The DEP Water Resources Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet on October 25 to discuss a new proposed PAG-01 General Permit covering erosion and sedimentation from small projects and a proposal to increase water quality permit review fees.
Small Project PAG-01
The recommendations for a new general permit covering small projects-- five acres or less-- came out of 7 listening sessions DEP held earlier this year with consultants and permit applicants on the Chapter 102 erosion and sedimentation control and NPDES permitting process.
All projects of one acre or more in size had been covered by the existing PAG-02 General Permit for stormwater discharges associated with construction activities or an individual NPDES Water Quality permit.
When DEP did an evaluation of its workload and the applications it receives, they found as many as 40 or 50 percent of the permit applications covered projects of five acres or less.
The new General Permit is being proposed to cover smaller, simpler, low impact projects, like a farmer putting up a barn on level ground.
The intent is to allow DEP to focus its limited staff resources on projects that are larger and have more potential to negatively impact on the environment.
Permit Fee Increases
DEP had discussed fee increase proposals covering Chapter 91 (Water Quality Management) and 92a (NPDES) permit starting in March of 2016, including one that would phase-in fee increases over five years.
An updated analysis of funding and costs for these programs by DEP shows revenue will be needed much sooner just to maintain the existing program given the loss of other state funding. DEP will be discussing an option to take out the proposed phase-in.
The meeting will be held in Room 105 Rachel Carson Building starting at 9:30.
For more information and available handouts, visit the DEP Water Resources Advisory Committee webpage. Questions should be directed to Diane Wilson by calling 717-787-3730 or send email to: diawilson@pa.gov.
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