Pennsylvania Statutes Title 64 P.S. Public Lands § 804. Municipalities; powers and duties

(a) A municipality, as defined in the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code,  1 through which the Appalachian Trail passes shall have the power and their duty shall be to take such action consistent with applicable law, as at least an interim measure, to preserve the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the trail and to conserve and maintain it as a public natural resource. Such action shall include the adoption, implementation and enforcement of a zoning ordinance the content of which the governing body deems appropriate to preserve those values. Such municipalities may act hereunder in that section of the municipality through which the Appalachian Trail passes without zoning the entire municipality as required under section 605  2 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.

(b) The Department of Community and Economic Development shall assist municipalities in complying with the provisions of this section by furnishing technical assistance relating to zoning matters. The Department of Community and Economic Development shall notify each municipality which is required to comply with the provisions of subsection (e) within 30 days of the effective date of this subsection.  3

(c) The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources shall assist municipalities in the identification and acquisition of property appropriate for a conservation easement or other protection measures and provide information to municipalities relating to protection measures such as conservation easements and other techniques through its grant programs, subject to availability of funding, eligibility and the terms, rules, procedures and requirements thereof.

(d) Municipalities which have not adopted zoning ordinances under subsection (a) as of the effective date of this subsection  4 shall receive priority for grant funding under the Land Use Planning and Technical Assistance Program of the Department of Community and Economic Development.