NOTICES
Proposed Amendments to Chapter 16 Statement of Policy Water Quality Toxics Management Strategy; Public Hearing
[28 Pa.B. 4289] The Department of Environmental Protection (Department) will hold three public hearings to accept comments on proposed amendments to Pennsylvania's Water Quality Toxics Management Strategy which is found in Chapter 16, Statement of Policy. The proposed policy amendments were developed in conjunction with revisions to existing Chapters 92 (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)), 93 (Water Quality Standards), 95 (Wastewater Treatment Requirements), and 97 (Industrial Wastes), and the proposal to add a new Chapter 96 (Water Quality Standards Implementation).
The amendments are proposed as a result of the Regulatory Basics Initiative (RBI). The RBI began in August 1995 with the Department's review of existing regulations to determine those that were more stringent than Federal law and regulations, those that lacked clarity, and those that imposed disproportionate costs on the regulated community.
Pennsylvania's water quality standards, which are set forth in part in 25 Pa. Code, Chapter 93, implement the provisions of sections 5 and 402 of The Clean Streams Law and section 303 of the Federal Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C.A. § 1313). Water quality standards consist of the uses of the surface waters of this Commonwealth and the specific numeric and narrative criteria necessary to achieve and maintain those uses. Chapter 16 is a water quality policy for regulating toxic pollutants. It sets forth the guidelines for development of criteria for toxic substances, and lists the water quality criteria and the analytical methods and detection limits for toxic substances. Chapter 16 is directly referenced as a support policy document in the Department's toxic substances regulation at section 93.8a.
The Chapter 16 hearings will be held in conjunction with the Environmental Quality Board (EQB) public hearings on proposed water quality amendments (Chapters 92, 93, 95, 96 and 97). The Chapter 16 hearings will be held immediately following the conclusion of the EQB hearings. Each of the EQB hearings will include an afternoon session beginning at 3 p.m. and an evening session beginning at 7 p.m. The dates and locations are:
October 15, 1998 Department of Environmental
Protection
Southwest Regional Office
400 Waterfront Drive
Pittsburgh, Pa.October 20, 1998 Department of Environmental
Protection
Southcentral Regional Office
Susquehanna River Conference Room
909 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, Pa.October 22, 1998 Department of Environmental
Protection
Southeast Regional Office
Suite 6010, Lee Park
555 North Lane
Conshohocken, Pa.Persons wishing to present testimony at a Chapter 16 hearing are requested to contact Mary Houghton at (717) 787-9637 at least 1 week in advance of the hearing to reserve a time to present testimony. Oral testimony is limited to 10 minutes for each witness and one designated witness for each organization. Witnesses are requested to submit three written copies of their testimony to the hearing chairperson.
Persons with a disability who wish to attend a hearing and require an auxiliary aid, service or other accommodation in order to participate should contact Mary Houghton at the above telephone number or the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at (800) 654-5984 (TDD users) or (800) 654-5988 (voice users) to discuss how their needs may be accommodated.
In lieu of or in addition to presenting oral testimony at a hearing, interested persons may submit written comments, suggestions or objections regarding the proposed policy amendments to Edward R. Brezina, Chief, Division of Water Quality Assessment and Standards, Bureau of Watershed Conservation, P. O. Box 8555, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8555 (express mail: 10th Floor, Rachel Carson State Office Building, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8555). Comments must be received by October 28, 1998. Comments received by facsimile will not be accepted. Electronic comments may be submitted to Brezina.Edward @A1.dep.state.pa.us.
Copies of the proposed amendments to Chapter 16 may be obtained from Mary Houghton, Division of Assessment and Standards, Bureau of Watershed Conservation, Department of Environmental Protection, P. O. Box 8555, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8555, (717) 787-9637, or e-mail at Houghton.Mary @Al.dep.state.pa.us. This proposal is also available on the Department's Website at http://www.dep.state.pa.us (choose Public Participation Center, Regulations Open for Comment).
JAMES M. SEIF,
Secretary
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 98-1402. Filed for public inspection August 28, 1998, 9:00 a.m.]
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