Pennsylvania Statutes Title 32 P.S. Forests, Waters and State Parks § 5603. Definitions

The following words and phrases when used in this act shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

“Cave.” Any naturally occurring void, cavity, recess or system of interconnecting passages beneath the surface of the earth or within a cliff or ledge, including, but not limited to, natural subsurface water and drainage systems, whether or not it has a natural entrance. The term does not include any mine, tunnel, aqueduct or other manmade excavation. The term includes, or is synonymous with, cavern, sinkhole, natural pit, grotto and rock shelter.

“Cave life.”Any life form which normally occurs in, uses, visits or inhabits any cave or subterranean water system, excepting those animals and species covered by any of the game laws of this Commonwealth.

“Commercial cave.”Any cave utilized by the owner for the purposes of exhibition to the general public wherein a fee is collected for entry.

“Gate.” Any structure or device located to limit or prohibit access or entry to any cave.

“Material.” All or any part of any archeological, paleontological, biological or historical item or artifact, including, but not limited to, any petroglyph, pictograph, basketry, human remains, tools, beads, pottery, projectile point or remains of historical mining activity or any other occupation, found in a cave.

“Owner.” A person who owns title to land where a cave is located, including a person who owns title to a leasehold estate in such land, and specifically including the Commonwealth and any of its agencies, departments, boards, bureaus, commissions or authorities, as well as counties, municipalities and other political subdivisions of the Commonwealth.

“Person.” An individual, partnership, firm, association, trust, corporation or other legal entity.

“Police officer.”An individual authorized by law to make arrests for violations of the criminal laws of this Commonwealth.

“Sinkhole.” A closed topographic depression or basin, generally draining underground, including, but not restricted to, a doline, uvala, blind valley or sink.

“Speleogen.” The surrounding natural material or bedrock in which a cave is formed, including clastic sediments, walls, floors and ceiling and similar related structural and geological components.

“Speleothem.” A natural mineral formation or deposit occurring in a cave. The term includes, or is synonymous with, stalagmite, stalactite, helectite, shield, anthodite, gypsum flower and needle, angel's hair, soda straw, drapery, bacon, cave pearl, popcorn (coral), rimstone dam, column, palette, flowstone and other similar mineral formations which occur in caves. Speleothems are commonly composed of calcite, epsomite, gypsum, aragonite, celestrite and other similar minerals.