The Environmental Quality Board is scheduled to take the first step in adopting the Safe Drinking Water Program fee increases on May 17 when it considers putting a proposed regulation out for public comment.

EPA notified DEP’s Safe Drinking Water Program in December that its lack of resources to enforce minimum federal requirements could be grounds for taking primacy away from Pennsylvania. 

EPA’s review said Pennsylvania failed to conduct the minimum number of sanitary surveys of water systems-- once every 3 years for community water supplies and once every 5 years for non-community systems-- schools, camps, bulk water suppliers.

In a letter dated April 12, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency responded to DEP’s plan to correct deficiencies in the state’s Safe Drinking Program by saying it is “encouraged” by the plan, but said they remain concerned about the ability of DEP to hire staff quickly enough to meet minimum federal inspection and other standards.

EPA recommended DEP “seek a temporary funding source to begin the hiring process earlier.”

Also on the EAB agenda is a rulemaking petition by the Delaware RiverKeeper proposing that certain portions of the Delaware River be reclassified to include fish propagation for warm water fish and migratory fish use.

The meeting will be held in Room 105 of the Rachel Carson Building starting at 9:00.

For more information and copies of the fee proposal and the petition, visit the Environmental Quality Board webpage.   Questions should be directed to Laura Edinger at 717-772-3277 or send email to: edinger@pa.gov.

NewsClips:

McKelvey: PA Should Act Now On Drinking Water Program Problems EPA Says

Cusick: EPA Urges PA To Move Faster On Drinking Water Safety Issues

Report: Some PA Drinking Water Systems Struggle To Meet Federal Health Standards

Pittsburgh Water Authority 2nd Largest U.S. System Exceeding Lead Levels

Pittsburgh Council Gives Nod To Water Authority Restructuring

Repairs Crews Discover 200-Year-Old Wooden Water Mains In Philly

Plans To Use Chloramines To Treat Water Leads To Lead Worries

Brackenridge Residents Say No To Chloramines

Boil Water Advisory Issued In Steelton Neighborhood

Northampton County Water Customers Face 17% Rate Hike

Op-Ed: The Big Danger Of Lead Poisoning

Related Stories:

EPA Still Concerned About DEP Drinking Water Program, Urges Temporary Funding To Hire Staff Sooner

EPA: DEP Lacks Resources To Enforce Minimum Federal Safe Drinking Water Regs

DEP Sends Plan To EPA, Clearing Safe Drinking Water Deficiencies Could Take Until 2020

Senate Budget Hearing: Historic Cuts To DEP Budget, Safe Drinking Water, Chesapeake Bay

House DEP Budget Hearing: Safe Drinking Water, Permitting, Pipelines, Chesapeake Bay

Bill On Senate Calendar Would Prevent Funding Crisis In Recycling Program

Senate Bill Would Fill Funding Gap In DEP’s Underground Storage Tank Program

Growing Greener Coalition Holds Capitol Rally May 9 To Support Green Infrastructure Funding

CBF Thanks Congress For Bipartisan Action To Protect 2017 Chesapeake Bay Funding

Proposed Trump Cuts To State Grants Will Cripple DEP, Cause Drastic Fee Increases

[Posted: May 3, 2017]

5/8/2017