Time running out for private ANF camps
By CHUCK HAYES chayes@timesobserver.comPrivately-owned camps on the Allegheny National Forest are gradually becoming things of the past.
While at one time there were several hundred privately-owned camps on the forest, that number has been systematically reduced to about 50.
Now the U.S. Forest Service is in the process of looking at the soon-to-expire permits for the 54 camps which remain on forest land and will make a decision on whether to renew the permits or not by the end of this year.
In 1966, a federal policy was adopted which stated privately-owned camps on the national forest were not consistent with management of public lands.
Most of the remaining privately-owned camps are located in Forest and McKean counties and are on one-acre lots leased from the Forest Service.
Kathy Mohney, communications specialist for the Forest Service's ANF headquarters, said on Monday, "No decisions have been made."
Mohney said, "We have approximately fifty recreation-residences across the forest that are handled under special use permits."
"The majority of them are scheduled to expire this year," she added..
For the most part, said Mohney, the camps were being operated under 20-year leases with the Forest Service.
The agency has sent letters to the camp owners and others interested in management of the forest, asking for comment on the impact of privately-owned camps, said Mohney, emphasizing that the review does not mean the camps have been targeted for removal.
"It's just a normal part of the process for renewing permits," she said.
Between 1966 and 1976, any time a camp or cabin changed hands, the new owner had to obtain a new permit from the Forest Service and a termination date was attached to the permit. More than 100 camps changed hands during that period.
Then in 1976, the Forest Service began notifying all remaining camp owners of a termination date for camps located on ANF property.
By 1996, all of the camps were to be removed, with the camp owner responsible for removing structures and reseeding property.
But there were exceptions made for 54 camps located in five designated recreation/residence areas on the forest.
The majority of the camps are located at Camp Run and Hoffman Farms, both in McKean County and on warrants in both Forest and McKean counties. The camps are located in both Howe and Jenks townships in Forest County and Lafayette and Hamilton townships in McKean County.
The Forest Service said in 1989 that it would not issue new permits for camps and cabins in those areas, but would not terminate permits.
But Mohney said on Monday that there has been no decision made on whether or not the permits will be renewed.
As to whether camp owners who do not receive permit renewals will be asked to remove camps and restore property at their own expense, Mohney said, "That's something we would address if that were to happen."
The Forest Service states in its project description that a "decision will be made on whether to renew 54 recreation residences located in five groups across the Allegheny National Forest."
The project listing states that the review by ANF staff started on Sept. 9 and a decision is expected this December.
Implementation of whatever decision is made on the camps will begin in February 2009, according to the Forest Service.
