Staff $11,200 $11,500 $20,300 $21,100 $29,100 Weekend Admission Staff $4,100 $4,200 $4,300 $4,400 $4,500 Seasonal Admissions Staff $11,200 $11,500 $11,800 $12,200 $12,600 Payroll Taxes (Employer share) $13,800 $17,700 $21,000 $21,700 $23,400 Health Insurance $12,000 $12,500 $25,000 $26,000 $27,000 Miscellaneous $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 Materials and Supplies $12,000 $12,000 $14,000 $14,000 $16,000 Vehicle Repair $0 $2,500 $3,000 $4,000 $4,000 Utilities $2,000 $2,200 $5,000 $5,500 $5,800 Building Occupancy $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 Small Equipment and Tools $0 $5,000 $5,000 $6,000 $8,000 Insurance $30,000 $30,000 $30,000 $30,000 $30,000 Repayment of Start-up Loan $48,000 $48,000 $48,000 $48,000 $48,000 Marketing $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 Administration $6,000 $7,000 $7,000 $8,000 $8,000 Security $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 Professional Services $2,000 $5,000 $5,000 $6,000 $6,000 Unexpected Expenses $5,000 $5,000 $10,000 $5,000 $5,000 Capital Improvement Fund $0 $0 $0 $50,000 $50,000 Total Expenses $272,620 $292,100 $398,100 $454,800 $474,700 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 5-43

322 Revenue One Day Pass $25,000 $24,000 $30,000 $36,000 $40,000 Two Day Pass $80,000 $80,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 Annual Pass $80,000 $120,000 $200,000 $240,000 $280,000 Advertising Revenue $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $18,000 $20,000 Special Events spectators, concessions, sponsors (net receipts) $15,000 $20,000 $25,000 $30,000 $35,000 Annual fundraising event for AOAA (net receipts) $5,000 $5,000 $6,000 $8,000 $10,000 Programs - group tours, safety education, etc. (net receipts) $6,000 $6,000 $6,000 $4,000 $3,000 Merchandise sales (net receipts) $6,000 $7,000 $8,000 $9,000 $10,000 Food and beverage concessions (net receipts) $5,000 $8,000 $8,000 $10,000 $12,000 Camping (net receipts) $1,000 $1,500 $4,000 $6,000 $9,000 Total Revenue $238,000 $286,500 $402,000 $461,000 $519,000 Total Revenue Minus Expense -$34,620 -$5,600 $3,900 $6,200 $44,300 Cumulative Net profit/loss -$34,620 -$40,220 -$36,320 -$30,120 $14,180 FIVE-YEAR PRO-FORMA CASH FLOW PROJECTION The cash flow analysis shows that with partial proceeds of a start-up loan, the AOAA should have sufficient operating capital to maintain operations through each of the first five years. The average cash balance at the end of each of the first five years is about 14% of annual revenue. Annual Cash Flow Analysis Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Beginning Balance* $80,000 $45,380 $39,780 $43,680 $49,880 Annual Revenue $238,000 $286,500 $402,000 $461,000 $519,000 Annual Expenses $272,620 $292,100 $398,100 $454,800 $474,700 Ending Balance $45,380 $39,780 $43,680 $49,880 $94,180 *Year 1 beginning balance is the proceeds from the start-up loan 5-44 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

323 CAPITAL BUDGET Capital cost for the development of the AOAA are projected in Chapter 4. Five Phases of construction are proposed. Details of these expenses can be found in the Estimate of Probable Costs charts in that chapter. COMMUNICATION BETWEEN NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND THE AUTHORITY In any cooperative effort, communication between the parties involved is critical. Because of the nature of the combined operational structure of the Authority and the County, there are functions, activities, and operations that cannot be definitively established specifically as the right or responsibility of one or the other agency. Both organizations are sharing the same property of different uses. The AOAA s interest is in the recreational functions of the property while the County s interest is primarily in the site s natural resources. These will undoubtedly create times when the two interests are in conflict. Such conflicts must be jointly resolved. The following are several recommended methods to assist in reducing such conflict. MASTER PLAN Both Boards should adopt the Master Plan as the plan for development of the AOAA. The Authority shall implement the Master Plan. The County shall evaluate the implementation of other non-recreational opportunities on the site according to the Master Plan taking care to avoid conflicts with the plan. ON-GOING COMMUNICATION Ongoing communications between the two Boards should be a priority. Informal meetings among the staff of each organization should provide a time discuss the current state of operations, development plans, anticipated changes, and successes, challenges, and obstacles. All activities and plans that will affect the other should be candidly discussed. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 5-45

324 SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING A joint meeting of the AOAA Authority Board and the Northumberland County Board of Commissioners should be held in March and September of each year. These meeting are intended to keep the decision makers of each organization directly informed. ANNUAL REPORT The Authority should submit a wri en annual report of its ac vi es and plans to the County Commissioners not later than March 15 th of the following year. The report shall include but not necessarily be limited to the following: a. Year-end Income and Expense Report for all accounts. b. Statement of assets and liabili es. c. Statement of in-kind contribu ons received from each municipality. d. Lis ng of capital projects completed or in progress. e. Review of all facili es and programs. f. General review of programming Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

325 SAFETY AND SECURITY INTRODUCTION Safety and security should be at the forefront of operations at the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area. The basic safety and security objectives should be to: Safeguard people and possessions at AOAA Protect adjacent properties from hazards and nuisances resulting from use of the AOAA Prevent undesired access Enforce the laws of the Commonwealth and local municipalities Staff and users alike should develop a safety first attitude that affects all that is done at the site. Safety should be one of the first considerations in all decision-making. At the same time, safety must be balanced with the sense of fun, adventure, and thrill that is inherent in OHV riding. It is the role of the AOAA board and staff to determine where the fulcrum of balance falls between safety and the user s desire for adventure. If the AOAA is built and managed to eliminate every possible safety hazard or risk, much of the sense of adventure is taken away. Without the excitement of adventure, few people will find the attraction worth visiting. However, if it is not built and managed with reasonable safety measures, accidents, injuries, and catastrophe may eventually force the facility to close its gates. During the public input process concern was expressed by the public and municipal officials regarding the frequency of accidents in and around the project area as there is a perception that OHV activity in Northumberland County is unsafe. Therefore, a review of accident data was conducted. This process began by requesting OHV / ATV accident data from local responders, EMS providers, and health care providers. With this request we found that a comprehensive system for documenting accidents of this nature is not in place. Data was limited and in many cases relies on anecdotal reports. Agencies contacted included: Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 5-47

326 Police Departments Coal Township Police Department Pennsylvania State Police Mount Carmel Police Department Shamokin Police Department Zerbe Township Police Department Ambulance Services A.R.E.A. Services Trevorton Fire Company Ambulance Mount Carmel Rescue Squad Shamokin Emergency & Rescue Squad Fire Companies Coal Township Fire Company East Cameron Township Fire Company Locust Gap Fire Company Shamokin Fire Bureau Trevorton Fire Company Other "Northumberland County Department of Public Safety" Geisinger LifeFlight Geisinger Health Systems The best information was provided by the Northumberland County Department of Public Safety. They provided annual reports of ATV accident by municipality beginning June 20, 2007 through the present. The data indicates the number of ATV accidents in each municipality based on 911 system dispatches to emergency response providers. The recording system does not record specific locations of accidents within the municipalities. This data is as follows: Municipality 2007* ** Total Monthly Average by Municipality East Cameron Township West Cameron Township Coal Township Mount Carmel Township Zerbe Township Shamokin City Total Annual Monthly Average * Reported for 5.75 months ** Reported for 8.25 months Anecdotal reports from local police departments and EMS providers pointed to a high rate of accidents in and around Coal Hill located in Zerbe Township. Correspondingly Zerbe Township had the highest total number of reported accidents, 44, which was double the next highest number of accidents reported by a municipality, 22 at Coal Township. Monthly averages per municipality ranged between 0 for West Cameron Township, and 1.16 accidents per month for Zerbe Township Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

327 Accident data specific to OHM or ORVs is currently not recorded. Therefore, a comparison cannot be made between the various segments of OHV enthusiasts. PA ATV regulations require the accident reports to be filed as follows: The operator of an ATV involved in an accident must stop and give his or her name and address, the name and address of the owner of the ATV and its registration number to the other person(s) involved in the accident or to a police officer. If the accident results in the injury or death of any person or property damages to the estimated amount of $100 or more, the operator must report the matter in writing within seven days to the DCNR, Bureau of Forestry, P.O. Box 8552, Harrisburg, PA It is a violation of the Snowmobile/ATV Law to not report the accident to the DCNR. Accident forms are available upon request from the Bureau of Forestry and State Park offices and state police stations. The only accidents reported in Northumberland County as required by the PA DCNR have been those that have resulted in a fatality. Over the past five years there was one accident reported in the County to DCNR. Unfortunately the available data does not allow one to determine the frequency and severity of reported accidents specific to Northumberland County property. Baseline data is important as the County moves forward to allow one to determine whether OHV use at the AOAA will reduce the frequency and severity of accidents on Northumberland County property. Further, this data may be useful to isolate OHV activities at the AOAA from other areas of the County. With the opening of the AOAA, a system to comprehensively maintain accident reports is critical to evaluating and determining the frequency, type, severity, and specific location of all ORV accidents that have occurred. As this data is complied, an evaluation can detail OHV accidents occurring in the AOAA versus OHV accidents occurring throughout Northumberland County. Trail layout and design, and facility design will implement best management practices of the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 5-49

328 OHV industry to pro-actively address safety. These include: a) Separation of competing trail uses, non-motorized from motorized, with the exception that equestrians can share motorized trails in some instances, i.e. low speed and low density motorized trails. b) Design of trails to limit speeds. Slower speeds tend to reduce the severity of injuries sustained in accidents. c) Clear signage, regulatory (i.e. yield, stop, etc.), warning, and directional. d) Directing trail use away from hazardous locations. In addition to physically designing for safety, management standards safety must also be implemented. The following is a sampling of those being recommended within the master plan: a. Rules and policies must be adopted to address safety and security issues. b. All visitors will be required to check in when they arrive and check out when they leave. c. A safety committee will be appointed. This will be comprised of members of local safety services, Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area staff and Board Members. d. Safety staff will include a safety director as well as both paid and volunteer safety officers. e. Regular maintenance and safety patrols will be made to keep all trails and facilities in good condition. f. All vehicles will be required to meet certain safety standards to reduce accidents, spills, fires, and other types of incidents. We recommend the AOAA be operated in a pro-active manner by educating visitors on safe riding habits and practices and we recommend enforcement of the AOAA rules. OHV use is an extreme sport and as such accidents are likely to happen. Pennsylvania s Comparative Negligence Statute addresses an OHV participant s assumption of risk as follows: AOAA management must recognize that area law enforcement agencies are already being stretched to the limits of their capabilities. The addition of a 6,000 acre OHV facility will not fit well within their already constrained resources. (1) Off-road vehicle riding area operators shall have no duty to protect riders from common, fr equent, expected, and non-negligent risks inherent to the activity, including collisions with riders or objects. (2) Th e doctrine of knowing voluntary assumption of risk shall apply to all actions to recover damages for negligence resulting in death or injury to person or property brought against any off-road vehicle riding area operator. (3) No thing in this subsection shall be construed in any way to abolish or modify a cause of action against a potential responsible party other than an off-road vehicle riding area operator. Through design, education, and enforcement of the AOAA s rules a culture of responsible 5-50 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

329 riding will be promoted and required. By implementing best practices, educating visitors to the facility, and enforcing of rules will be critical to defending liability claims when they arise. When the above recommendations and considerations were presented to local responders during a focus group meeting, their concerns regarding a potential increase in accidents were alleviated. That said, they are still concerned with personal safety with respect to responsible and legal conduct within the AOAA. Local law enforcement representatives indicated they fear for their personal safety when responding to calls in remote portions of the County property as often they are responding without backup and responding to calls involving armed persons. This is a serious issue and strict education and enforcement will be required at the onset of opening the AOAA to return civility to activities on the property. First responders also requested improved access to remote portions of the site, by vehicle and by helicopter. They also recommended that landing zones be established in key locations of the AOAA, and that an off-road emergency response vehicle be based in a central location within the AOAA to facilitate EMS response in remote locations in the AOAA. CONTROLLING ACCESS Since coal mining on the property slowed to almost nothing, the County land was essentially abandoned. As that has happened there has been little done to protect the property against unauthorized use. This has brought on significant personal and public safety issues on the site. All types of OHV users along with a host of other illegal and undesired activities have overtaken the property. Little has been done to manage or control activity on the site. This has resulted serious OHV accidents and injuries; constant gatherings of groups for illegal alcohol and drug parties; excessive dumping of garbage; theft of natural resources; and construction of unauthorized building structures. There have even been multiple alleged incidents of abandoned or stolen vehicles, rapes, arson, assaults, and illegal use of weapons. It will be a major undertaking to manage and control future access to the site even with a designed plan in place. AOAA must work out cooperative efforts with local and state police agencies to assist with the enforcement. They should get commitments that the law enforcement agencies will strictly enforce existing state and local laws concerning ATV use of local roads and will enforce trespassing laws against violators on the AOAA property. Opening the AOAA, managing it for legal OHV use, and enforcing existing laws will be the first step at remedying this situation. The situation will not be remedied easily or quickly. Part of the solution will be to work very closely with law enforcement agencies to establish an understanding of the respective roles of the agencies and the AOAA. Most of the area police departments have been much more proactive in recent times in enforcing existing laws related to OHV use on local roads, private properties, and illegal uses of the AOAA site. A strong cooperative venture among the agencies and the AOAA will be required. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 5-51

330 The master site plan for the AOAA calls for the elimination of most of the more than 500 existing access points around the perimeter of the site. These will be removed in a variety of ways building fences, moving dirt, planting vegetation, and installing signage. OHVs are specifically designed to travel in all types of terrain and in places that are challenging. This makes it extremely difficult to simply construct barriers and expect them to prevent access. The rugged design of an off-highway vehicle allows it to drive over or around barriers or simply travel to other places that are not barricaded to prevent access. However, the barricades will establish the fact that access is not permitted. Beyond that it will be up to AOAA officials and law enforcement agencies to enforce trespassing and unauthorized use laws. In addition to barricades to prevent unlawful access to the site, the AOAA will institute other means of preventing or deterring users from intentionally or unintentionally traveling onto surrounding private properties. Trails on the site will be designed to keep users away from its perimeter. Users will have to make an intentional decision to travel into restricted areas to access surrounding properties. Additionally, signs should be posted at key locations around the perimeter indicating that riders are approaching private property and that entering that property is prohibited. In some cases video cameras and/or security lighting may also be used. Once again, these methods will not prevent unlawful trespassing into the site or onto private property but will establish the fact that it is prohibited. Three or four designated entrance areas will be established where legal users will register, pay their fees, and park. All users will be directed to these points to access the site. A user control system will need to be utilized to identify the legal users of the AOAA. There are a variety of systems available. FLAG/PENNANT SYSTEM Some OHV facilities provide marker flags that are fastened to all vehicles that have paid their user fee. The marker flags are generally four to six feet long and fasten directly to the vehicle. They are highly visible and make it easy to identify if a vehicle is a paid user. STICKER SYSTEM This system uses a sticker that is placed on the rider s helmet or vehicle. Use stickers for season pass holders and flags for day-users. ELECTRONIC TRACKING Radio Frequency Identification Tags (RFID), SMART cards, or General Purpose Radio Signals (GPRS); Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN). These electronic systems work in conjunction with one another to provide direct communication that would allow AOAA to have a comprehensive tracking system of all users of the site. This system does much more than a simple tracking of users Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

331 Using this system, monitoring sensors would be placed throughout the facility that would identify the presence of activity and the type of activities occurring in the Area. Data collected from the monitors would be processed through a software system that would determine whether or not a response is required. The system could be sophisticated enough to distinguish between an OHV and a chainsaw or a weapon firing or could be one simple enough to just track access in and out of the Area. The computer software could automatically push the data through a filtering system to determine the appropriate response and the corresponding responder to notify. Further, the use of smart cards and other technology could collect and store registration information for users, register payments to credit cards, track the number of uses for each user, and much more. The use of any combination of these devices, along with appropriate computer software, could create an extremely sophisticated management system for the entire facility that could manage security, finances, maintenance, and much more. The primary obstacle to this type of system is its cost. At least one private company has had discussions with Northumberland County about the seemingly unlimited possibilities of such a program. They are working with the County to determine whether or not grants can become available that can make it financially feasible. Unless it becomes more financially realistic for the County, the sticker and pennant system is the recommended option. ADDITIONAL SECURITY As an addition to any of the systems, the AOAA could also provide a dashboard card for the road vehicles parked in the parking lot. Placing the dashboard card in the vehicle shows that it has brought paying users to the AOAA. With any of these systems, enforcement will be the key to their success. Signage must be prominently displayed to notify all potential users of the admission process. During peak use times such as weekends, holidays, and evenings, it will be helpful to have a staff or volunteer stationed at an appropriate location directing users through the admission process. The staff or volunteer should also be watching the parking area for those who have not paid so they can collect payment as they leave and instruct them of the procedure for the future. Tracking license plate numbers will help to recognize those that habitually attempt to bypass the system. After a couple of warnings for non-payment, police should be called to issue warrants for trespassing or theft of services. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 5-53

332 VIDEO CAMERAS, SECURITY LIGHTING, AND FENCING Video cameras should be installed at key locations where problems can be expected. Video cameras can observe and monitor the entrances to the AOAA, after- hours use, suspicious activities, vandalism, breaking and entering, unlawful activity, accidents, and incidents. Video cameras are a relatively low cost investment for the potential return in deterring damage to property. Systems can be installed that simply record what the camera sees and provide playback opportunities. More sophisticated systems can be channeled to monitors in the safety and security room of the administration building. Cameras with monitors allow for immediate response to undesired or unlawful activity. Video Cameras Can Help When Placed in Key Locations Main Entrance to monitor all vehicles entering the property during or after hours Parking Lots to observe potential theft, vandalism, and confrontations Buildings to view vandalism, breaking into buildings, suspicious activity Campground to monitor activity Specialized facilities to be able to review accidents and incidents Security lighting is an effective deterrent to would-be vandals and law breakers. Security could include dusk to dawn lights, motion detector lights, and interior building lighting. Dusk to day lights should be installed in parking areas, the main entrances, various locations throughout the campground, around restrooms, and anywhere else that night lighting is appropriate to deter unwanted activity. Motion sensitive lights can be placed where lighting is not needed all night long. Theses lights provide an element of surprise to unwanted users entering a given area. Appropriate locations for these lights would be around the safety and security building and storage buildings. Interior lighting should be left on in buildings to allow visibility of any after-hours activity. Fencing may also be appropriate to protect certain areas from unwanted activity. Some places where fencing would be appropriate include maintenance and mechanical areas, sanitary stations, and water towers. Fencing may also be used to keep visitors out of specific program areas during times that are not in use. This may include track areas, mud bogs, water play areas, and others. SAFEGUARDING PEOPLE AND POSSESSIONS There will be many issues in safeguarding people, including staff, volunteers, visitors, and guests, as well as their possessions. Security concerns will include vandalism and theft of both AOAA and private property, issues of disputes and disagreements, illegal activity, disobeying of rules and regulations, vehicles, parking and traffic issues, accidents and emergencies, and violence. Basic safety begins in the simplest of ways. A set of rules is developed for AOAA users to help them understand what is expected of them. AOAA management should clearly establish 5-54 Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area

333 these rules as policy and institute consequences for violation of the rules. The rules should be simple, straightforward and easy to understand. They should include a simplified listing of applicable state and local laws concerning the use of all types of OHVs. This would include registration requirements, sound restrictions, safety and equipment requirements, plates and stickers, training certifications and others. Every person who uses the AOAA should see the rules in various formats and several times throughout their stay at the facility. A comprehensive written list of rules should be provided to every rider prior to use of the AOAA. Some places require users to sign a statement indicating that they have read and understand the rules and agree to abide by them. A safety and security center should be developed in the administrative building to serve as the hub in managing these functions. All staff and volunteers will need to be trained in matters related to security. This includes: An awareness of security issues A clear understanding of AOAA rules and regulations Understanding the differences between violating rules and breaking laws Methods of dealing with difficult people Ways to defuse difficult situations Knowing when to call law enforcement officials Enforcement techniques Knowing and understanding the AOAA s Safety and Security Plan Staff and volunteers will need to be the first line of defense against all such issues. In addition to the recommended training, other sections of this Chapter identify rules and procedures that will enable staff to understand the safety and security needs and how to address them effectively. The Volunteer Safety Team will need to patrol parking areas, campgrounds, roadways, buildings and other facilities to assure security of all areas. Maintenance staff will need to be watching for issues of security as they go about their daily Consequences for Violation of AOAA Rules Verbal explanation of the rule and warning not to violate again Written warning not to violate again Short-term suspension of AOAA privileges rest of the day or weekend Long-term suspension of privileges a week, month, or season Permanent termination of privileges Revocation of season pass Submission of trespassing or other charges to local police for corresponding legal penalties Summon police to handle through the legal system Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area 5-55