Petition Target Township Supervisors of Shippen, Portage, Gibson, Grove, and Lumber Townships  Borough Council of Emporium Cameron County Commissioners Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Pennsylvania Game Commission Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Department of the Interior Environmental Protection Agency

                                     Petition Introduction


We, the residents, camp owners, summer homeowners, property owners, business owners, visitors, and those who cherish Cameron County, PA, urgently call on our township supervisors, county commissioners, state and federal officials, regulatory agencies, and conservation groups to stop all actions potentially permitting use of All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) on any and all public ground, including but not limited to, PA State Game Lands, DCNR owned property, local and state streets, roads, thoroughfares, highways, and public parks or lands of any kind. We are asking you to say NO to ATV use on public property in Cameron County, Pennsylvania.  By signing this petition, you are stating that you DO NOT want ATV use on public properties in Cameron County, PA. Public properties include, but are not limited to PA State Game Lands, DCNR owned property, local township roads, local state roads and highways, and public parks or lands of any kind. We extend this plea to all affected townships, reaching out to a broad community—residents, camp owners, summer homeowners, visitors, and future generations—who value this area, as well as agencies that may be unaware of the negative impacts of ATV use on public properties. Together, we aim to protect Cameron County’s natural beauty and quiet, peaceful, way of life.                              

                               Why This Matters


Cameron County, PA, is a sanctuary of natural beauty, cherished by residents, camp owners, summer homeowners, outdoorsmen and women, hunters, visitors, and future generations. Numerous towns and villages thrive on their local forests, streams, and wildlife, supporting low impact outdoor hobbies and traditions in the area. These include but are not limited to hunting, fishing, birdwatching, hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking, camping, photography, star gazing, skiing, picnicking, sledding, and swimming.
We envision a future where our children and future generations of residents and visitors can continue to enjoy these outdoor hobbies in the beautiful forests and waterways. Allowing the use of ATVs in this area will destroy the peace and quiet, bringing irreparable damage to the land, with little to no benefit to the local economies, the community, or the area, when compared to the true cost.  

                                   Where we are today


Picture yourself standing on a ridge in Cameron County, surrounded by rolling hills blanketed in dense forests, their vibrant fall colors stretching to the horizon. You're in the heart of the "Endless Mountains." 
Below, clear streams and waterways that wind through the valleys are teeming with fish and aquatic life. You are in an area that is home to exceptional value trout streams, a rare classification. Deer, wild turkey, black bears, and elk call this their home as well. Listen closely and you'll hear the ruffed grouse and the hawks call. In the Fall, the unmistakable bugle of the bull elk during the rut is guaranteed to break the silence of a warm campfire, or a quiet sit on the cabin porch with friends. For decades, families have come to their camps and cabins, savoring the peace and quiet that defines this jewel of unmolested wilderness. The Pennsylvania Wilds is a place where the air is crisp, the nights are starlit, and the peace is unbroken by unwanted mechanical noise.
Decades and millions of dollars have been spent recovering, restoring, and protecting the natural beauty of Cameron County, Pennsylvania.                  

                             What We Must Preserve 


We must ensure Cameron County remains an undamaged sanctuary. We must take steps to ensure a future where our children and future generations can hunt white-tailed deer and black bears in the same forests their ancestors did, where camp owners and summer homeowners escape to cabins filled with the sounds of nature, and where visitors continue to be captivated by our unspoiled and unmolested natural resources. We must preserve the peace, the quiet, the wildlife, and the longstanding history that defines Cameron County, ensuring it remains a place of pride for all who call it home, or dream of visiting the area.  

                              The Devastating Impacts


Wildlife Harm: Wildlife Biologists have been consulted and they agree. ATV traffic will disturb and displace wildlife. There is no specific time of year that is better or worse for ATV traffic to be allowed in the area. All twelve months of the year are critical for the well -being of the area's most popular resource, the wildlife. Whether it be the breeding seasons, the nesting seasons, or the birthing seasons, ATVs and wildlife are not compatible. We cannot afford to have the valuable wildlife habitat destroyed. 


Environmental Damage: ATV/UTV recreational use has no redeeming value whatsoever and could be considered the most environmentally damaging recreational activity in Pennsylvania.  ATV / UTV use should therefore be considered a potential threat to our many high quality and exceptional value waterways, their riparian buffers, and the surrounding landscape in general.  The opening of new trails, whether sanctioned by a municipality or state agency or established through illegal riding, creates freshly disturbed soil that invites invasive plants to become established. Erosion is also a major concern, resulting in compounded damage to the environment. A previous study conducted by Penn State University cited that ATV riders trespassing off trail was the top management problem, and that there were more than 2500 miles of illegal trails on State Forests alone. 


Health and Safety Risks: ATVs are not designed for use on public roads. It's that simple. It's only a matter of time before an ATV and a full sized vehicle collide on the road. How will this be handled? ATVs are required to have insurance, however Pennsylvania DOES NOT require minimum liability coverage for the ATV or its operator. If you are involved in an accident with an ATV, the liability can likely end up being on you.

Burden to State and local law enforcement and first responders: Along with the use of ATVs and subsequent traffic on public properties, comes the issue of law enforcement. Who will police the riders to guarantee that they are licensed, insured, and registered as they are required? How will the laws be enforced? Our State and local Police forces are already burdened with their daily activities and do not have resources to take on another burden. Along with the Police departments are the local fire and rescue units. How will accidents be handled when they are in some of the most remote areas of Pennsylvania? Fire and rescue units are rarely equipped to handle these types of emergencies.

Economic Losses: Property values expect to drop, costing homeowners, camp owners, and property owners, billions of dollars. Tourism, vital to our economy, will decline as visitors avoid the area, impacting local businesses in a negative way.   A recent Penn State University study revealed that 22% of outdoor enthusiasts avoided localities with ATVs in use, and of the remaining outdoor enthusiasts, 77% were dissatisfied by the use of ATVs in the area. Another example - Pennsylvania's hunting community, which generates $1.6 billion for Pennsylvania's economy each year, will decide to go elsewhere to avoid dealing with ATV riders, taking their hunting tourism dollars with them.

Lack of Consent: No local or County-wide votes or referendums have been held, undermining the public's right to provide input. It is important to note that a previous  ATV pilot program took place in neighboring counties and nearly half of the residents voiced dissatisfaction with the issue of ATV use on public properties.  

                                     Why Sign Now?


Numerous townships, and Emporium Borough will soon be voting on local ordinances pertaining to ATV use on public properties, and roadways. This would result in irreversible harm to our wildlife, landscape, and community—a place cherished by residents, camp owners, summer homeowners, visitors, and future generations. This petition asks that everyone connected to Cameron County, or the environment in general, have their voices heard, even if they can’t sign the petition in person at local gathering spots.  
By signing, you join a unified effort to say NO to ATV use on public properties in Cameron County. Together, we can preserve the area for all who love it now and in the future. Please sign now to protect Cameron County.  Thank you.