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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 21-1167

NOTICES

DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Draft Revised Water Quality Assessment Methodologies; Available for Public Comment

[51 Pa.B. 4032]
[Saturday, July 24, 2021]

 The Department of Environmental Protection (Department) is requesting public comment for draft revisions in the Assessment and Listing Methodology (assessment methodology) for the 2022 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report (Integrated Report). Sections 303(d), 305(b) and 314 of the Federal Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C.A. §§ 1313(d), 1315(b) and 1324) require states to report on the condition of all surface waters in the biennial Integrated Report. The methodologies referred to in this public notice will be used, when finalized, to assess the quality of the waters in this Commonwealth under this legal mandate.

 The two drafts revised assessment methodologies are the Fish Tissue Consumption Assessment Method and the Assessment Determination and Delisting Methods. For the Fish Tissue Consumption Assessment Method, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid meal advisories were added. For the Assessment Determination and Delisting Methods, clarifying language was added to the delisting section to ensure assessments were being entered into the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Federal database consistently. For the 2022 Integrated Report, the assessment methodology is being updated to reflect this clarified methodology.

 The Department will accept and consider comments on these draft revised assessment methodologies. The draft revised methodologies are available online at www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/eComment.

 Interested persons may submit written comments on these draft revised water quality assessment methodologies by Tuesday, September 7, 2021. Comments submitted by facsimile will not be accepted. Comments, including comments submitted by e-mail, must include the com-mentator's name and address. Commentators are encour-aged to submit comments using the Department's online eComment tool at www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/eComment or by e-mail to ecomment@pa.gov. Written comments can be mailed to the Department of Environmental Protection, Policy Office, Rachel Carson State Office Building, P.O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063. Use ''Revised Assessment Methodologies'' as the subject line in written communication.

 Persons in need of accommodations as provided for in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 should contact Gary Walters at (717) 787-9637 or through the Pennsylvania Hamilton Relay Service at (800) 654-5984 (TDD users) or (800) 654-5988 (voice users) to discuss how the Department may accommodate their needs.

PATRICK McDONNELL, 
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 21-1167. Filed for public inspection July 23, 2021, 9:00 a.m.]


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