The Environmental Quality Board meets June 19 to consider drinking water, storage tank and air quality regulations (details below). The Game Commission published proposed changes to the agricultural deer control permits (red tag) regulations.

The Environmental Quality Board agenda for June 19 includes the following items:

Proposed Rulemaking – Chapter 109, Safe Drinking Water Rulemaking: This proposed rulemaking amends the department’s Safe Drinking Water regulations through a general update to accomplish the four following goals: 1) Incorporate necessary federal requirements needed to obtain and/or maintain primary enforcement authority (primacy) for the Phase II/IIB/V Rule, Filter Backwash Recycling Rule, Lead and Copper Rule, and the Radionuclide Rule; 2) Amend several sections to improve data quality and streamline the reporting process, including mandatory electronic reporting via the department’s secure web application called the Drinking Water Electronic Lab Reporting system; 3) Ensure consistency with analytical, monitoring and training requirements associated with Operator Certification and Environmental Laboratory Accreditation regulations; and 4) Clarify how the department determines compliance with the Maximum Contaminant Levels.

Proposed Rulemaking – Chapter 130, Subchapter B, Consumer Products: This proposed rulemaking amends the existing consumer products regulation in Chapter 130 by adding volatile organic compound (VOC) content limits for 11 additional categories of consumer products, including adhesive removers, antistatic product, electrical cleaner, electronic cleaner, fabric refresher, footwear or leather care product, graffiti remover, hair styling product, shaving gel, toilet/urinal care product and wood cleaner.

The VOC content limits in the proposed rule are more stringent than federal requirements, but will assure additional reductions in VOC emissions, which are reasonably necessary for achieving and maintaining the health-based eight-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard

Final Rulemaking – Chapter 245, Storage Tank Program Amendments: This final rulemaking includes comprehensive and minor editorial changes to the department’s existing Storage Tank Program regulations contained in Chapter 245, Subchapters A-H.

These changes include new and revised definitional terms, new comprehensive tank registration provisions, re-regulation of previously de-regulated large aboveground storage tanks (AST) storing heating oil for on-site consumptive use, and additional training/qualifications/standards of performance provisions for certified tank installers, inspectors, and their companies.

Several changes are also included for storage tank permitting and technical requirements, including simplified permit applications for most tanks, routine withdrawal of operating permits for tanks in temporary closure, phase-in provisions for newly regulated tanks, additional leak detection provisions, and requirements for total secondary containment systems for new and replacement underground storage tank systems.

Record keeping and inspection provisions are also amended with third-party UST facility inspection intervals increased from every 5 or 10 years to once every 3 years. The total secondary containment and 3-year inspection interval for USTs correlate with UST compliance provisions in the Federal Energy Policy Act of 2005.

For more information about the agenda, contact DEP Regulatory Coordinator Michelle Tate at 783-8727 or by e-mail at mtate@state.pa.us .

Pennsylvania Bulletin – June 16, 2007

Comment Deadlines: Technical Guidance (DEP website)

Copies of Proposed Regulations (DEP website)

Status of Regulations, 6-Month Calendar (DEP website)

6/15/2007