The deadline for submitting comments on PADEPs proposed Chapter 102 amendments which are considerable is looming - November 30.  Get your comments in.

For an overview of proposed revisions to 25 Pa. Code Chapter 102 (Erosion and Sediment Control) click here.  Hot issues include: Phase II NPDES;  riparian forest buffers; and permit-by-rule.

For the full proposal click on Environmental Quality Board (EQB) proposal to amend Chapter 102.

The EQB will accept written comments through November 30, 2009. Comments should be submitted to

Environmental Quality Board, P. O. Box 8477, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8477 (express mail: Rachel Carson State Office Building, 16th Floor, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101-2301), or emailed to regcomments@state.pa.us

The Pennsylvania Campaign for Clean Water has posted official Chapter 102 comments; see their website for more information.

As we understand it, some uncertainty continues to exist regarding the forward movement of the Pennsylvania Stormwater Manual Revision Committee (see previous weekly blogs for more discussion on the Revision Committee and its process).  As we understand it, budget woes and uncertainties regarding scope of the revisions has bogged down the Committee process, although the 9 sub-groups continue to meet.  We’ll try to keep you posted.

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More changes Afoot!

Although Chapter 102 regs have always had relevance to stormwater management in Pennsylvania, these proposed changes bring 102 regs into the core of Pennsylvania’s stormwater management program.  They include new elements which have been discussed heatedly in recent months, including the Permit-By-Rule (PBR) option and required stream buffers.  Follow this link to get the complete package, including what is proposed, with some PADEP commentary.

The pro-environment Pennsylvania Campaign for Clean Water (CCW) urges citizens and interested groups concerned about clean water to sign up and provide testimony at the public hearings hosted by DEP, starting this week.

From the PA Bulletin:

Public Meetings and Public Hearings

The Board will hold three public meetings to explain the proposed rulemaking and to respond to questions from meeting participants. In addition to the public meetings, the Board will hold three public hearings for the purpose of accepting comments on the proposed rulemaking. The public meetings and hearings will be held as follows:

September 29, 2009	Cranberry Township Municipal Building 2525 Rochester Road Cranberry Township, PA    16066-6499 Public Meeting: 4 p.m. Public Hearing: 5 p.m.
October 1, 2009	Department of Environmental Protection Southcentral Regional Office Susquehanna Room A 909 Elmerton Avenue Harrisburg, PA 17110 Public Meeting: 4 p.m. Public Hearing: 5 p.m.
October 5, 2009	Salisbury Township Municipal Building 2900 South Pike Avenue Allentown, PA 18103 Public Meeting: 4 p.m. Public Hearing: 5 p.m.

Persons wishing to present testimony at a hearing are requested to contact the Environmental Quality Board, P. O. Box 8477, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8477, (717) 787-4526, at least 1 week in advance of the hearing to reserve a time to present testimony. Oral testimony is limited to 10 minutes for each witness. Witnesses are requested to submit three written copies of their oral testimony to the hearing chairperson at the hearing. Organizations are limited to designating one witness to present testimony on their behalf at each hearing.

Persons in need of accommodations as provided for in the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 should contact the Board at (717) 787-4526 or through the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at (800) 654-5984 (TDD) to discuss how the Board may accommodate their needs.

The CCW has assembled a summary package that provides background information as well as commentary on what is being proposed and will be developing more detailed recommendations in coming weeks.

Get the Proposed Ch 102 Regs here.

Get CCW Talking Points here.

We will all be living with the consequences of these changes for many years…

We’d love to hear from you in terms of pros and cons — and what you think needs further work.

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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 9^th, 2009. Lehigh Valley Watershed Conference, from the Lehigh County Conservation District. Click Here for details and to register.

October 29-31. ASCE 139^th 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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