H.B. 2181 RED ALERT

According to the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, the Republican staff has prepared a summary for HB 2181 which has legislators working hard to control Game Commission-owned state game lands tracts. Generally, a "summary" never is done unless a bill is going to be reported, (moved out of committee) - which is not good news for hunters. Sources within the Legislature say that this bill will be moved fast, which implies that Rep. Godshall intends to vote on the bill immediately following the hearing Jan. 16. It is imperative that sportsmen work very hard contacting the members of the state's Tourism Committee and let them know that hunters do not support this bill. Many sportsmen blame the Game Commission for prompting this "land heist" by opening doors for input on game lands use by the diversified, non-consumptive users placed on the Game Lands Ad Hoc Committee.

DISPUTED ELK PLAN MAY LAND IN COURT

by Karl J. Power/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

It is being alleged that the state Game Commission, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission took a copyrighted plan for elk watching and long-range tourist promotion in several north central countries, and that legal actions might be taken.

John Eveland, owner of the Murrysville-based Terra Cor Institute, claims that his extensive plan to promote tourism and revenues into the traditional elk range of the state has been taken, with no credit given to him, and his name now has been removed from the project.

"If this matter is not resolved honorably by the state, I may be forced to file a lawsuit against John Oliver of the DCNR, Mike Schmit and Cal Dubrock from the Game Commission and Ron Kuleck from the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission just to name a few," Eveland said.

"Charges could be criminal in nature, along with state ethics violations - some careers could be ruined," Eveland said.

Eveland, who worked through Penn State University in the past, wrote the state's first black bear management plan and was followed in bear research by Gary Alt and also was the state pioneer in elk research, writing the first elk management plan, and discovering the brain worm problem in Pennsylvania's elk.

"I was supported 100 percent by the Game Commission and DCNR, until they had my copyrighted plan, and then 12 weeks later, they completely ignored me and would not even take my phone calls," Eveland said.

"My plan would have provided for hundreds of jobs in the somewhat depressed area and $15 million in annual revenues. But the plan now is being mismanaged, and the full potential may not be met because of unethical and illegal actions by the state," Eveland said.

An Austin, Texas-based consulting company was contracted to review the plan at a cost of $118,000; however, the firm has yet to receive any payments.

According to a source from the DCNR, Eveland's proposal was denied in 1998, and he has had a number of occasions at public meetings to express his views and allegations regarding the issue.

Eveland denies the claim and said he has documentation to support his allegations.

 

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