Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Michael DiBerardinis this week announced recommendations in the agency's Carbon Management Advisory Group are now available online for public comment.

Comments are due June 15.

The report makes recommendations on policy options that DCNR might pursue, using Pennsylvania's land and geology, to address global warming.

"Climate change is perhaps the single, biggest, long-term threat to Pennsylvania's existing natural heritage and the sustainability of our economy," Secretary DiBerardinis said. "Our goal is to understand Pennsylvania's forest, its geologic and biomass resources, and open the way for future innovation in a world where carbon dioxide emissions are tightly controlled.

"We commissioned this report and seek public comment on the final product to get the best information with which to make decisions that elevate the value of open space protection and stewardship of private land and, at the same time, give Pennsylvania a competitive advantage in a world that restricts carbon emissions to address climate change," Secretary DiBerardinis said.

The recommendations are in four categories:

Geologic Sequestration: Develop protocols for siting and operating geologic sequestration projects in Pennsylvania; Develop a pilot project to demonstrate geologic sequestration in western Pennsylvania; and Develop a pilot project to show geologic sequestration in conjunction with coal bed methane production in the anthracite region of northeastern Pennsylvania.

Forest Management: Consider planting vegetation on underutilized land, such as abandoned mine lands, oil and gas well sites, brownfields, marginal agricultural land and riparian areas; Increase sequestration on managed forests in Pennsylvania; Consider using local wood for small scale local district combined heat and power and liquid fuel production, but pay close attention to biomass supply; Provide incentives to process wood into durable wood products; and Plant trees in urban areas.

Landscape Conservation: Consider direct DCNR acquisition and protection of forest land; and Develop incentives to protect forests from development.

Registries: A registry would serve the following purposes: Support implementation of comprehensive statewide climate mitigation actions related to forestry and geologic resources; Establish quantitative implementation baselines for current and future state policies, programs and projects; Report and track progress of current and future state policies, programs and projects in terms of greenhouse gas emissions reductions made in implementing state mitigation actions; and Enable reciprocal disclosure, recognition and reward of climate mitigation actions at the local, state and multi state level.

The Carbon Management Advisory Group is a collaborative project that started in 2006 with the Pennsylvania Environmental Council and the Center for Climate Strategies to show the potential costs and carbon benefits of different management options. Sixty-five stakeholders representing non-governmental organizations, academia and state government participated in preparing the report.

Comments should be sent to the DCNR Office of Strategic Initiatives, Rachel Carson State Office Building, 400 Market St., Harrisburg, PA 17105.

Video Blog: DCNR to Release Carbon Management Plan

Links: DCNR Continues Work on Carbon Strategy

DCNR Carbon Sequestration Group Considers Policy Options

5/9/2008