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COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 04-1859

NOTICES

Availability of Technical Guidance

[34 Pa.B. 5649]

   Technical guidance documents are on the Department of Environmental Protection's (Department) website: www.dep.state.pa.us (DEP Keyword: Participate). The ''Current Inventory'' heading is the Governor's list of nonregulatory guidance documents. The ''Final Documents'' heading is the link to a menu of the various Department bureaus and from there to each bureau's final technical guidance documents. The ''Draft Technical Guidance'' heading is the link to the Department's draft technical guidance documents.

   The Department will continue to revise its nonregulatory documents, as necessary, throughout 2004.

Ordering Paper Copies of Department Technical Guidance

   The Department encourages the use of the Internet to view guidance documents. When this option is not available, persons can order a bound paper copy of the latest inventory or an unbound paper copy of any of the final documents listed on the inventory by calling the Department at (717) 783-8727.

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

Changes to Technical Guidance Documents

   Following is the current list of recent changes. Persons who have questions or comments about a particular document should call the contact person whose name and phone number is listed with each document.

Draft Technical Guidance--Substantive Revision

   DEP ID: 563-2504-001. Title: Conventional Bonding for Land Reclamation--Coal. Description: The Department requires coal mining activities to be bonded in an amount that covers the Department's cost to complete the site's reclamation plan. This guidance describes the regulatory and statutory requirements for determining bond amounts. The document was finalized and became effective August 4, 2001, published at 31 Pa.B. 4239 (August 4, 2001). Recent changes were made to the document to enhance its clarity. These changes include: adding definitions for ''mining area,'' ''operational area'' and ''multiple bench''; eliminating the one time allowance of ''Temporary Exceedance'' of pit volumes; adding clarifying language to the section that describes when a reclaimed area can be left out of the operational area; deleting references to the Land Maintenance Financial Guarantees program; modifying the publication of bond rate guidelines to annually instead of publishing guidelines in December; expanding the narrative describing what information is required for the Annual Review; and including waivers for partial submittal of annual review information. In addition to these changes, other modifications were made including: explaining why underground mines and preparation plants are reviewed for proper bonds for major permit actions instead of requiring the submittal of annual reviews; adding a section about when and how reclamation fees are still collected; and removing barrier restrictions to make the Commonwealth's program compatible with the Federal regulations. Written Comments: Interested persons should submit written comments on technical guidance document 563-2504-001 by November 8, 2004. Comments submitted by facsimile will not be accepted. The Department will accept comments submitted by e-mail. A return name and address must be included in each e-mail transmission. Written comments should be submitted to John Meehan, Bureau of Mining and Reclamation, P. O. Box 8461, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8461, johmeehan@state.pa.us. Questions regarding the technical guidance document should be directed to John Meehan at (717) 787-5103 or by e-mail.

Final Technical Guidance

   DEP ID: 012-5500-001 Title: 2005 Environmental Education Grants Program Manual and Forms. Description: This manual is a guide for eligible organizations interested in applying for the Department's Environmental Education (EE) grants program. The manual provides information on eligibility and details on how to apply for a grant, as well as the operational procedures required if a grant is awarded. The Environmental Education Act (act) (35 P. S. §§7521--7528) was signed into law on June 22, 1993. The act established a policy that EE is critically important to all citizens in this Commonwealth; created an EE fund from 5% of the Department's pollution fine moneys; and created the EE grants program for the distribution of the EE fund money. The act requires the Department to provide the guidance contained in this manual for public review and comment in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. Substantive changes were made to the manual, which were advertised for public comment at 34 Pa.B. 3985 (July 24, 2004). The Department did not receive comments on the manual during the public comment period. Effective Date: October 1, 2004.

KATHLEEN A. MCGINTY,   
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 04-1859. Filed for public inspection October 8, 2004, 9:00 a.m.]


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