Pennsylvania Cave Conservancy Meeting Minutes for February 25, 2012 This is a summary of the minutes of the meeting. The meeting was called to order at 2:55 pm by President Pat Minnick at Mt Laurel Community Park, Harrisburg, PA The following officers were present: President P. Minnick Vice President C. Catherman Secretary G. Schock Treasurer G. Dunmire Representation was as follows: Bald Eagle Grotto JD Lewis Baltimore Grotto Craig Hindman Bucks County Grotto --- Central New Jersey Grotto --- Commander Cody Caving Club Mike Mostardi Franklin County Grotto Pat Minnick Greater Allentown Grotto Dean Snyder Huntingdon Co. Cave Hunters Dean Snyder (proxy) Nittany Grotto Gary Dunmire Philadelphia Grotto Amos Mincin Seven Valleys Grotto Gretchen Schock York Grotto Randy Hurst (proxy) Secretary Report: The minutes from the September 2011 meeting were accepted as published in the January 2012 Breakdown. Treasurer Report: Gary Dunmire distributed a copy of the PCC financial summary. Web Page: Chris Catherman reported that Dave Fricke has applied the requested updates and continues to maintain the PCC web page. PCC Breakfast: Due to the fact that there is no scheduled Spring MAR, Pat Minnick and Anne Shepard will continue to store the PCC breakfast equipment in their unheated shed until needed. Pat Minnick will wait for the status of the Fall MAR prior to making any official arrangements. PCC Brochure: Anyone interested in obtaining brochures should contact George Bange. Mail: Dean Snyder reported that two checks and one bill were received and provided to the PCC treasurer. No other correspondents were received. Christmas Cards: Karen Bange continues to manage the yearly distribution of Christmas cards to cave landowners. Contact Karen if you have a landowner you want added to the Christmas card list. T-shirts: Gary Dunmire continues to have PCC 25th anniversary T-shirts available at $15 each (approximately $17.65 with shipping). PA Cave Database: Tony Canike, with assistance by Keith Wheeland, continues to act as the Database Steward and coordinates cave information with the various County Stewards within the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Chris Catherman expressed concern about publishing personal contact information on the web site. It was decided that any of the current county stewards that do not want their information published should contact Chris Catherman, otherwise the published contact information will remain unchanged. Paul Winter agreed to act as the steward for Centre County. Anyone interested in being a County Steward should contact Tony Canike, the Database Steward. The current list to date is as follows: Berks County Mike Mostardi Blair County Derek Flaig Centre County Paul Winter Clinton County JD Lewis Cumberland County Ken Jones, Pat Minnick, & Don Arrowood Franklin County Ken Jones, Pat Minnick, & Don Arrowood Fulton County Ken Jones, Pat Minnick, & Don Arrowood Huntingdon County Garrett Czmor Lebanon County Brett Johnson Lehigh County Mike Spencer Lycoming County JD Lewis Mifflin County Todd Hancock Northampton County Mike Spencer York County Brett Johnson OLD BUSINESS: The status of the lawsuit between the Juniata Valley Audubon Society and the Pennsylvania DEP has been settled. The lawsuit was in response to the PA DEP issuing a mining permit within the Heller Cave Biological Diversity Area in Catharine Township, Blair County. A hearing was scheduled to begin Monday, February 27th but the case was reported to be settled on Friday, February 24th, citing that the company will not be mining the area. Project List: Dragon Cave (Berks County, PA) – No update was given. Red Church Cave (Schuylkill County, PA) – A group of volunteers removed the old, 600-pound gate and Craig Hindman installed a new entrance gate. Craig has been reimbursed for the cost of materials. There may be future project plans to keep the removed dirt from sliding back into the cave entrance. Dean Snyder will develop a management plan with the landowner. The cave should be open in a few months for NSS members only. Merkle Cave (Berks County, PA) – Dean Snyder continues to have access for work at the cave but stated he has not visited recently. Cleversburg Cave (Cumberland County, PA) – The scientific study is ongoing and the water levels are being actively monitored. Schofer Cave (Berks County, PA) – No update was given. Durham Cave (Bucks County, PA) – No update was given. Corker Hill and Frustration Pit (Franklin County, PA) – Pat Minnick reported that WASHCO Homes sold the property to a local farmer who plans to farm the land. Ken Tayman and Gordy Ley have been in contact with the landowner to propose that Franklin County Grotto manage access control to the cave. There is no longer a need for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) since access can be negotiated through cave owner relations. Tippery Cave (Huntingdon County) – No update was given. Peiper Cave (Cumberland County) – Members from York and Franklin County Grottos participated in a clean-up project in early November 2011. Dreibilbis Cave (Berks County) – Cave is open and bat counts continue to be conducted. Counts are diminishing. No recent trip inquires have been requested. J4 Cave (Centre County) – An initial proposal had been submitted to Graymont. Graymont recently met with Gary Dunmire and Keith Wheeland with a J-4 Management Agreement prepared by their lawyers. Keith and Gary are currently reviewing and developing changes to the MOU to return to Graymont. Negotiations are being conducted between Graymont and Nittany Grotto. The agreement will be for a 5-year term. Some requirements of Graymont’s proposed agreement are to have a third party inspect the quarry walls, utilization of waiver forms, and the installation of an entrance gate. Craig Hindman moved, and Bryan Crowell seconded, to approve the PCC to contribute up to one thousand dollars towards a gate project if the negotiations are finalized. The motion passed. NEW BUSINESS: No new business was discussed. Next meeting: In light of the fact that there is no scheduled Spring MAR, the next meeting of the PCC will tentatively be held at the Rupert Cave Preserve in McVeytown, PA on Sunday, June 10, 2012. The meeting was adjourned at 4:00 pm. Motion made by Dean Snyder and seconded by Ed Kehs. Respectfully submitted, Gretchen Schock, Recording Secretary