Saturday, January 27, 2024

DEP Posted 84 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In January 27 PA Bulletin

Highlights of the environmental and energy notices in the
January 27 PA Bulletin-- 

-- The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the January 27 PA Bulletin it is extending the deadline for conventional and unconventional natural gas facility operators to submit their first methane pollution emissions report to June 1, 2024.  Read more here.


-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - January 27  [PaEN]


-- On January 25, Marcellus Drilling News reported the Department of Environmental Protection issued a permit to Catalyst Energy, Inc. for an oil and gas wastewater injection well in Cyclone, Keating Township, McKean County.  Read more here.

          DEP approved the permit on January 11, but did not publicly announce it until January 23 in an article by WESB News.

          Individuals aggrieved by the decision have 30 days to appeal the permit decision (from January 11) to the Environmental Hearing Board.  Read more here.


-- The Public Utility Commission published notice in the January 27 PA Bulletin the Calendar Year 2023 Act 13 per well drilling impact fees will drop by 25% for unconventional shale gas wells.  On December 13, the Independent Fiscal Office estimated 2023 Act 13 shale gas drilling fee revenues will drop by $104.8 million to $174 million from last year's record $278.9 million due primarily from the reduction in the price of natural gas.  Read more here.


-- The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the January 27 PA Bulletin withdrawing these technical guidance documents--

-- Draft Guidance on Air Quality Program Guidance for Determination of Significant Figures and Timeliness of Report Submittal for Evaluation of air Contaminant Emissions and Concentrations originally proposed in 2012 and found to be too broad in scope..

-- Draft Guidance Appendix II-A - The Use of Caps as Activity and Use Limitations under the Land Recycling Program. The guidance was incorporated into the Program's Technical Guidance Manual.

-- Draft Closure Requirements for Underground Storage Tank Systems.  DEP is working with the Storage Tank Advisory Committee on a new version.

-- Draft Designation Criteria for Regulated Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) originally published in 2015.  DEP said this is not the appropriate format to share this information

-- Draft Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Firm Solicitation Guidance is no longer needed and can be found elsewhere.

-- Draft Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Firm Solicitation Guidance is no longer needed and can be found elsewhere.

-- Draft Water Management for Agricultural High Tunnels is no longer needed as a result of the passage of a law in 2018.

-- Draft Water Quality Parameter Reporting Instructions for the Lead and Copper Rule no longer needed because information is being provided in another format.

-- Draft Laboratory Reporting Instructions for Total Coliform and E. coli Bacteria in Public Water Systems no longer needed because information is being provided in another format.

-- Draft Engineering Manual for Surface Mining Operations.  DEP decided not to continue revising the document given the large number of public comments and will provide the information in other formats.


-- The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the January 27 PA Bulletin inviting comments on a renewal of a Title V Air Quality Permit for the Northampton Generating Coal Waste-Fired Power Plant in Northampton Borough, Northampton County. [PA Bulletin, page 417]


-- The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the January 27 PA Bulletin of changes to the list of companies certified to perform radon-related activities.  [PA Bulletin, page 468]


Meetings/Hearings

-- The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a hearing February 28, if requested, on the RACT II Air Quality Permit and State Implementation Plan revision for the Keystone Station coal-fired power plant in Plumcreek Township, Armstrong County owned by Keystone-Conemaugh Projects, LLC.  [PA Bulletin, page 417]  and  [PA Bulletin, page 468]   Read more here.

-- The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a hearing February 28, if requested, on the RACT II Air Quality permit and State Implementation Plan revision for the Conemaugh Station coal-fired power plant in West Wheatfield Township, Indiana County.  [PA Bulletin, page 470and PA Bulletin, page 470].  Read more here.

-- The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a hearing February 28, if requested, on the RACT II Air Quality Permit and State Implementation Plan revision for the Homer City Generation Station in Center Township, Indiana County.   [PA Bulletin, page 419] and [PA Bulletin, page 471Read more here.

-- The Delaware River Basin Commission published notice in the January 27 PA Bulletin it will hold a virtual February 7 hearing on water withdrawal requests, other proposals and a virtual business meeting to consider those requests and other issues on March 6Read more here.


Interest In Project Work

-- The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the January 27 PA Bulletin soliciting interest in Operation and Maintenance work at mine drainage treatment sites in Bedford, Cambria, Indiana and Somerset counties.   [PA Bulletin, page 468


PA Bulletin - January 27, 2024


Note: The Department of Environmental Protection published 84 pages of public notices related to proposed and final permit and approval/ disapproval actions in the January 27 PA Bulletin - pages 391 to 475.


Sign Up For DEP’s eNotice: Did you know DEP can send you email notices of permit applications submitted in your community?  Notice of new technical guidance documents and regulations?  All through its eNotice system.  Click Here to sign up.


Related Tools ----------------------

Visit DEP’s Public Participation Center for public participation opportunities.  

-- Allegheny County Health Department Public Comment Notices


DEP Proposals Out For Public Review

Other Proposals Open For Public Comment - DEP webpage

Submit Comments on Proposals Through DEP’s eComment System

Recently Closed Comment Periods For Other Proposals - DEP webpage

Other Proposals Recently Finalized - DEP webpage


DEP Regulations In Process

Proposed Regulations Open For Comment - DEP webpage

Submit Comments on Proposals Through DEP’s eComment System

Proposed Regulations With Closed Comment Periods - DEP webpage

Recently Finalized Regulations - DEP webpage

DEP Regulatory Update - DEP webpage


DEP Technical Guidance In Process

Draft Technical Guidance Documents - DEP webpage

Technical Guidance Comment Deadlines - DEP webpage

Submit Comments on Proposals Through DEP’s eComment System

Recently Closed Comment Periods For Technical Guidance - DEP webpage

Technical Guidance Recently Finalized - DEP webpage

Copies of Final Technical Guidance - DEP webpage

DEP Non-Regulatory/Technical Guidance Documents Agenda [March 2023] - DEP webpage

[Posted: January 27, 2024]

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