PA Environment Digest

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Regulations, Technical Guidance & Permits

Here are highlights of actions taken by agencies on environmental regulations, technical guidance and permits.

Regulations -----------------------

The Environmental Quality Board published notice in the March 30 PA Bulletin inviting comments on proposed NPDES and Water Quality Permit fee increases to make up for cuts in state General Fund support for DEP’s budget.

DEP is proposing a total increase of $8 million in Chapter 92a NPDES-- $7 million-- and Chapter 91 Water Quality-- $1 million-- permit fees.

The NPDES permit fee increases would cover approximately 4,000 facilities and the Water Quality permit fees from 500 to 600 applicants annually.

Chapter 91 wastewater facility fees have not been increased since 1971 and NPDES permit fees were last increased in 2010.

Since 2007, DEP’s Clean Water Program staff has been reduced by 25 percent due to cuts in state General Fund appropriations.

DEP believes 25 additional staff are necessary in the Bureau of Clean Water to adequately carry out its responsibilities.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has told DEP several times since 2010 the agency does not have adequate resources to carry out its federally mandated responsibilities for the NPDES Program, including the MS4 Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program.

A copy of the proposal is also available on DEP’s eComment webpage (when posted). Additional background documents are available under the Environmental Quality Board December 2018 meeting webpage.

Hearing

A public hearing has been scheduled for May 1 to accept comments on the proposal. It will be held at DEP’s Southcentral Regional Office, 909 Elmerton Avenue in Harrisburg starting at 1:00.

Persons wishing to present testimony at a hearing are requested to contact the Environmental Quality Board, P.O. Box 8477, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8477, (717) 783-8727 at least 1 week in advance of the hearing to reserve a time to present testimony.

Verbal testimony is limited to 5 minutes for each witness. Witnesses are requested to submit three written copies of their oral testimony to the hearing chairperson at the hearing. Organizations are limited to designating one witness to present testimony on their behalf at each hearing.

All public comments on this proposal must be received by May 14.

Comments may be submitted to the Board online via DEP’s eComment tool. Comments may be submitted to the Board by email to: RegComments@pa.gov. A subject heading of this proposed rulemaking and a return name and address must be included in each transmission.

If an acknowledgement of comments submitted online or by email is not received by the sender within 2 working days, the comments should be retransmitted to the Board to ensure receipt. Comments submitted by facsimile will not be accepted.

Written comments should be mailed to the Environmental Quality Board, P.O. Box 8477, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8477. Express mail should be sent to the Environmental Quality Board, Rachel Carson State Office Building, 16th Floor, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101-2301.

Read the entire PA Bulletin notice for all the details.

Pennsylvania Bulletin - March 30, 2019

Technical Guidance -------------------

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the March 30 PA Bulletin proposing a substantive revision to the Alkaline Addition For Surface Coal Mines Technical Guidance.

This guidance explains the situations where alkaline addition at surface coal mine sites is appropriate and describes the options and procedures for operators to maintain and achieve compliance with environmental protection standards including calculation of application rates and placement of alkaline material.

The existing technical guidance has not been updated since 1997. The Department's experience in issuing permits with alkaline addition over the last 20 years has led to this update.

Three areas of focus are: 1) best practices regarding location and mixing of the alkaline material; 2) use of coal ash and coproducts/general permits for alkaline addition; and 3) updating the process of determining target net neutralization potential required for a site.

Interested persons may submit written comments on this draft guidance by April 29. All comments, including comments submitted by email must include the originator's name and address.

Click Here for a copy of the draft revision.

Commentators are encouraged to submit comments using the Department's online eComment tool or by email to: ecomment@pa.gov. Written comments can also be submitted to the Technical Guidance Coordinator, Department of Environmental Protection, Policy Office, Rachel Carson State Office Building, P.O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063.

Questions should be directed to Greg Greenfield by email to: grgreenfie@pa.gov or by calling 717-787-3174.

The Department of Community and Economic Development published notice in the March 30 PA Bulletin the proposed State Weatherization Plan is available for public comment and a hearing has been scheduled for April 11.

Permits ------------

The Department of Environmental Protection published notices in the March 30 PA Bulletin extending general permits for 1 year for--

-- Beneficial Use Of Biosolids By Land Application (PAG-08);

-- Beneficial Use Of Exceptional Quality Biosolids By Land Application (PAG-07); and

-- Beneficial Use Of Residential Septage By Land Application (PAG-09).

Questions about these general permits should be directed to Jay Patel by sending email to: jaypatel@pa.gov or calling 717-787-5017.

DEP and PA Infrastructure Investment Authority published notice in the March 30 PA Bulletin of the approval of an environmental assessment for a project in Bedford County to be considered for funding.

Note: The Department of Environmental Protection published 71 pages of public notices related to proposed and final permit and approval/ disapproval actions in the March 30 PA Bulletin - pages 1533 to 1604.

Sign Up For DEP’s eNotice: Did you know DEP can send you email notices of permit applications submitted in your community? Notice of new technical guidance documents and regulations? All through its eNotice system. Click Here to sign up.

Related Tools ----------------------

Visit DEP’s Public Participation Center for public participation opportunities.

DEP Proposals Out For Public Review

Other Proposals Open For Public Comment - DEP webpage

Submit Comments on Proposals Through DEP’s eComment System

Recently Closed Comment Periods For Other Proposals - DEP webpage

Other Proposals Recently Finalized - DEP webpage

DEP Regulations In Process

Proposed Regulations Open For Comment - DEP webpage

Submit Comments on Proposals Through DEP’s eComment System

Proposed Regulations With Closed Comment Periods - DEP webpage

Recently Finalized Regulations - DEP webpage