The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the December 16 PA Bulletin of a proposed PAG-11 NPDES General Permit for Discharges from Concentrated Aquatic Animal Production Facilities (3800-PM-BCW0006d).  Comments are due January 16.

The PAG-11 General Permit is intended to provide NPDES permit coverage for discharges from CAAP facilities into surface waters of the Commonwealth. The existing PAG-11 was extended on October 5, 2017, for 1 year.

The Department is proposing to reissue a final PAG-11 General Permit on or before October 5, 2018.

The proposed fee for submission of a Notice of Intent (NOI) for coverage under this General Permit is $100. The NOI fee will be paid one time with the NOI for permit coverage.

The Department is proposing that after coverage under the General Permit is authorized, coverage will continue without the need to submit an NOI for renewal of coverage as long as the permittee complies with the terms and conditions of the PAG-15 General Permit currently in effect, unless the Department specifically requires the submission of an NOI in writing.

The Department will provide an opportunity for any interested person or group of persons, any affected state, any affected interstate agency, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or any interested agency to request or petition for a public hearing with respect to the proposed General Permit.

The request or petition for public hearing, which must be filed within the 30-day period allowed for filing of written comments, must indicate the interest of the party filing the request and the reasons why a hearing is warranted. A hearing will be held if there is significant public interest.

All comments must include the commentator's name and address. Commentators are encouraged to submit comments using the Department's eComment system or by email to: ecomment@pa.gov.  Written comments should be submitted to the Department of Environmental Protection, Policy Office, 400 Market Street, PO Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063. Comments submitted by facsimile will not be accepted.

Click Here for a copy of the proposed PAG-11 General Permit.

[Posted: Dec. 15, 2017]

12/18/2017