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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 17-1218

NOTICES

Public Notice of Draft NPDES General Permit for Point Source Discharges from the Application of Pesticides (PAG-15)

[47 Pa.B. 4041]
[Saturday, July 22, 2017]

 The Department of Environmental Protection (Department) is announcing the availability of a draft National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit for Point Source Discharges from the Application of Pesticides (PAG-15). The PAG-15 General Permit is applicable to certain entities that make a decision to control mosquitoes and flying insect pests, weeds and algae, animal pests, and forest canopy pests in and near water's edge, exceeding annual treatment area thresholds. The draft General Permit and related documents are available at www.elibrary.dep.state.pa.us (select ''Permit and Authorization Packages,'' then ''Clean Water,'' then ''PAG-15 (Draft)'').

 The PAG-15 General Permit is intended to provide NPDES permit coverage to persons applying pesticides that result in discharges to surface waters of the Commonwealth that are not considered High Quality or Exceptional Value. The existing PAG-15 General Permit in effect at this time will expire on October 28, 2017. The Department is proposing to reissue a final PAG-15 General Permit on or before that date.

 The draft PAG-15 General Permit includes the following proposed significant changes in comparison to the existing PAG-15 General Permit:

 • The existing General Permit requires submission of an annual report to the Deparment by January 28th of each year. The draft General Permit would extend the due date to March 1st. In addition, the Department has revised the annual report template.

 • The Department is proposing that after coverage under the General Permit is authorized, coverage will continue without the need to submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) for renewal of coverage as long as the permittee complies with the terms and conditions of the PAG-15 General Permit currently in effect, unless the Department specifically requires the submission of an NOI in writing.

 • The existing General Permit NOI fee is $250. The proposed NOI fee for coverage under the General Permit is $500 per year the permittee operates under the General Permit. The NOI fee will be paid in installments due at the time the annual report is due, with the initial fee of $500 submitted with the NOI for permit coverage and an installment of $500 to be submitted with the annual report, if the permittee does not wish to terminate permit coverage.

Written Comments

 Interested persons are invited to submit written comments regarding the draft PAG-15 through Monday, August 21, 2017. Comments submitted by facsimile will not be accepted. Comments, including comments submitted by e-mail, must include the originator's name and address. Commentators are encouraged to submit comments using the Department's online eComment system at www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/eComment. Written comments should be submitted by e-mail to ecomment@pa.gov or by mail to the Department of Environmental Protection, Policy Office, Rachel Carson State Office Building, P.O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063.

 Written comments submitted during the 30-day comment period will be retained by the Department and considered in finalizing the General Permit. The Department will provide an opportunity for any interested person or group of persons, any affected state, any affected interstate agency, the United States Environmental Protection Agency or any interested agency to request or petition for a public hearing with respect to the proposed General Permit. The request or petition for public hearing, which must be filed within the 30-day period allowed for filing of written comments, must indicate the interest of the party filing the request and the reasons why a hearing is warranted. A hearing will be held if there is significant public interest.

PATRICK McDONNELL, 
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 17-1218. Filed for public inspection July 21, 2017, 9:00 a.m.]


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