DEP Invites Comments On Changes To Guidance Under Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact & Sustainable Water Resources Agreement

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the September 12 PA Bulletin inviting comments on proposed changes to the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact and Sustainable Water Resources Agreement.

Pennsylvania is one of eight states in the United States and two Canadian provinces to share jurisdictional responsibilities for water use and conservation on the Great Lakes.

The proposed changes generally include--

-- Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact Rules of Practice and Procedure. This document, proposed to be modified by Council as a regulation, includes proposed revisions addressing alternative dispute resolution and arbitration, and enforcement. Comments are being accepted on proposed revisions to the Rules of Practice and Procedure.

-- Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact Guidance. This guidance document mirrors the Regional Body Procedures through Parts I and II with respect to review of a diversion subject to the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact, and also includes certain provisions applicable only to the Council. The Compact Council proposes amending the Guidance adopted on December 6, 2018. Comments are being accepted on proposed revisions to the Compact Guidance in Sections 200.2—200.5.

-- Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Water Resources Regional Body Procedures. This guidance document contains the procedures that the Regional Body will follow during the review of a diversion subject to the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Sustainable Water Resources Agreement through the issuance of its Declaration of Finding. This document mirrors the Compact Guidance for Parts I and II. The Regional Body proposes amending Interim Procedures adopted on December 6, 2018. Comments are being accepted on proposed revisions to the Regional Body Procedures in Sections 200.2—200.5.

Click Here for copies of the proposed changes.  A summary of the changes is included in the PA Bulletin notice.

Copies may also be obtained by contacting the office of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers at 20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 2700, Chicago, IL 60606.

Virtual Hearing

A virtual hearing on the proposed changes will be held on October 13 beginning at 2:00 p.m. to accept public comments.  Click Here to register.

Public comments are due October 15.  

Written comments should be submitted to the Council or Regional Body, or both, by email at: comments@gsgp.org.  

Comments may also be mailed to the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Water Resources Council, Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Water Resources Regional Body, c/o Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers, 20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 2700, Chicago, IL 60606.

For further information contact Peter Johnson, Deputy Director, Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers, 20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 2700, Chicago, IL 60606, 312-407-0177, pjohnson@gsgp.org. 

[Posted: Sept. 11, 2020]  PA Environment Digest