NPDES permitting process. Public comments due by September 14th. Click here for more information.
NEW CHAPTER 102 REGULATIONS. Public comments due by November 30th. Click here for more information.
PADEP Announces Opening of Public Comment Period for Erosion and Sediment Control and Stormwater Regulations: Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger announced last week that the Environmental Quality Board will accept public comment on proposed changes to Pennsylvania’s erosion and sediment control and stormwater management regulations.
Proposed changes include: requirements for establishing and protecting existing streamside and riverside forest buffers; increasing protection for exceptional value waterways; incorporating existing post-construction stormwater management requirements into state regulation to bring Pennsylvania into line with federal requirements; an updated permit fee structure; and a new permit-by-rule option.
Public meetings and hearings:
- Sept. 29 at the Cranberry Township Municipal Building, 2525 Rochester Road, Butler County. The public meeting is at 4 p.m. and the public hearing is at 5 p.m.
- Oct. 1 at the Department of Environmental Protection, Southcentral Regional Office, Susquehanna Room B, 909 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg. The public meeting is at 4 p.m. and the public hearing is at 5 p.m.
- Oct. 5 at the Salisbury Township Municipal Building, 2900 South Pike Avenue, Allentown. The public meeting is at 4 p.m. and the public hearing is at 5 p.m.
Read more here
Also from DEP: 2009 Notice of Extension of NPDES Phase II MS4 General Permit (PAG-13)
DEP has administratively extended the expiration of the current NPDES Phase II MS4 general permit (PAG-13) by one year from midnight, March 9, 2010 to midnight, March 9, 2011. The Notice of Extension for PAG-13 was published in the PA Bulletin on August 15, 2009. If you are using PAG-13, you do not need to file an application for the extension at this time. It is anticipated that your coverage has been automatically extended.
Application for a One-Year Extension of NPDES Phase II MS4 Individual Permits
If you are using an NPDES Phase II MS4 individual permit, you must either submit an application for a renewal permit or request an extension of your current permit 180 days or more before the expiration of your current permit. One-Year Extension of NPDES Phase II MS4 Individual Permits Request Form
From PSATS: BILL WOULD GIVE MUNICIPALITIES MORE POWER TO FIGHT DEVELOPMENT
State Rep. Steve Santarsiero (D-Bucks) has announced his intention to introduce legislation that would give municipalities more power to fight development and take the sting out of curative amendments filed by builders, according to a news article from the Bucks County Courier Times.
The bill would have four major components: First, a municipality could deny a project if all the required infrastructure like roads, storm water controls, schools, emergency services and recreation is not in place. Also, the bill would ensure that all challenges submitted to a municipal governing body or zoning board describe and quantify the need for a particular kind of housing identified in the petition for a curative amendment. The news articles also detailed that the bill would make a developer show the proposed project would be able to be constructed under the natural resource protections in place, and would also prohibit a municipality from entering into agreements or settlements that allow for projects substantially different from the granted curative challenge. Read more at PSATS.org.
Editor’s note: we were unable to locate the Courier Times article. Anyone have a link?
Did you know?
This week, from the Beaver County Conservation District fall 2009 newsletter BEAVER TALES:
World Water Monitoring Day (WWMD) is an international education and outreach program that builds public awareness and involvement in protecting water resources around the world by engaging citizens to conduct basic monitoring of their local water bodies. It is officially celebrated on September 18; however, the monitoring window was extended for the first time in 2009 from March 22 (World Water Day) until December 31. Participants are asked to choose a water body and register on the web site, www.worldwatermonitoringday.org. Then, monitor the site for dissolved oxygen (DO), acidity (pH), temperature and turbidity. The results are then entered into an international database. The deadline for submitting data to the WWMD database is December 31.
The coordinators of WWMD, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the International Water Association (IWA) plan to expand participation to one million people in 100 countries by 2012.
Upcoming Events
Saturday, September 12, from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Crawford County Conservation District - 9th Annual Clean Water Festival. New Location: the Woodcock Creek Nature Center. (Registration NOT required for THIS event.) Participants will enjoy presentations, interactive games, and much more… something for the whole family! Don’t miss your chance to watch rescue dog demonstrations and learn the art of fly tying and casting. Find out ways to keep water clean! For more water festival information click here.
September 14-16, 2009. Forests and Water in a Changing Environment Conference at the Brownstone Hotel, Raleigh, NC. Organized by the Southern Global Change Program.
September 29, 2009. Lancaster County Smart Growth Summit, “The Cost of Growth and What It Means to Our Community”. Discuss growth challenges that affect communities, and infrastructure and community service demands. Check out the Lancaster County Conservation District web site for more information.
October 9-11, 2009. The 4th Annual Chesapeake Watershed Forum at the National Conservation Training Center (NCTC) in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Network with representatives from state and federal environmental agencies and local watershed groups from the Bay watershed. Click here for details and registration.
October 9th, 2009. Lehigh Valley Watershed Conference, from the Lehigh County Conservation District. Click Here for details and to register.
October 29-31. ASCE 139th Annual Civil Engineering Conference, Kansas City, MO. Click here for registration and program highlights.
Thursday, October 29. Columbia County Conservation District - 2009 Erosion & Sedimentation Plan Preparers Workshop, Pennsdale, PA. Click here for more information.
October 31, 2009. Lancaster/Lebanon Watershed Forum. For information and to register, please visit www.lancasterwatersheds.org.
November 2-4, 2009. CASQA Stormwater Conference: Stormwater Management: Challenges and Solutions, Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa, San Diego, CA. Organized by California Stormwater Quality Association (CASQA). Information available here.
REMINDERS
September 17 deadline CALL FOR PAPERS - World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2010: Challenges of Change. Submit here.
September 22-25 - Watershed Institute in Columbia, SC - an intensive and interactive four-day learning experience specifically designed to help public and private sector watershed professionals.
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