The latest on proposed and final regulations--

The Environmental Quality Board will meet on October 19 to consider these items:

Deer Creek Stream Redesignation Petition (York County), Little Falls Creek Stream Redesignation Petition (York County), Final Hazardous Waste Facilities Plan, Proposed changes to Hazardous Waste Regulations, an initial recommendation on whether to accept for study a petition to require power plants to reduce mercury emissions and a DOD airfield and municipal waste transfer station petition. Copies of agenda items are available on the EQB webpage under the October 19 meeting date.

Discussion of the petition on adopting Pennsylvania-specific mercury emission reductions will no doubt prove to be lively.

DEP is recommending the Board accept the petition because they feel it is “complete and appropriate for consideration by the EQB and therefore recommends its acceptance for further study.”

The Pennsylvania Electric Power Generation Association has gone on record urging the members of the Environmental Quality Board not to accept the petition citing ongoing efforts at the federal level to adopt mercury reduction standards, a lack of technology available to meet the mercury level reductions required in the petition and other factors.

Just last week DEP Secretary Kathleen McGinty and the Pennsylvania Coal Association joined forces to ask the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to change its proposed mercury reduction rule because it requires more stringent reductions of mercury for eastern coals than coal from western states.

The Independent Regulatory Review Commission this week approved the Bushy Meadow Creek package of stream redesignations (7-380). To find a copy of the final regulation, go to the June, 2004 EQB meeting page.

The Independent Regulatory Review Commission meets November 4 to consider these two Environmental Quality Board regulations: #7-378: Final Small Sources of NOx, Cement Kilns and Large Internal Combustion Engines; and #7-386: Final Triennial Review of Water Quality Standards. For copies visit the August 2004 Environmental Quality Board webpage.

The Delaware River Basin Commission is holding public hearings on two changes to its regulations: Lower Delaware River Special Protection Waters and Pollutant Minimization Plan Requirements for Point and Nonpoint Source Discharges of Toxic Pollutants.

Pennsylvania Bulletin – October 9, 2004

Comment Deadlines Open

Copies of Proposed Regulations

Status of Regulations, 6-Month Calendar

10/8/2004