Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania Protected from Racetrack Development
Summary
“The Appalachian Trail Conservancy has been fighting this battle for so long, it’s great to see all our efforts and those of the Blue Mountain Preservation Association (BMPA), finally come to fruition.The coordinated efforts of ATC staff, bolstered by community support, and augmented by world-class ATC-hired sound experts from HMMH, Inc., brought these issues to light and stalled progress.Again, noise pollution and negative ecological impacts on the serenity of the Trail played a major role, but it required engaged clubs, citizens and organizations like ATC to prevent this intrusion.It is now protected from development and preserved for hunters, hikers, bird watchers and other nature-based recreationists and local residents.The 3.8 million dollar asking price was raised among several federal and state organizations including the PGC, Monroe Open Space Program, Pennsylvania Audubon Society, and the Lehigh Gap Nature Center, with 2.3 million dollars provided by the Palmerton Superfund Trustees—the result of a settlement with CBS which paid 21 million dollars in reparations for natural resource damage as the result of historic zinc smelting near Lehigh Gap.“The Appalachian Trail Conservancy has been fighting this battle for so long, it’s great to see all our efforts and those of the Blue Mountain Preservation Association (BMPA), finally come to fruition.Our success here sets the standard for future pursuits and sends a message to all those trying to undermine our mission,” said Karen Lutz, regional director of the ATC.The ATC first took up the battle in 2001 as developers under the name “Alpine Rose Motorsports Club” applied for land use permits to build “a country club for sports car enthusiasts.” With encouragement from the Delaware Valley Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club and the newly formed BMPA, the ATC board of managers voted in 2001 to take action in opposing the development.