NOTICES
DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Availability of Technical Guidance
[53 Pa.B. 5344]
[Saturday, August 26, 2023]Technical guidance documents (TGD) are available on the Department of Environmental Protection's (Department) web site at www.depgreenport.state.pa.us/elibrary/. The ''Technical Guidance Final Documents'' heading is the link to a menu of the various Department bureaus where each bureau's final TGDs are posted. The ''Technical Guidance Draft Documents'' heading is the link to the Department's draft TGDs.
Ordering Paper Copies of Department Technical Guidance
The Department encourages the use of the Internet to view and download TGDs. When this option is not available, persons can order a paper copy of any of the Department's draft or final TGDs by contacting 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 TGDs
Following is the current list of recent changes. Persons who have questions or comments about a document should contact the person whose name and phone number are listed with each document.
Draft TGD: Substantive Revision
DEP ID: 361-0300-002. Title: Land Application of Manure—A Supplement to Manure Management for Environmental Protection. Description: Manure Management for Environmental Protection and its supplements (Manure Management Manual) provide guidelines that comply with Department regulations concerning animal manures and agricultural process wastewaters. The criteria established in this TGD are required to be followed by all operations applying manure or agricultural process wastewater, farms that pasture animals and farms managing an Animal Concentration Area (ACA) unless the operators obtain a permit or approval from the Department to implement alternative practices. The substantive revisions in this draft TGD include the following:
• Manure Management Plan Short Form—The Manure Management Plan Short Form (Short Form) is a new form. If the guidelines on the Short Form are followed, then the water quality risks associated with the agricultural operation are deemed to be minimal and the short form will satisfy the planning requirements for the operation set forth in 25 Pa. Code § 91.36(b) (relating to pollution control and prevention at agricultural operations).
• Manure Management Plan Workbook
◦ Operation Information—In addition to clarifying existing language, the following points have been added or modified on the Operation Information Page:
▪ Animals on the Operation—Modified to a check item. If answered yes, the Animals Worksheet must be completed.
▪ Environmentally Sensitive Areas—Included springs for clarification.
▪ Agricultural Process Wastewater—New check item. If answered yes, the Agricultural Process Wastewater Worksheet must be completed.
▪ Manure Spreader Calibration—New check item. The operator must identify that the manure spreader will be calibrated according the recommendations in Agronomy Facts 68 (Appendix 3) prior to manure application.
◦ Animals Worksheet—New worksheet to be completed by any operator with animals housed onsite. Includes an Animal Equivalent Unit Calculation. If after completion of the worksheet, it is determined that the operation is regulated under the Nutrient Management Act (P.L. 112, No. 38), the operation should contact a certified nutrient management specialist before proceeding with the remainder of the Manure Management Plan.
◦ Environmentally Sensitive Areas Worksheet—Included springs for clarification.
◦ Winter Spreading Worksheet—Included language related to ''vegetative cover.'' No changes to winter manure spreading requirements.
◦ Manure Management Plan Summary
▪ New check box identifying that soils tests taken in the last 3 years indicated phosphorous levels are less than 200 ppm.
▪ Clarification language indicating that no single manure application can exceed 9,000 gallons per acre unless it is applied in accordance with 25 Pa. Code § 83.294(e) (relating to nutrient application procedures).
◦ Operation Map—New blank page inserted to facilitate hand drawing or remind the planner to include a map, or both.
◦ Agricultural Process Wastewater Worksheet—New worksheet to facilitate planning for agricultural process wastewater management. Though, there are no changes to the requirement to address the agricultural process wastewater in the Manure Management Plan.
◦ Manure Storage and Stacking Worksheet—Updated the former ''Manure Storage Facilities Worksheet'' to facilitate planning for stacking and stockpiling of manure.
◦ Pasture Management Worksheet
▪ Clarification of vegetation requirements needed to maintain pasture.
▪ Added installation quantities and dates to obtain the necessary information to report pasture best management practices (BMP) in Manure Management Plans towards implementation of the Commonwealth's Phase 3 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan.
◦ ACA Worksheet—Added installation quantities and dates to obtain the necessary information to report pasture BMPs in Manure Management Plans towards implementation of the Commonwealth's Phase 3 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan.
◦ Appendix 1: Manure Application Rate Tables—Simplified rate tables to include only application rates for phosphorus removal of common crops and manure types in this Commonwealth.
◦ Appendix 2: Agronomy Facts 54—New appendix to assist with completion of the Animals Worksheet.
◦ Appendix 3: Agronomy Facts 68—New appendix to assist with manure calibration.
Written Comments: Interested persons may submit written comments on this draft TGD by Monday, September 25, 2023. Comments, including comments submitted by e-mail, must include the commentator's name and address. Commentators are urged to submit comments using the Department's online eComment tool at www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/eComment. Written comments should be submitted to the Technical Guidance Coordinator, Department of Environmental Protection, Policy Office, Rachel Carson State Office Building, P.O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063.
Contact: Questions regarding this TGD can be directed to Kathryn Bresaw at (717) 772-5650 or kbresaw@pa.gov.
Effective Date: Upon publication of notice as final in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
RICHARD NEGRIN,
Secretary
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 23-1152. Filed for public inspection August 25, 2023, 9:00 a.m.]
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