The Department of Environmental Protection is seeking public comment on proposed fine particulate nonattainment area designations including areas the Greater Philadelphia Area (which includes Chester, Delaware and Philadelphia Counties), Northampton County Area, Lancaster County Area, Cambria County Area, the Greater Pittsburgh Area (which includes Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties) and the Liberty/Clairton Area.  The proposed designations will be available through DEP’s Air Quality webpage.

The Public Utility Commission published notice of a proposed regulation change relating to recovery of fuel costs by natural gas utilities and a proposed statement of policy on utility service outage response, recovery and public notification.

Pennsylvania Bulletin - November 2, 2013

Proposed Regulations Open For Comment - DEP webpage

Proposed Regulations With Closed Comment Periods - DEP webpage

DEP Regulatory Agenda - DEP webpage

Technical Guidance & Permits

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of final technical guidance on a training manual for onlot sewage systems and the certification program under the State Board for Certification of Water and Wastewater Systems Operators as well as draft guidance for comment on the use of reclamation fill at active noncoal mining sites.

DEP also published notice of a proposed interbasin trading request under the Nutrient Credit Trading Program, notice of proposed reissuance of General Permit BWEW-GP-8 relating to temporary road crossings and 401 water quality certification, notice of a draft NPDES General Permit for wet weather overflow discharges from combined sewer systems

Final: DEP ID: 385-2314-001. Title: Act 537 Program Guidance; Training Provider Manual for the Pennsylvania Onlot Sewage System Training Program. Description: The purpose of this document is to establish uniform procedures and protocol for reviewing and approving third-party provider-based training courses for prerequisite training for sewage enforcement officer (SEO) certification, continuing education of SEOs and for the training of onlot sewage system installers to ensure application of appropriate recognition or credit for completed training. This document also provides for uniform procedures and protocols for reviewing and approving conferences as continuing education for sewage enforcement officers.

Final: DEP ID: 391-2300-002. Title: State Board for Certification of Water and Wastewater Systems Operators, Board Guidelines. Description: 25 Pa. Code Chapter 302 (relating to administration of the water and wastewater systems operators' certification program) was published as a final rulemaking at 40 Pa.B. 5294 (September 18, 2010). The regulations established requirements for the State Board for Certification of Water and Wastewater Systems Operators (Board) to further clarify procedures for the administration of its responsibilities. These guidelines were developed by the Board to describe its policies and procedures for the implementation of their responsibilities as defined by the Water and Wastewater Systems Operators' Certification Act (63 P. S. §§ 1001—1015.1). The draft guidelines were published at 43 Pa.B. 3297 (June 15, 2013), and no comments were submitted. Subsequent to publication, the Department completed minor edits to improve the readability and accuracy of the guidelines.

Draft: DEP ID: 563-2000-301. Title: Use of Reclamation Fill at Active Noncoal Sites. Description: This guidance describes the procedures in which the Department may permit the use of certain fill materials (deemed ''Reclamation Fill'') obtained from an off-site source in the reclamation plan of an active noncoal mine site. Criteria for meeting the definition of Reclamation Fill is defined. A previous version of draft guidance was never finalized. This version, drafted in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Aggregate and Concrete Association, replaces the historic draft entirely and includes revisions based on comments submitted through the public participation process.

Technical Guidance Comment Deadlines - DEP webpage

Recently Closed Comment Periods For Technical Guidance - DEP webpage

Technical Guidance Recently Finalized - DEP webpage

Copies of Final Technical Guidance - DEP webpage

Visit DEP’s new Public Participation Center for information on how you can Be Informed! and Get Involved! in DEP regulation and guidance development process.

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11/4/2013