NOTICES
DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Extension of Public Comment Period for Technical Guidance Documents
[48 Pa.B. 2011]
[Saturday, April 7, 2018]The Department of Environmental Protection's (Department) ''Draft Act 537 Program Guidance; Site Suitability and Alternatives Analysis Guidelines for New Land Development Proposing Onlot Sewage Disposal'' and ''Draft Onlot Wastewater Technology Verification Protocol'' technical guidance documents were published at 48 Pa.B. 1476 (March 10, 2018). The notice stated that the comment period for these documents would end on April 9, 2018.
The Department is, by this notice, extending the public comment period for both draft technical guidance documents by 30 days. Comments will now be accepted through May 8, 2018.
Comments submitted by facsimile will not be accepted. All comments, including comments submitted by e-mail, must include the originator's name and address. Commentators are encouraged to submit comments using the Department's online eComment web site at www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/eComment or by e-mail to ecomment@pa.gov. Written comments may be mailed to the Technical Guidance Coordinator, Department of Environmental Protection, Policy Office, Rachel Carson State Office Building, P.O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105 2063.
Draft Technical Guidance—New Guidance
DEP ID: 385-2207-001. Title: Act 537 Program Guidance; Site Suitability and Alternatives Analysis Guidelines for New Land Development Proposing Onlot Sewage Disposal. Description: The act of July 20, 2017 (P.L. 321, No. 26) (Act 26) amended the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act (Act 537) (35 P.S. §§ 750.1—750.20a) to allow alternate onlot systems to satisfy sewage planning requirements in the establishment of new lots. Act 26 became effective on September 18, 2017. The Department considers a wide range of available onlot sewage system technologies, including emerging technologies, in the Act 537 new land development planning process. This authorization is contingent upon the applicability of given technology to site conditions and assurance and availability of adequate operation and maintenance support mechanisms. The existing regulations do not allow for the consideration of alternate system to establish general site suitability. The purpose of this guidance is to provide a systematic approach to site suitability determinations and sewage facilities alternatives analysis when encountering marginal conditions for the long-term use of onlot sewage systems or when incorporating alternate onlot sewage disposal technologies into the Act 537 new land development planning process described in 25 Pa. Code Chapter 71 (relating to administration of Sewage Facilities Planning Program). This guidance covers the onlot sewage planning process in general and not just alternate system planning.
Draft Technical Guidance—Substantive Revision
DEP ID: 385-2208-003. Title: Draft Onlot Wastewater Technology Verification Protocol. Description: Act 26 amended Act 537 to allow alternate onlot systems to satisfy sewage planning requirements in the establishment of new lots. It also required the Department to evaluate the latest scientific, technical and field-testing information concerning alternate systems and to evaluate the existing alternate systems based on that information. Act 26 became effective on September 18, 2017. The revised guidance establishes the scientific, technical and field-testing standards for alternate onlot systems. Much of the existing guidance has been completely changed or removed.
Contact: Brian Schlauderaff, (717) 772-5620 or bschlauder@pa.gov.
PATRICK McDONNELL,
Secretary
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 18-533. Filed for public inspection April 6, 2018, 9:00 a.m.]
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