The Environmental Quality Board is scheduled to take the first step in adopting the Safe Drinking Water Program fee increases on May 17 when it considers putting a proposed regulation out for public comment.
EPA notified DEP’s Safe Drinking Water Program in December that its lack of resources to enforce minimum federal requirements could be grounds for taking primacy away from Pennsylvania.
EPA’s review said Pennsylvania failed to conduct the minimum number of sanitary surveys of water systems-- once every 3 years for community water supplies and once every 5 years for non-community systems-- schools, camps, bulk water suppliers.
In a letter dated April 12, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency responded to DEP’s plan to correct deficiencies in the state’s Safe Drinking Program by saying it is “encouraged” by the plan, but said they remain concerned about the ability of DEP to hire staff quickly enough to meet minimum federal inspection and other standards.
EPA recommended DEP “seek a temporary funding source to begin the hiring process earlier.”
Also on the EAB agenda is a rulemaking petition by the Delaware RiverKeeper proposing that certain portions of the Delaware River be reclassified to include fish propagation for warm water fish and migratory fish use.
The meeting will be held in Room 105 of the Rachel Carson Building starting at 9:00.
For more information and copies of the fee proposal and the petition, visit the Environmental Quality Board webpage. Questions should be directed to Laura Edinger at 717-772-3277 or send email to: edinger@pa.gov.
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