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COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 19-1324

NOTICES

DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Availability of Technical Guidance

[49 Pa.B. 5064]
[Saturday, August 31, 2019]

 Technical guidance documents (TGD) are available on the Department of Environmental Protection's (Department) web site at www.elibrary.dep.state.pa.us. The ''Technical Guidance Final Documents'' heading is the link to a menu of the various Department bureaus where each bureau's final TGDs are posted. The ''Technical Guidance Draft Documents'' heading is the link to the Department's draft TGDs.

Ordering Paper Copies of Department Technical Guidance

 The Department encourages the use of the Internet to view and download TGDs. When this option is not available, persons can order a paper copy of any of the Department's draft or final TGDs by contacting the Department at (717) 783-8727.

 In addition, bound copies of some of the Department's documents are available as Department publications. Check with the appropriate bureau for more information about the availability of a particular document as a publication.

Changes to TGDs

 Following is the current list of recent changes. Persons who have questions or comments about a particular document should call the contact person whose name and phone number are listed with each document.

Draft Technical Guidance: Substantive Revision

DEP ID: 385-2207-001. Title: Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act Program Guidance; Site Suitability and Alternatives Analysis Guidelines for New Land Development Proposing Onlot Sewage Disposal. Description: The act of July 20, 2017 (P.L. 321, No. 26) (Act 26) amended the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act (Act 537) (35 P.S. §§ 750.1—750.20a) to allow alternate onlot systems to satisfy sewage planning requirements in the establishment of new lots. Act 26 became effective on September 18, 2017. The Department considers a wide range of available onlot sewage system technologies, including emerging technologies, in the Act 537 new land development planning process. The ability to develop land and create new lots is contingent upon the applicability of given onlot sewage system technology to particular site conditions and upon the assurance and availability of adequate operation and maintenance support mechanisms. The existing regulations do not allow for the consideration of alternate systems to establish new lots. The purpose of this guidance is to provide a systematic approach to site suitability determinations and sewage facilities alternatives analysis for the long-term use of onlot sewage systems. This draft guidance clarifies how to incorporate alternate onlot sewage disposal technologies into the Act 537 new land development planning process described in 25 Pa. Code Chapter 71 (relating to administration of Sewage Facilities Planning Program). This guidance covers the onlot sewage planning process in general, not just planning for alternate systems. The guidance was originally published as draft at 48 Pa.B. 1476 (March 10, 2018). After receiving and considering public comments, the guidance was substantially revised. Highlights of the major changes include: updated formatting to improve readability; addition of definitions and an acronym list; removal of the sewage management requirement schedule; removal of the term ''marginal conditions'' and addition of an explanation as to how sites are now either suitable or unsuitable for onlot sewage systems; and dividing the planning process into five steps for new land development proposing onlot sewage systems.

Written Comments: Interested persons may submit written comments on this draft TGD through Monday, September 30, 2019. Comments submitted by facsimile will not be accepted. All comments, including comments submitted by e-mail, must include the commentator's name and address. Commentators are encouraged to submit comments using the Department's online eComment tool at www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/eComment or by e-mail to ecomment@pa.gov. Written comments can also be submitted to the Technical Guidance Coordinator, Department of Environmental Protection, Policy Office, Rachel Carson State Office Building, P.O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063.

Contact: Questions regarding this TGD can be directed to Brian Schlauderaff at bschlauder@pa.gov or (717) 772-5620.

Effective Date: Upon publication as final in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

PATRICK McDONNELL, 
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 19-1324. Filed for public inspection August 30, 2019, 9:00 a.m.]



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