DEP Accepting Comments On Proposed Critical Water Planning Areas, Meetings Set

The Department of Environmental Protection and the six Regional Water Resource Committees are soliciting public comments at meetings and hearings on the watersheds nominated for consideration of Critical Water Planning Area designation, in accordance with the Water Resources Planning Act.

Comments are due November 30.

A Critical Water Planning Area is defined as a ''significant hydrologic unit where existing or future demands exceed or threaten to exceed the safe yield of available water resources.''

A list of watershed nominations, along with detailed technical reports for the areas that have been nominated and the Department's ''Guidelines for Identifying Critical Water Planning Areas'' are available on the Department's website.

After consideration of public comments received on the nominations, the regional water resources committees will make recommendations for areas to be designated as CWPAs to the Statewide Water Resources Committee.

The Statewide Committee will consider the data presented, and make a recommendation to the Department Secretary, who will consider designating the areas as CWPAs. After an area receives CWPA designation, a more intensive planning process will be undertaken to produce a Critical Area Resource Plan.

The CARP that results from the study is not a regulatory document and will not be binding. It will, however, suggest measures and actions that could be adopted voluntarily to address the potential water shortage in the area.

Written comments must be submitted to Leslie Sarvis, Department of Environmental Protection, Water Planning Office, P. O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063 or send comments by email to: epstatewaterplan@state.pa.us.

The Department and the regional water resources committees will hold public meetings and hearings around the State to answer questions and accept testimony pertinent to the watersheds nominated for consideration of CWPA designation.

The public meetings will include presentations by Department staff and members of the respective Regional Water Resources Committees followed by an informal discussion period. The formal hearings will begin at the times noted as follows.

The dates and locations for the series of public meetings and hearings are as follows:

October 28: Ohio Regional Water Resources Committee, Westmoreland Conservation District, 218 Donohoe Road, Greensburg. Public Meeting at 2 p.m., Public Hearing at 3 p.m.  Questions concerning this meeting should be directed to Lori Mohr, Water Planning Office, P. O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063, 717-787-4628 or send email to: laumohr@state.pa.us.

November 9: Delaware Regional Water Resources Committee, Roadway Inn Conference Center, 1151 Bulldog Drive, Allentown. Regional committee business meeting at 12:45 p.m., Public Meeting at 2 p.m., Public Hearing at 3 p.m.  Questions concerning this meeting should be directed to Leslie Sarvis, Water Planning Office, P. O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063, 717-772-5634 or send email to: lsarvis@state.pa.us.

November 12: Great Lakes Regional Water Resources Committee, Erie County Conservation District, 1927 Wager Road, Erie. Public Meeting at 2 p.m., Public Hearing at 3 p.m. Questions concerning this meeting should be directed to Lori Mohr, Water Planning Office, P. O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063, 717-787-4628 or send email to: laumohr@state.pa.us.

November 16: Lower Susquehanna Regional Water Resources Committee, DEP Southcentral Regional Office, Susquehanna Room, 909 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg. Public Meeting at 2 p.m., Public Hearing at 3 p.m. Questions concerning this meeting should be directed to Jay Braund, Water Planning Office, P. O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063, 717-783-2402 or send email to: jbraund@state.pa.us.

November 17: Potomac Regional Water Resources Committee, Adams County Agricultural Center, 670 Old Harrisburg Road Suite 201, Gettysburg. Public Meeting at 2 p.m., Public Hearing at 3 p.m. Questions concerning this meeting should be directed to Leslie Sarvis, Water Planning Office, P. O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063 717-772-5634 or send email to: lsarvis@state.pa.us.

November 18: Upper/Middle Susquehanna Regional Water Resources Committee, DEP Northcentral Regional Office, 208 West Third Street, Suite 101, Williamsport. Public Meeting at 2 p.m., Public Hearing at 3 p.m. Questions concerning this meeting should be directed to Jay Braund, Water Planning Office, P. O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063 717-783-2402 or send email to: jbraund@state.pa.us.

Unless otherwise noted, all Regional Water Resources Committees will conduct their regular business meeting from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on the same date and location as the public meetings and hearings. The business meetings are open to the public.

Persons planning to give oral testimony at the hearings should register in advance by contacting Karen Price at 717-783-9499 or send email to: kprice@state.pa.us.

A written copy of the testimony should be provided to Department staff at the hearings. Written testimony will also be accepted from persons who do not wish to give oral testimony at the meeting. Written testimony must be submitted by November 30, 2009, to Leslie Sarvis, DEP Water Planning Office, P. O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063 or send email to: epstatewaterplan@state.pa.us.

For more information, visit the Critical Water Planning Areas webpage. (formal notice)