Here are highlights of actions taken by agencies on environmental regulations, technical guidance and permits.

Regulations -----------------------

Pennsylvania Bulletin - March 21, 2020

Technical Guidance -------------------

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the March 21 PA Bulletin of proposed and final technical guidance--

Proposed For Comment: DEP ID: 394-2128-002. Title: Public Water Supply Manual—Part IV, Noncommunity System Design Standards. Description: This TGD provides detailed design and construction standards for Noncommunity Water Systems, and information on the procedures to be followed to obtain Noncommunity Water System Approvals. The August 2018 general update to 25 Pa. Code Chapter 109 (relating to safe drinking water) changed the noncommunity approval processes. The updates to Public Water Supply Manual—Part IV, Noncommunity System Design Standards, reflect these updates, provide clarification of existing design standards and provide a detailed plan for noncommunity approvals that streamlines the approval process while still being protective of public health. Part IV has not received any major revisions since March of 1998. Due to the reorganization of the Department, the document number for this guidance was changed from 383-2128-108 to 394-2128-002.

Comments due April 20.  Questions should be directed to Michael Hess by sending email to: michess@pa.gov or call 717-772-5679.  Read the PA Bulletin Notice on how to submit comments.

Proposed For Comment: DEP ID:393-2129-003. Title: Policy for Determining When Loss of Positive Pressure Situations in the Distribution System Require One-Hour Reporting to the Department and Issuing Tier 1 Public Notification. Description: The purpose of this document is to establish a uniform protocol for public water systems when responding to loss of positive pressure situations in the distribution system. The distribution system is the final barrier of protection against contaminants that may cause waterborne disease. A situation that causes a loss of positive pressure in a distribution system poses a potential threat to public health, due to the potential for intrusion or backflow, or both. Loss of positive pressure situations are not uncommon—water main breaks occur routinely for a variety of reasons, and other events can cause widespread loss of positive pressure. When these situations do occur, the keys to preventing a waterborne disease outbreak are identifying which situations pose a high risk of allowing contaminants to enter the distribution system, and then notifying water system customers of the risk to prevent consumption. The intent of this policy is to provide consistent guidance for water system operators in making those critical determinations. Due to the reorganization of the Department, the document number for this guidance was changed from 383-2129-004 to 393-2129-003.

Comments due April 20.  Questions should be directed to Jill Anderson by sending email to: jianderson@pa.gov or call 717-772-4049.  Read the PA Bulletin Notice on how to submit comments.

Final Guidance: DEP ID: 580-0100-001. Title: Accident Reporting Requirements. Description: This document provides guidance to all bituminous coal mine operators and the Department's Bureau of Mine Safety staff on the types of accidents/incidents that must be reported to the Department. The minor revision to this guidance clarifies the types of unanticipated incidents that operators must report to the Department.

Questions should be directed to Richard A. Wagner, PE by sending email to:  rwagner@pa.gov or call 724-404-3154.

The Public Utility Commission published notice in the March 21 PA Bulletin of amendments to Policy Statement on Customer Assistance and Energy Efficiency Programs.

Permits ------------

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the March 21 PA Bulletin of proposed 2020 Ozone Season Nitrogen Oxide Emission Limits for Nonelectric Generating Units.

DEP published notice in the March 21 PA Bulletin of changes to the list of businesses certified to perform radon-related activities (PA Bulletin, page 1757).

The PA Infrastructure Investment Authority and DEP published a notice in the March 21 PA Bulletin of approved environmental assessments for clean water projects to be considered for funding.

Note: The Department of Environmental Protection published 63 pages of public notices related to proposed and final permit and approval/ disapproval actions in the March 21 PA Bulletin - pages 1698 to 1761.

Sign Up For DEP’s eNotice: Did you know DEP can send you email notices of permit applications submitted in your community?  Notice of new technical guidance documents and regulations?  All through its eNotice system.  Click Here to sign up.

Related Tools ----------------------

Visit DEP’s Public Participation Center for public participation opportunities. 

DEP Proposals Out For Public Review

Other Proposals Open For Public Comment - DEP webpage

Submit Comments on Proposals Through DEP’s eComment System

Recently Closed Comment Periods For Other Proposals - DEP webpage

Other Proposals Recently Finalized - DEP webpage

DEP Regulations In Process

Proposed Regulations Open For Comment - DEP webpage

Submit Comments on Proposals Through DEP’s eComment System

Proposed Regulations With Closed Comment Periods - DEP webpage

Recently Finalized Regulations - DEP webpage

DEP Regulatory Update - DEP webpage

DEP Technical Guidance In Process

Draft Technical Guidance Documents - DEP webpage

Technical Guidance Comment Deadlines - DEP webpage

Submit Comments on Proposals Through DEP’s eComment System

Recently Closed Comment Periods For Technical Guidance - DEP webpage

Technical Guidance Recently Finalized - DEP webpage

Copies of Final Technical Guidance - DEP webpage

DEP Non-Regulatory/Technical Guidance Documents Agenda- DEP webpage

3/23/2020