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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 02-386

NOTICES

Proposed Revisions to Pennsylvania General Permits for the Beneficial Use of Biosolids or Residential Septage by Land Application (PAG-7, PAG-8 and PAG-9)

[32 Pa.B. 1350]

Extension of Public Comment Period and Notice of Public Hearing

   In accordance with the provisions of the Federal Clean Water Act, The Clean Streams Law (35 P. S. §§ 691.1--691.1001), sections 1905-A, 1917-A and 1920-A of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. §§ 510-5, 510-17 and 510-20), the Solid Waste Management Act (35 P. S. §§ 6018.101--6018.1003) and the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act (53 P. S. §§ 4000.101--4000.1904), the Department of Environmental Protection (Department) issues three general permits for use by eligible persons for the beneficial use of exceptional quality biosolids, biosolids or residential septage that will be land applied, who are required in 25 Pa. Code Chapters 91, 92 or 271 (relating to general provisions; National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permitting, monitoring and compliance; and municipal waste management--general provision), as applicable, to obtain a permit for the beneficial use of biosolids in this Commonwealth. The general permits, referred to as PAG-7, PAG-8 and PAG-9, shall only be valid for eligible persons that have submitted an administratively complete and acceptable application, hereinafter referred to as Notice of Intent, to the Department on the prescribed form.

   Proposed revisions are necessary to clarify the general permits as they relate to biosolids and to clarify previous language. There is no change to the current application fee of $500 for each permit.

   Notices of proposed revisions to the PAG-7, PAG-8 and PAG-9 were published at 32 Pa.B. 367 and 377 (January 19, 2002), with a 30-day public comment period that closed on February 19, 2002. The Department, by this notice, extends the public comment period on the proposed revisions to the three general permits for an additional 15 days following publication of this notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, or March 25, 2002. The Department will also hold a public hearing on the proposed revisions as indicated in this notice.

Summary of Proposed Revisions

   The general permits have been reorganized and made more concise. In many instances, repetitive regulatory language was replaced by the appropriate regulatory reference. A definition of biosolids is proposed to be added and is proposed to replace ''sewage sludge'' where appropriate. As an incentive for biosolids generators to produce exceptional quality products, proposed language was added to PAG-7 to exclude exceptional quality biosolids from waste processing and transportation placard requirements. Storage requirements were clarified and enhanced notification requirements were added to PAG-8 and PAG-9. An annual soils sampling requirement at land application sites has also been proposed for PAG-8. Appendices are proposed for deletion because the information is readily obtainable from the regulations or other resources.

   The existing permit documents package will continue to be available from the Department's regional and central offices until it is replaced or updated.

Copies of Draft Revised Permits

   Copies of the draft revised general permits are available from the Bureau of Water Supply and Wastewater Management, P. O. Box 8467, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8467, (717) 783-3795, e-mail to trutroutma@state.pa.us and on the Department's website at www.dep.state. pa.us, directLINK ''Public Participation''; scroll down to ''Proposals Open for Comment,'' then choose ''Regulations and Other Proposals.''

Public Hearing

   The Department will hold a public hearing to accept comments on the proposed permit revisions on March 18, 2002, at 6:30 p.m. in the Auditorium of the Rachel Carson State Office Building, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA. Anyone wishing to present testimony at the hearing is requested to contact Mary Miller, P. O. Box 8774, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8774, (717) 783-3497 to preregister. Oral testimony is limited to 10 minutes for each witness. Witnesses are requested to submit three written copies of their statement at the hearing. Each organization is limited to designating one witness to present testimony on its behalf.

   Persons with a disability who wish to attend the hearing and require an auxiliary aid, service or other accommodation to participate should contact Lisa Miller, ADA Coordinator at (717) 787-7116 or through the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at (800) 654-5984 to discuss how their needs may be accommodated.

Written Comments

   Written comments on the proposed revisions should be sent to the Bureau of Water Supply and Wastewater Management, P. O. Box 8774, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8774 or by e-mail to jafrica@state.pa.us. Comments will not be accepted by facsimile or voice mail.

   Comments received from January 19, 2002, through March 25, 2002, and at the public hearing will be considered in finalizing the general permits. Following the comment period, the Department will prepare a comment and response document and final permit documents. Availability of the final permit documents will be announced in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

DAVID E. HESS,   
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 02-386. Filed for public inspection March 8, 2002, 9:00 a.m.]


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