DEP Invites Comments On Rules, Procedures Implementing The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Sustainable Water Resources Agreement

The Department of Environmental Protection is inviting public comments on new and proposed changes to rules and procedures implementing the  Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Sustainable Water Resources Agreement developed by the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact Council.  (formal notice)

The Compact Council is made up of 8 states and 2 Canadian provinces.

These 4 documents are proposed to be adopted or amended--

-- Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact Rules of Practice and Procedures. This document, proposed to be adopted by Council as a regulation, describes the process for any administrative hearing, how modifications may be made to Council decisions, and the process to be used for Council rulemaking. Comments are being accepted on all portions of the proposed Rules of Practice and Procedure. (Click Here for a copy.)

-- 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. The Compact Council proposes amending Interim Guidance adopted on June 10, 2010. Comments are being accepted on all portions of the proposed Compact Guidance.  (Click Here for a copy.)

-- 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 June 10, 2010. Comments are being accepted on all portions of the proposed Regional Body Procedures. (Click Here for a copy.)

-- Sequence of Events for Consideration of Proposals for Exceptions to the Prohibition on Diversions that are Subject to Regional Review. This guidance document, proposed to be adopted by the Council and the Regional Body, outlines the steps for review and decision-making for a diversion proposal. Comments are being accepted on all portions of the proposed Sequence of Events.  (Click Here for a copy.)

Hearing Oct. 3

A public hearing will be held on the proposals October 3, beginning no sooner than 1 p.m. at the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Indiana Government Center South, 302 West Washington Street, Conference Rooms 1 & 2, Indianapolis, IN.

Remote participation for the public hearing is available by webinar.  Click Here to register.

Comments must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. on October 10.  Comments should be submitted to the Council or Regional Body, or both, electronically at comments@gsgp.org or by mail 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 more information or questions, read the entire PA Bulletin notice or contact Timothy Bruno at the Department of Environmental Protection, Office of the Great Lakes, by calling 814-835-1477 or send email to: tibruno@pa.gov.

(Photo: Presque Isle, Erie.)