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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 96-107

NOTICES

Policy for Conducting Technical Reviews of Water Quality Management (Part II) Permit Applications to Construct and Operate Sewerage Works and Industrial Wastewater Treatment Facilities

[26 Pa.B. 377]

   The Department of Environmental Protection (Department) by this notice is announcing its policy setting forth the Department's review guidelines for applications to construct sewerage works, and industrial wastewater treatment facilities under sections 207 and 308 of The Clean Streams Law. On September 9, 1995, the Department published a notice of the proposed policy at 25 Pa.B. 3780 (September 9, 1995) establishing a 30-day public comment period. The Department received only one comment, which supported the draft policy in its entirety. As a result, the Department issues this policy, to be effective on January 22, 1996, without revision.

   Section 207 of The Clean Streams Law provides that Department approval of plans, designs and relevant data is required before the construction of any new sewer system, sewage treatment works or intercepting sewers, or before the extension of an existing sewer system can commence. Section 308 provides that all plans, designs and relevant data for the construction of industrial wastewater treatment works must be approved by the Department before construction begins.

   This policy streamlines the Part II permit application review process and eliminates detailed Department re- engineering of Part II permit applications, resulting in resource savings for both permit applicants and the Department. It also gives the applicant's registered professional engineer full responsibility for the treatment works design. The policy allows design engineers broad discretion so long as necessary performance can be achieved by the treatment system. Opportunities for public review of Part II applications are not changed by this policy.

   It is recognized where public funds are used to finance construction through government grants, loans or local taxes, the Department has a vested interest in ensuring that facilities are properly and cost-effectively designed and are capable of efficient performance over the design life of the facility. These same concerns apply to privately owned sewerage facilities which may ultimately become the responsibility of local government. This policy does not abandon the Department's interest in these matters. Industrial wastewater treatment works are almost exclusively privately owned and are specifically designed to treat a unique wastewater. These facilities are normally designed by professionals possessing specialized knowledge in the field and should require minimal Department review. To address the fundamental difference between industrial wastewater and sewerage facilities, the procedures to implement this policy are varied slightly along those lines.

   Persons wishing to obtain an official copy of the final policy should request it from the Bureau of Water Quality Management, Division of Permits and Compliance, 10th Floor, Rachel Carson State Office Building, P. O. Box 8465, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8465, (717) 787-8184, or by Internet E-Mail (Gansell.Stuart@a1.dep.state.pa.us).

JAMES M. SEIF,   
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 96-107. Filed for public inspection January 26, 1996, 9:00 a.m.]


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