The county program shall contain a statement which defines the purpose of the easement purchase program. It shall state the objectives of the program and include the following as the county program’s purposes:

1. (1) To protect viable agricultural lands by acquiring agricultural conservation easements which prevent the development or improvement of the land for any purpose other than agricultural production.
2. (2) To encourage landowners to make a long-term commitment to agriculture by offering them financial incentives and security of land use.
3. (3) To protect normal farming operations in agricultural security areas from incompatible nonfarmland uses that may render farming impracticable.
4. (4) To protect normal farming operations from complaints of public nuisance against normal farming operations.
5. (5) To assure conservation of viable agricultural lands to protect the agricultural economy of this Commonwealth.
6. (6) To provide compensation to landowners in exchange for their relinquishment of the right to develop their private property.
7. (7) To maximize agricultural conservation easement purchase funds and protect the investment of taxpayers in agricultural conservation easements.

Source

The provisions of this § 138e.14 amended December 26, 1997, effective December 27, 1997, 27 Pa.B. 6782. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (202904) to (202905).

Cross References

This section cited in 7 Pa. Code § 138e.11 (relating to general requirements); 7 Pa. Code § 138e.42 (relating to review, certification and approval of a county program); and 7 Pa. Code § 138e.62 (relating to evaluation of application).