The Department of Environmental Protection invites comments on two proposed technical guidance documents to implement Act 26 related to considering alternative onlot septic systems in Act 537 sewage planning. (formal notice)

Act 26 amended Act 537 to allow alternate onlot systems to satisfy sewage planning requirements in the establishment of new lots. It also required the Department to evaluate the latest scientific, technical and field-testing information concerning alternate systems and to evaluate the existing alternate systems based on that information. Act 26 became effective on September 18, 2017.

The proposed technical guidance includes--

-- DEP ID: 385-2207-001. Act 537 Program Guidance; Site Suitability and Alternatives Analysis Guidelines for New Land Development Proposing Onlot Sewage Disposal. The Department considers a wide range of available onlot sewage system technologies, including emerging technologies, in the Act 537 new land development planning process.

This authorization is contingent upon the applicability of given technology to site conditions and assurance and availability of adequate operation and maintenance support mechanisms.

The existing regulations do not allow for the consideration of alternate system to establish general site suitability.

The purpose of this guidance is to provide a systematic approach to site suitability determinations and sewage facilities alternatives analysis when encountering marginal conditions for the long-term use of onlot sewage systems or when incorporating alternate onlot sewage disposal technologies into the Act 537 new land development planning process described in 25 Pa. Code Chapter 71 (relating to administration of Sewage Facilities Planning Program).

This guidance covers the onlot sewage planning process in general and not just alternate system planning.

-- DEP ID: 385-2208-003. Draft Onlot Wastewater Technology Verification Protocol.  The revised guidance establishes the scientific, technical and field-testing standards for alternate onlot systems. Much of the existing guidance has been completely changed or removed.

Interested persons may submit written comments on this Draft Technical Guidance Document through April 9.

Commentators are encouraged to submit comments using the Department's online eComment website or by email to: ecomment@pa.gov.  Written comments may be mailed to the Technical Guidance Coordinator, Department of Environmental Protection, Policy Office, Rachel Carson State Office Building, P.O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063.

Questions should be directed to Brian Schlauderaff,  717-772-5620 or send email to: bschlauder@pa.gov.

Click Here for copies of the draft guidance.

For more information on sewage facilities planning, visit the DEP Act 537 Sewage Facilities Program webpage.

[Posted: March 9, 2018]

3/12/2018