Highlights of the environmental and energy notices in the September 16 PA Bulletin--

-- The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the September 16 PA Bulletin of the Interim Final Environmental Justice Policy that will now guide DEP’s permit application reviews and outreach efforts in environmental justice areas throughout the Commonwealth.  (formal notice)  Read more here.

            “A DEP permit applicant who files a permit application on or after September 16 must use the new PennEnviroScreen tool to determine if the permit’s facility is in an environmental justice area.”

The PennEnviroScreen will redefine environmental justice areas using 32 environmental, health and socioeconomic indicators that are spelled out in a 113-page PennEnviroScreen Methodology Document.

            Publication will also begin a formal public comment period that is scheduled to end on October 29.

            DEP published a second notice formally rescinding the previous 2004 Environmental Justice Public Participation Policy.

-- The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the September 16 PA Bulletin the NPDES General Permit for Discharges from the Application of Pesticides (PAG-15) is now available.  Read more here.

-- The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the September 16 PA Bulletin the NPDES General Permit for Operation of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (PAG-12) is now available.  Read more here.

-- The PA Infrastructure Investment Authority/DEP published notice in the September 16 PA Bulletin of environmental assessments approved for water infrastructure projects being considered for funding in Allegheny, Clarion, Lancaster, Luzerne, Schuylkill, Somerset counties.

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - September 16  [PaEN]

-- The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the September 16 PA Bulletin inviting comments on a request for Section 401 Water Quality Certification for a Texas Eastern Transmission, LP pipeline project to construct a 20-inch natural gas pipeline under the Schuylkill River in Spring City Borough, Chester County and Upper Providence Township, Montgomery County.  (PA Bulletin, page 5852)  Read more here.

-- The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the September 16 PA Bulletin it received a Land Recycling Program Risk Assessment from the American Refining Group Refinery, City of Bradford, McKean County concerning remediation of soil and groundwater contaminated with Benzene, Toluene, Ethyl Benzene, Xylenes (total), Cumene (Isopropylbenzene), Methyl tert-Butyl Ether, Naphthalene, Trimethyl benzene, 1,2,4-(Trimethyl benzene, 1,3,4-), Trimethyl benzene, 1,3,5-, Fluorene, Phenanthrene, Anthracene, Pyrene, Chrysene, Benzo(a)anthracene, Benzo(b)fluoranthene, Benzo(a)pyrene, Benzo(g,h,i)perylene and groundwater: Benzene, Toluene, Ethyl Benzene, Xylenes (total), Cumene (Isopropylbenzene), Methyl tert-Butyl Ether, Naphthalene, Trimethyl benzene, 1,2,4-(Trimethyl benzene, 1,3,4-), Trimethyl benzene, 1,3,5-, Phenanthrene, Pyrene, Chrysene for EU-1W. The Risk Assessment is intended to document remediation of the site to meet the Land Recycling Program’s site-specific standards.  (PA Bulletin, page 5839)

-- The state Department of Health published notice in the September 16 PA Bulletin amending regulations related to certification of Lifeguards.

-- The Game Commission published notice in the September 16 PA Bulletin rescinding designation of a rabbit hemorrhagic disease management area #1.

PA Bulletin - September 16, 2023

Note: The Department of Environmental Protection published 70 pages of public notices related to proposed and final permit and approval/ disapproval actions in the September 16 PA Bulletin - pages 5786 to 5856.

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. 

-- Allegheny County Health Department Public Comment Notices

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 [March 2023] - DEP webpage

[Posted: September 15, 2023]

9/18/2023