Administrative Guidance Manual - Center for Dirt and Gravel Road ...

1. Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR)
Bureau of Forestry
There are 20 Forest Districts in Pennsylvania. Each district covers multiple counties and,
in some instances, there are multiple districts within a single county. The Bureau of
Forestry administers more than 2,500 miles of dirt and gravel roads. It is the single
largest individual owner of unpaved roads in Pennsylvania. The Bureau of Forestry has
been an active participant in the Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program. Trouble
spots in state forests were categorized and included in the initial statewide inventory of
exceptional value and high quality watersheds. The Bureau of Forestry directly receives
$1,000,000 per year under the Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program. The Bureau
of Forestry is also eligible to compete for Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance funding
through Conservation District grants over-and-above the $1,000,000 that is set-aside
specifically for them. Bureau of Forestry personnel must attend the required ESM
training course as a pre-requisite for receiving funding from a conservation district. The
SCC cannot impose a training requirement on Bureau of Forestry personnel who are
completing dirt and gravel road projects utilizing a portion of that money allocated
directly to the Bureau of Forestry.
The District Forester is responsible for signing any business contracts with the
Conservation District. A local road specialist employed by the Bureau of Forestry will be
the likely work site contact.
Bureau of State Parks
Pennsylvania has one of the nation’s largest state park systems with 116 outdoor
recreation areas and over 283,000 acres of property. State Parks are a major factor in the
state’s second largest industry, tourism, and share the Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance
Program’s values of preventing pollution and retaining an atmosphere harmonious with a
natural environment. State Parks are administered from four regions across the state;
however, a resident Park Manager supervises each park or park complex. The Bureau of
State Parks is eligible for program funding on a project-by-project basis through the
County Conservation District where the park project is located. Some state park roads
were included in the initial inventory of trouble spot locations mapped by the Task Force
on Dirt and Gravel Roads.
Any state park that applies for funding under this program will be required to have
personnel attend the ESM training.
2. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (Penn-DOT)
Penn-DOT owns approximately 650 miles of dirt and gravel roads statewide. These
roads are widely dispersed and problem sites have been identified in twelve counties.
30 Version 6.00 March 3, 2005