DEP Water Resources Committee To Review Proposed Spill Notification Regulation, Final Triennial Review Of Water Quality Standards May 16

DEP’s Water Resources Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet on May 16 to review a proposed DEP spill notification regulation and a draft final Triennial Review of Water Quality Standards.

The Committee will also hear a presentation on a draft final regulation deleting a site-specific water quality standard for mercury on Ebaughs Creek in York County.  Click Here for DEP’s presentation.

The agenda also includes updates on the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan and the Nutrient Credit Trading Program.

Spill Notification

DEP will present a draft regulation establishing notification requirements for “unauthorized discharges into the waters of the Commonwealth” for consideration by the Committee.

The notification issue has been discussed in the General Assembly and in DEP for several years and has been very controversial.

Click Here for DEP’s presentation.  Click Here for the draft regulation.

The Water Resources Advisory Committee previously discussed this issue in September, 2023.  Read more here.

Triennial Review

DEP will present a draft final version of the Triennial Review of Water Quality Standards regulation to the Committee for review.

DEP proposed new or updated Water Quality Standards for 17 toxic substances including: acetone, barium, boron, cadmium, carbaryl, chloroform, chlorophenoxy herbicide, 1,4 dioxane, formaldehyde, methyl isobutyl ketone, metolachlor, resorcinol, 1,2,3 trichloropropane, 1,2,4, trimethylbenzene, 1,3,5 trimethylbenzene and xylene, among others.

A number of these toxic substances can be found in conventional oil and gas and unconventional shale gas oil and gas fracking and drilling fluids and production wastewater.

DEP’s presentation says there were no changes made in the regulation between proposed and this final draft.

Click Here for the draft final regulation.

Public Comment Period

Individuals interested in making comments during the public comment period of the meeting should contact Bob Haines, DEP Bureau of Clean Water, at robhaines@pa.gov or by calling 717-787-7565 prior to the meeting.

Joining The Meeting

The meeting will be held in Room 105 Rachel Carson Building in Harrisburg starting at 9:30 a.m.  The agenda includes options for joining the meeting remotely via Microsoft Teams and by conference call.

For available handouts and more information, visit DEP’s Water Resources Advisory Committee webpage.  Questions should be directed to Bob Haines, robhaines@pa.gov or 717-787-7565.

For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s website, Report Emergencies, Submit Environmental Complaints; Click Here to sign up for DEP’s newsletter; sign up for DEP’s eNotice; visit DEP’s Blog,  Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visit DEP’s YouTube Channel.

[Posted: May 10, 2024]  PA Environment Digest