The Department of Environmental Protection will hold two free workshops later this month on its Internet-based “Request for Determination” application system, or RFD*Online, for industrial representatives, consultants and other interested participants.

The workshops will be held on:

· July 29 - DEP Southwest Regional Office, Waterfront Conference Room, 400 Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; and

· July 30 - DEP Southeast Regional Office, Delaware and Schuylkill Conference Rooms, 2 East Main Street, Norristown. From 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The RFD*Online system allows the owners and operators of companies to apply for air quality plan approval and operating permit requests for determination via the Internet.

The Bureau of Air Quality receives approximately 1,000 RFD applications each year from the owners and operators of industrial sources to request a determination of whether their project is exempt from plan approval or operating permit requirements.

To facilitate and streamline the RFD application submittal process and provide faster communication between applicants and DEP staff, BAQ launched the RFD*Online system in May 2007.

Since May 2007, approximately 345 applications have been officially submitted online. The DEP has issued decisions on 320 RFD*Online applications.

The RFD*Online workshop will include presentations on entering data into the system, automatic data validation and error checking, document attachment and note capabilities, online help, user manual and the submission process.

For more information, contact Jeanette Van Skike, by sending email to: jvanskike@state.pa.us or call 717-787-4325.

Persons with a disability who require an auxiliary aid or service during the workshops should contact Ms. Van Skike at 717-787-4325, or through the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at 800-654-5984 (TDD users).

7/11/2008