The Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday announced it will hold a webinar at 2:30 p.m. April 10 to discuss Chapter 105 Proposed Technical Guidance Documents relating to a new in lieu fee program called the PA Integrated Ecological Services, Capacity Enhancement and Support Program.

The proposed program is designed to allow applicants that are required to offset their aquatic resource impacts for both state and federal permit requirements to contribute monies to a program that meets the federal requirements for such activities instead of trying to restore or enhance aquatic resources through costly and ineffective independent efforts.

The webinar will provide an overview of the four proposed technical guidance documents and discuss the need, benefits and purpose of the documents. A technical guidance document provides information to the regulated community about how to comply with applicable laws and regulations.

Information concerning the proposed in lieu fee program, that involves the restoration, establishment, enhancement and/or preservation of aquatic resources, will also be provided.

The webinar is geared toward, but not limited to, homeowners, developers, transportation engineers, mining operators and oil and gas operators.

Three of the proposed technical guidance documents establish the basis for evaluating water resources and dictate the parameters used to assign the condition of water resources. The fourth proposed technical guidance standardizes the process to determine the amount of replacement resources needed to offset a project's impacts to water resources.

Public comments on the proposed technical guidance documents are encouraged. The public comment period began on March 8 and continues until May 7. Written comments should be submitted to Kenneth Murin, P. O. Box 8460, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8460. Copied, duplicated comments will not be accepted.

Comments submitted by email must include the originator's name and address and sent to the respective email addresses below:

-- Pennsylvania Lacustrine Condition Level 2 Rapid Assessment Protocol (DEP ID: 310-2137-004) RA-EPTG04L2LACUSTRI@pa.gov

-- Pennsylvania Riverine Condition Level 2 Rapid Assessment Protocol (DEP ID: 310-2137-003) RA-EPTG03L2RIVERINEC@pa.gov

-- Pennsylvania Wetland Condition Level 2 Rapid Assessment Protocol (DEP ID: 310-2137-002) RA-EPTG02L2WETLDCOM@pa.gov

-- Pennsylvania Function Based Aquatic Resource Compensation Protocol (DEP ID: 310-2137-001) RA-EPTG01COMPCOMENTS@pa.gov

Preregistration is required to participate in the webinar. Click Here to register online.  The webinar will be recorded and posted on the DEP website for future viewing.

4/7/2014