Pennsylvania Code & Bulletin
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

• No statutes or acts will be found at this website.

The Pennsylvania Bulletin website includes the following: Rulemakings by State agencies; Proposed Rulemakings by State agencies; State agency notices; the Governor’s Proclamations and Executive Orders; Actions by the General Assembly; and Statewide and local court rules.

PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 97-988

NOTICES

Availability of Technical Guidance

[27 Pa.B. 2995]

Governor's Office List

   Once a year on the first Saturday in August, the Governor's Office publishes a list of the non-regulatory guidance documents of all State agencies in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. The next publication of this list will be in the August 2, 1997, Pennsylvania Bulletin.

DEP's Technical Guidance Document Inventory

   DEP publishes a list of its technical guidance documents in its Technical Guidance Document Inventory twice a year. The June 1997 edition of the Inventory will soon be available on DEP's World Wide Web site. DEP's Web address is http://www.dep.state.pa.us. To go to the location of the Inventory once on the DEP home page, persons should choose the Public Participation Center/Technical Guidance Document/Inventory.

   Bound paper copies of the June 1997 Inventory will become available in July for those who do not have access to the Web site. DEP automatically mails a paper copy of the June 1997 Inventory to persons who received a bound paper copy of the December 1996 Inventory. Persons who wish to add their address to the mailing list should call Nina Huizinga at (717) 783-8727.

DEP's Technical Guidance Documents on the World Wide Web

   DEP's Web address is http://www.dep.state.pa.us. To go to the location of DEP's Technical Guidance Documents once on the DEP home page, persons should choose the Public Participation Center. The Center contains several links to DEP's Technical Guidance Documents. Persons should look under the heading ''Proposals Open to Comment'' for the link to ''Draft Technical Guidance.'' Persons should look under the heading ''Proposals Recently Finalized'' for the link to ''Technical Guidance.'' Persons should look under the heading ''Technical Guidance'' for one link to the ''Basic Inventory'' and a second link to ''Final Guidance.'' The final documents menu will list DEP's bureaus. Persons should click on the name of the bureau to get to the list of the documents from that bureau that are currently on the Web. Then, to get to see a document, persons should click on the ID number of the document. DEP will be adding its revised documents to the Web throughout 1997.

Help Protect the Environment: Use the Web and Save Trees

   DEP encourages members of the public who read these announcements in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and DEP's UPDATE and who have access to the World Wide Web to avoid the needless duplication of paper copies of DEP's technical guidance documents. Persons can download those DEP documents which are posted on DEP's Web site onto their computers and read them electronically. This method saves both paper and money.

Ordering Paper Copies of DEP Technical Guidance

   Although DEP promotes the use of electronic copies of its technical guidance rather than paper copies, there are still reasons for DEP to continue to provide members of the public with paper copies: 1) It may be more convenient to use some documents in a paper form, 2) Not everyone has access to the World Wide Web and 3) Not all DEP documents are on DEP's Web site yet. Persons can order an unbound paper copy of the latest Inventory or an unbound paper copy of any of the final documents listed on the Inventory by calling DEP at (717) 783-8727.

   In addition, bound copies of some of DEP's documents are available as DEP publications. Persons should check with the appropriate bureau for more information about the availability of a particular document as a publication.

Changes to Technical Guidance Documents

   Between publication of its Inventory, DEP announces changes to its technical guidance documents in its weekly newsletter, the UPDATE and the Pennsylvania Bulletin. Here is the current list of recently finalized documents, draft documents and notices of intended changes to technical guidance.

   Persons who have any questions or comments about a particular document should call the contact person whose name and phone number is listed with each document. Persons who have questions or comments about the Inventory, the documents on the World Wide Web, the availability of paper copies from the printer or the technical guidance document process in general should call Nina Huizinga at (717) 783-8727.

Final Technical Guidance--New Guidance

   DEP ID: 254-5403-100 Title: Guidelines for Yard Waste Composting Facilities Description: The purpose of this document is to provide instructions and operating procedures for the operation of a yard waste composting facility operating under permit-by-rule. Page Length: 15 pages Location: Volume 6, Tab 27 Contact: Josephine Valencia at (717) 787-9870.

   DEP ID: 563-2504-501 BMR PGM: II:5:1 Title: Qualifying, Processsing and Tracking Financial Guarantees and Bond Credits Description: This document provides guidance to evaluate, process and track financial guarantees and Bond Credits for coal remining and reclamation. Page Length: 17 pages Location: Volume 12, Tab 68A Contact: Evan Shuster at (717) 787-7846.

Final Technical Guidance--Revision to Existing Guidance

   DEP ID: 561-2305-601 BMR PGM: VII:6:1 Title: Small Operator Assistance Program (SOAP) and Remining Operator's Assistance Program (ROAP) Applicant Liability and Reimbursement Procedure Description: The purpose of this guidance is to establish the criteria and procedures to be used in seeking reimbursement from SOAP and ROAP recipients and to establish ''good faith'' criteria for waivers of reimbursement. Page Length: 3 pages Location: Volume 12, Tab 98A Contact: Evan Shuster at (717) 787-7846.

Final Technical Guidance--Minor Revisions--Bureau of Mining and Reclamation Documents

   The Bureau of Mining and Reclamation has made minor (not substantive) revisions to the following documents. Persons who have questions about any of these documents should contact Dottie Shellehamer at (717) 787-5103.

   DEP ID: 562-2100-704 BMR PGM I:7:4 Title: Municipal Mining Licenses, Permits and Bonds Page Length: 2 pages Location: Volume 12, Tab 37

   DEP ID: 562-2500-702 BMR PGM: I:7:2 Title: Insurance Requirements and Water Supply Replacement Assurance Page Length: 8 pages Location: Volume 12, Tab 35

   DEP ID: 562-3000-802 BMR PGM: I:8:2 Title: AVS Compliance Page Length: 4 pages Location: Volume 12, Tab 39

   DEP ID: 562-4180-309 BMR PGM: I:3:9 Title: Reclamation in Lieu of Cash Payment for Civil Penalties Page Length: 5 pages Location: Volume 12, Tab 21

   DEP ID: 562-4170-308 BMR PGM: I:3:8 Title: Bond Forfeiture Page Length: 5 pages Location: Volume 12, Tab 20

   DEP ID: 562-3000-802 Title: AVS Compliance Page Length: 4 pages Location: Volume 12, Tab 39

   DEP ID: 563-2112-608 BMR PGM: II:6:8 Title: Constructed Wetlands for Mine Drainage Treatment Page Length: 4 pages Location: Volume 12, Tab 77

   DEP ID: 563-2112-656 BMR PGM: II:6:56 Title: Liners - Impoundments and Storage Areas Page Length: 4 pages Location: Volume 12, Tab 83

   DEP ID: 563-2500-401 BMR PGM: VIII:4:1 Title: Noncoal Surface Mining Payment in Lieu of Bond Page Length: 6 pages Location: Volume 12, Tab 110

   DEP ID: 563-2504-407 BMR PGM: II:4:7 Title: Bonding - Direct Submittal of Bonds Page Length: 3 pages Location: Volume 12, Tab 63

   DEP ID: 563-2504-412 Title: Evaluating Postmining Discharges Page Length: 4 pages Location: Volume 12, Tab 67

Draft Technical Guidance

   DEP ID: 561-5300-201 BMR PGM: VI:2:1 Title: Damage Claim Processing Background: The Coal and Clay Mine Subsidence Insurance Act of August 23, 1961 (P. L. 1068, No. 484; 52 P. S. §§ 3201--3226) requires DEP to administer the Mine Subsidence Insurance program for the purpose of providing a reliable and economical source of insurance coverage against the losses caused by mine subsidence. This document provides the instructions and criteria required to process Mine Subsidence Insurance damage claims. Deadline for Submittal of Comments: July 15, 1997 Contact: Lawrence Ruane at (717) 783-9586.

   DEP ID: 563-2000-104 BMR PGM: II:1:4 Title: Sealing Exploratory Drill Holes Background: 25 Pa.Code §§ 86.133 and 89.54 require exploratory drill holes to be cased, lined, sealed or otherwise managed to prevent degradation of the quality of ground and surface water, minimize disturbance to the prevailing hydrologic balance, ensure the safety of people, livestock, fish, wildlife and protect machinery in the permit and adjacent areas. The Department has documented adverse hydrologic consequences associated with improperly sealed drill holes at underground bituminous coal mines, and has historically required mine operators to seal these holes with cement or bentonite. This guidance is intended to document those requirements as written policy. Deadline for Submittal of Comments: July 14, 1997 Contact: Harold Miller at (717) 787-3174.

   DEP ID: 563-2504-411 BMR PGM: II:1:4 Title: Processing Completion Reports Background: This document is being revised to improve clarity, to address Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) concerns about bond rollover and to add recommended items for consideration when allowing sediment controls to be left permanently. We have also incorporated the bond release changes authorized by Act 43 which will make bond release computation the same for both coal mining and coal remining permits. Deadline for Submittal of Comments: July 8, 1997 Contact: John Meehan at (717) 783-9388.

Notice of Intent to Remove Technical Guidance from the Inventory

   DEP ID: 560-0600-205 BMR PGM: I:9:5 Title: Memorandum of Understanding with the Bureau of Laboratories Background: This document pertains only to internal DEP procedures for handling water samples. It contains the Bureau of Laboratories standard operating procedures for maintaining the chain of custody of water samples. Effective Date: June 30, 1997 Contact: Evan Shuster at (717) 787-7846.

Notice of Intent to Add and Revise Technical Guidance

   Draft Title: Critical Elements for Certification of Laboratories for Microbiology Background: This document is being added to the Inventory (It is an existing document that has never been listed on the Inventory before) and it is being revised. This guidance provides conditions for obtaining and/or maintaining drinking water laboratory certification in the area of microbiological analyses. It is based on EPA's Manual for the Certification of Laboratories Analyzing Drinking Water. Anticipated Effective Date: September 1, 1997 Anticipated Draft Development Date: June 15, 1997 Proposed Development and Review Process: The draft will be distributed within DEP, including drinking water program staff as well as program counsel, for review. It will also be announced in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and the UPDATE for public review and comment. Contact: Ted Lyter at (717) 783-7150.

   Draft Title: Critical Elements for Certification of Laboratories for Chemistry Background: This document is being added to the Inventory (It is an existing document that has never been listed on the Inventory before) and it is being revised. This guidance provides conditions for obtaining and/or maintaining drinking water laboratory certification in the area of chemical analyses. It is based on EPA's Manual for the Certification of Laboratories Analyzing Drinking Water. Anticipated Effective Date: September 1, 1997 Anticipated Draft Development Date: June 15, 1997 Proposed Development and Review Process: The draft will be distributed within DEP, including drinking water program staff as well as program counsel, for review. It will also be announced in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and the UPDATE for public review and comment. Contact: Ted Lyter at (717) 783-7150.

JAMES M. SEIF,   
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 97-988. Filed for public inspection June 20, 1997, 9:00 a.m.]



No part of the information on this site may be reproduced for profit or sold for profit.

This material has been drawn directly from the official Pennsylvania Bulletin full text database. Due to the limitations of HTML or differences in display capabilities of different browsers, this version may differ slightly from the official printed version.