PGS LAND USE POLICY

PGS LAND USE POLICY

The PGS Land Use Policy is intended to provide every county, township, municipality, or individual in western Pennsylvania with an understanding of the potential for geologic hazards. Understanding the natural processes that drive these hazards and their associated risks will aid in promoting sound land use practices. A successful land use policy must include an evaluation of geological hazards with the ultimate goal of development with consideration of human health, welfare, and the environment.

The PGS Land Use Policy is a general guidance statement intended to increase the general public’s awareness of geological hazards and to provide assistance and sources of information in the planning stages of a land development program.

Geological hazards are naturally occurring, non preventable events that may result in property damage, injury, or even death. Geological hazards that affect, and that will continue to affect western Pennsylvania include:

Erosion (stream bank erosion, sedimentation, etc.)
Floods;
Radon;
Caves and Sinkholes;
Expansive soils;
Landslides (rock falls, earth slumps, etc.); and
Earthquakes.

As a result of human activity, additional hazards, some of which are related to geological activity, may potentially affect property and human health. Some of these hazards include:

Gas Migration (abandoned oil&gas fields, landfills, etc.);
Subsidence (underground mining, construction on poorly compacted fills, excessive dewatering, etc.);
Acid Mine Drainage (AMD);
Surface water, groundwater and/or soil contamination; and
Flash flooding caused by poor watershed management.

The PGS Land Use Policy can be applied to any comprehensive land use management plan. Any land use should be evaluated for geologic hazards. Interested parties (homeowners, developers, realtors, etc.) are encouraged to research the intended land use, to ask questions of appropriate sources, either through using sources of public information or geological professionals, and to abide by the following land use evaluation steps:

Evaluate the proposed land use for natural geological hazards
Evaluate the proposed land use for additional hazards
Investigate and research the suspected or known hazards in local and state reports, where available
Contact a source of information organization (PGS, DCNR, DEP, USGS, etc.) for additional geological information or clarification, research suggestions, if necessary
Share your research results with other interested parties or those involved with the particular land use

It is PGS’ belief that attaining a better understanding of our natural environment and the ongoing natural processes that occur will benefit all of us and lead to sound land use management practices. Property loss resulting from poor land use practices and ignorance of geologic hazards are typically avoidable when a sound land use evaluation is performed.

A wealth of information on geological processes and associated natural geological hazards is available through a variety of sources. The Pennsylvania Geological Survey has an extensive publication library of geological research and publications specifically relating to these hazards. Additionally, several other in-state sources of information are available from PGS, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). These sources of information are only a few of the applicable public service organizations that exist to serve the general public. Individuals need not be professional geologists to use and benefit from their services. Each of these organizations offers interactive answers to questions via the Internet.

The interactive question and answer services provided by these organizations can be found at the following Internet addresses:

Pennsylvania Geological Survey – Contact Us - HYPERLINK http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/topogeo/contactsbytopic.htm www.dcnr.state.pa.us/topogeo/contactsbytopic.htm
PGS – Send Comments to – HYPERLINK http://www.pgs.trfn.org http://trfn.clph.org/pgs
DCNR – Ask DCNR – HYPERLINK http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/ask_dcnr.html www.dcnr.state.pa.us/ask_dcnr.html
DEP – Ask DEP – HYPERLINK http://www.dep.state.pa.us/askdep.html www.dep.state.pa.us/askdep.html
USGS – Ask a Geologist – HYPERLINK http://www.walrus.wr.usgs.gov/docs/ask-a-ge.html www.walrus.wr.usgs.gov/docs/ask-a-ge.html

Sources of Geological Information:

Pennsylvania Topographic & Geologic Survey
Department of Conservation & Natural Resources

Harrisburg Office:
PO Box 8453
1500 North 3rd Street, 2nd Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8453
Tel: (717) 787-2169
Fax: (717)783-7267

Pittsburgh Office:
500 Waterfront Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-4745
Tel: 412-442-4235
Fax: 412-442-4298

Pittsburgh Geological Society
P.O. Box 58172
Pittsburgh, PA 15209
Phone: (412)928-2255 (leave message)

U.S. Geological Survey
John W. Powell Federal Building
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
Reston, Virginia 20192
USGS Toll-Free Information: 1-888-ASK-USGS (1-888-275-8747)
Ask USGS Fax Service: 703-648-4888