NOTICES
Conditional State Water Quality Certification under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act for the United States Army Corps of Engineers Nationwide Permits
[47 Pa.B. 3043]
[Saturday, May 27, 2017](Editor's Note: This State Water Quality Certification was previously announced at 47 Pa.B. 2830 (May 13, 2017). The last three paragraphs are updates to that announcement.)
The Department of Environmental Protection (Department) issues, on behalf of the Commonwealth, State Water Quality Certification (SWQC) for the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) reissuance of 50 existing Nationwide permits (NWP) and issuance of 2 new NWPs under section 404 of the Clean Water Act (act) (33 U.S.C.A. § 1344) and section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C.A. § 403) at 82 FR 1860 (January 6, 2017). The final NWPs are listed as follows and are effective for 5 years beginning on March 19, 2017, and expiring on March 18, 2022. On January 18, 2017, the Corps Baltimore District requested SWQC on behalf of the Baltimore, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh Districts under section 401 of the act (33 U.S.C.A § 1341) from the Department for discharges of dredged and fill material into waters of the Commonwealth authorized by the final NWPs.
The Department published a notice at 47 Pa.B. 1233 (February 25, 2017) to accept comments on the proposed SWQC for the Corps NWPs during a 30-day public comment period that concluded on March 27, 2017. No comments were received.
Consistent with section 401 of the act, the Department certifies that activities authorized by the Corps under the final NWPs will comply with the applicable provisions of sections 301—303, 306 and 307 of the act (33 U.S.C.A. §§ 1311—1313, 1316 and 1317), provided the project applicant complies with the following SWQC conditions and constructs, operates and maintains the project in compliance with the terms and conditions of State law permits obtained to meet these SWQC conditions:
1. Prior to beginning any activity authorized by the Corps under a NWP, the applicant shall obtain from the Department all necessary environmental permits or approvals, and submit to the Department environmental assessments and other information necessary to obtain the permits and approvals, as required under State law, including The Clean Streams Law (35 P.S. §§ 691.1—691.1001), the Dam Safety and Encroachments Act (32 P.S. §§ 693.1—693.27), the Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act (52 P.S. §§ 1396.1—1396.19b), the Noncoal Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act (52 P.S. §§ 3301—3326), The Bituminous Mine Subsidence and Land Conservation Act (52 P.S. §§ 1406.1—1406.21), the Coal Refuse Disposal Control Act (52 P.S. §§ 30.51—30.66), the Solid Waste Management Act (35 P.S. §§ 6018.101—6018.1003), the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act (35 P.S. §§ 6020.101—6020.1305), the Land Recycling and Environmental Remediation Standards Act (35 P.S. §§ 6026.101—6026.908), 58 Pa.C.S. §§ 3201—3274 (relating to development) and the regulations promulgated thereunder, including 25 Pa. Code Chapters 77, 78, 78a, 86—91, 92a, 93, 95, 96, 102, 105 and 260a—299.
2. Fill material may not contain any wastes as defined in the Solid Waste Management Act.
3. Applicants and projects eligible for these NWPs must obtain all State permits or approvals, or both, necessary to ensure that the project meets the State's applicable water quality standards, including a project specific SWQC.
The Department has determined that these SWQC conditions are necessary to achieve the Commonwealth's water quality standards, which have been approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as compliant with the act. The SWQC conditions achieve these standards through compliance with existing environmental programs administered by the Department under State laws and regulations.
This SWQC is subject to the Department's determination that the final NWPs are consistent with the Coastal Zone Management Act (16 U.S.C.A. §§ 1451—1466).
This SWQC is only available for projects that do not require any Federal authorization other than authorization from the Corps under section 404 of the act or section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899. Applicants seeking authorization for activities not eligible for coverage under the NWPs, or for activities that require another Federal authorization (such as an interstate natural gas pipeline, a gas storage field or a nuclear or hydroelectric project requiring authorization by another Federal agency), must submit a request to the Department for a project-specific SWQC.
Notice of the Corps NWPs published at 82 FR 1860 can be viewed at http://www.usace.army.mil/Portals/2/docs/civilworks/nwp/2017/nwp2017_final_rule_FR_06jan2017.pdf?ver=2017-01-06-092409-457 or copies may be obtained by contacting Amy Elliott, United States Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, State College Field Office, 1631 South Atherton Street, State College, PA 16801 or (814) 235-0570.
The NWPs reissued are:
1. Aids to Navigation
2. Structures in Artificial Canals
3. Maintenance
4. Fish and Wildlife Harvesting, Enhancement, and Attraction Devices and Activities
5. Scientific Measurement Devices
6. Survey Activities
7. Outfall Structures and Associated Intake Structures
8. Oil and Gas Structures on the Outer Continental Shelf
9. Structures in Fleeting and Anchorage Areas
10. Mooring Buoys
11. Temporary Recreational Structures
12. Utility Line Activities
13. Bank Stabilization
14. Linear Transportation Projects
15. U.S. Coast Guard Approved Bridges
16. Return Water from Upland Contained Disposal Areas
17. Hydropower Projects
18. Minor Discharges
19. Minor Dredging
20. Response Operations for Oil or Hazardous Substances
21. Surface Coal Mining Activities
22. Removal of Vessels
23. Approved Categorical Exclusions
24. Indian Tribe or State Administered Section 404 Programs
25. Structural Discharges
26. [Reserved]
27. Aquatic Habitat Restoration, Establishment, and Enhancement Activities
28. Modifications of Existing Marinas
29. Residential Developments
30. Moist Soil Management for Wildlife
31. Maintenance of Existing Flood Control Facilities
32. Completed Enforcement Actions
33. Temporary Construction, Access, and Dewatering
34. Cranberry Production Activities
35. Maintenance Dredging of Existing Basins
36. Boat Ramps
37. Emergency Watershed Protection and Rehabilitation
38. Cleanup of Hazardous and Toxic Waste
39. Commercial and Institutional Developments
40. Agricultural Activities
41. Reshaping Existing Drainage Ditches
42. Recreational Facilities
43. Stormwater Management Facilities
44. Mining Activities
45. Repair of Uplands Damaged by Discrete Events
46. Discharge in Ditches
47. [Reserved]
48. Commercial Shellfish Aquaculture Activities
49. Coal Remining Activities
50. Underground Coal Mining Activities
51. Land-Based Renewable Energy Generation Facilities
52. Water-Based Renewable Energy Generation Pilot Projects
The new NWPs issued are:
A. Removal of Low-Head Dams
B. Living Shorelines
Persons aggrieved by this action may appeal, under section 4 of the Environmental Hearing Board Act (35 P.S. § 7514) and 2 Pa.C.S. §§ 501—508 and 701—704 (relating to Administrative Agency Law) to the Environmental Hearing Board, Second Floor, Rachel Carson State Office Building, 400 Market Street, P.O. Box 8457, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8457, (717) 787-3483. TDD users may contact the Environmental Hearing Board (Board) through the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service, (800) 654-5984. Appeals must be filed with the Board within 30 days of publication of this notice, or within 30 days of receipt of written notice of this action, whichever occurs first. Copies of the appeal form and the Board's rules of practice and procedure may be obtained from the Board. The appeal form and the Board's rules of practice and procedure are also available in braille or on audiotape from the Secretary to the Board at (717) 787-3483. This paragraph does not, in and of itself, create any right of appeal beyond that permitted by applicable statutes and decisional law.
For individuals who want to challenge this action, the appeal must reach the Board within 30 days. A lawyer is not needed to file an appeal with the Board.
Important legal rights are at stake, however, so individuals should show this document to a lawyer at once. Persons who cannot afford a lawyer may qualify for free pro bono representation. Call the Secretary to the Board (717) 787-3483 for more information.
PATRICK McDONNELL,
Secretary
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 17-886. Filed for public inspection May 26, 2017, 9:00 a.m.]
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