Current through Pa Acts 2024-53, 2024-56 through 2024-92
Section 1340.305 - Ecological and geological services(a) Powers and duties enumerated.--The department shall have the power and its duty shall be with respect to the study and protection of the Commonwealth's ecological and geological resources: (1) To undertake, conduct and maintain the organization of a thorough and extended survey of this Commonwealth for the purpose of elucidating the geology and topography of this Commonwealth. The survey shall disclose the chemical analysis and location of ores, coals, oils, clays, soils, fertilizing and of other useful minerals, and of waters, as shall be necessary to afford the agricultural, forestry, mining, metallurgical and other interests of this Commonwealth and the public a clear insight into the character of its resources. It shall also disclose the location and character of such rock formations as may be useful in the construction of highways or for any other purpose.(2) To collect such specimens as may be necessary to form a complete cabinet collection of specimens of the geological and mineral resources of this Commonwealth and deposit the same in the State Museum of Pennsylvania.(3) To put the results of the survey, with the results of previous surveys, into a form convenient for reference.(4) To collect copies of the surveys of this and other states and countries and digest the information therein contained to the end that the survey hereby contemplated may be made as thorough, practical and convenient as possible.(5) To enter into and upon all lands and localities in this Commonwealth which it may be necessary to examine for the purpose of survey; but, in such entry, no damage to property shall be done.(6) To avail itself as fully as possible of the information, maps and surveys possessed by citizens and corporations of this Commonwealth, relative to the geology and topography of this Commonwealth.(7) To transmit all publications of the survey, or any part thereof, to the Department of General Services to be copyrighted by the Secretary of General Services in the name of the Commonwealth.(8) To arrange for the cooperation of the United States Geological Survey or of such other national organization as may be authorized to engage in such work.(9) To exercise the powers and duties vested in the Department of Environmental Resources by the act of June 23, 1982 (P.L. 597, No. 170), known as the Wild Resource Conservation Act. Notwithstanding any provision in the act to the contrary, the department may use any funds appropriated to it to carry out the purposes of this section.(10) To undertake, conduct and maintain the organization of a thorough and extended survey of this Commonwealth for the purpose of inventory, survey and elucidation of the ecological resources of this Commonwealth, to gather and digest information from sources within and outside this Commonwealth and to put the results of the survey into a form convenient for reference. The ecological survey should identify the significant natural features of this Commonwealth and the species which comprise these features.(b) Administration of certain statute.-- The department shall exercise and is vested with the powers and duties established by the act of May 29, 1956 (1955 P.L. 1840, No. 610), known as the Water Well Drillers License Act. 1995, June 28, P.L. 89, No. 18, § 305, effective 7/1/1995.