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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 02-1211

NOTICES

Public Notice of Proposed Pennsylvania NPDES General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (PAG-13) (MS4s)

[32 Pa.B. 3444]

   The Clean Streams Law (35 P. S. §§ 691.1--691.101), 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 Department of Environmental Protection (Department) seeks public comments on the Commonwealth's proposed NPDES General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (PAG-13) (MS4s) and related documents (the Notice of Intent (NOI) and the NOI Instructions and other permit compliance materials). The Environmental Protection Agency's Phase II Stormwater Permitting regulation at 40 CFR 122 requires permitting small MS4s. The proposed general permit documents are consistent with Federal and State regulations. The proposed general permit will not be applicable to municipalities that discharge stormwater to waters designated as ''special protection'' waters under 25 Pa. Code Chapter 93 (relating to water quality standards). MS4s will need to apply for and comply with an Individual NPDES Permit.

   The Department's proposed general permit documents rely upon the Federal regulation and available guidance and are designed to reduce impact of stormwater discharges to the maximum extent practicable. The general permit requires regulated MS4s to develop a stormwater management plan that meets the six minimum control measures: (1) public education and outreach; (2) public participation and involvement; (3) illicit discharge detection and elimination; (4) construction site storm water runoff control; (5) post-construction stormwater management in new development and redevelopment; and (6) pollution prevention and good housekeeping for municipal operations and maintenance. In developing the documents, the Department's strategy is to streamline the permit process and use a more practical approach that minimizes impacts on the regulated MS4s as well as the Department.

   The proposed permit document package is available from the Department's Bureau of Water Supply and Wastewater Management, P. O. Box 8467, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8467, (717) 783-3795, e-mail address: trutroutma@ state.pa.us and on the Department's website at www.dep.state.pa.us directLINK ''participate''; scroll down to ''Proposals Open for Comment''; then choose ''Other Proposals.''

   By this announcement, the Department provides the general public, all regulated municipalities and other interested parties with a notice of availability of draft permit and related documents and is seeking public comments on these documents. Copy of this notice and a set of proposed permit documents are being sent to all regulated municipalities in this Commonwealth and the Department encourages these municipalities to review and provide written comment. The Department will consider all input received in making the final permit documents.

   Comments must be submitted within 30 days from the date of the publication of this notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. If there is significant public interest in the general permit or if requested, the comment period may be extended at the discretion of the Department for an additional 15-day period. Only the comments received within the specified period will be considered in the formulation of the final documents for this general permit. Persons wishing to comment should include their name, address and telephone number and a concise comment statement to inform the Department of the exact basis of the comment and the relevant facts upon which it is based. If significant issues of public interest are raised, the Department may schedule a public meeting or hearing. Written comments should be submitted at the previous address. Comments will also be accepted by e-mail and should be sent to Geoffrey Maduka at gmaduka@state.pa.us by the applicable deadline. Comments will not be accepted by facsimile or voice mail.

   Persons with a disability may use the AT&T Relay Service, (800) 654-5984 (TDD users) or (800) 654-5988 (voice users). Following the specified comment period, the Department will review all submitted comments, prepare a written comments and response document and prepare a final documents package for this permit. An availability notice of the final permit documents will be announced in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. Anyone wishing to also receive a copy of the final documents may request them by contacting the previous addresses or telephone numbers.

DAVID E. HESS,   
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 02-1211. Filed for public inspection July 12, 2002, 9:00 a.m.]


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