Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 25, June 22, 2024
Section 9.193 - Resource utilization(a) Carbonate areas contain many valuable environmental resources including productive soils, extensive mineral deposits and significant groundwater resources. Because of the interrelationships existing in carbonate terrain, uncontrolled development and improper resource utilization may lower the utility or destroy the values of other resources. It may be many years before land use and resource management plans become sensitive to the benefits and problems associated with the various uses of carbonate resources. The range of options available for the future utilization of these resources will be determined by the degree of action taken to protect the character of carbonate areas prior to the development of comprehensive resource management plans.(b) It shall be the environmental policy of the Commonwealth to encourage open space land uses in carbonate areas to prevent the loss of resources and other environmental values by uncontrolled growth and development.