82 Notice of public meeting on existing use classifications of streams  

  • Notice of Public Meeting on Existing Use Classifications of Streams

    [31 Pa.B. 467]

       The Department is holding a public meeting on the classification of certain streams for existing use protection under the Department's antidegradation program. Streams are listed in a publicly accessible compilation of surface water segments where data indicating the appropriate existing use classification of the water has been evaluated. The list is maintained and updated by the Department's Bureau of Watershed Conservation based on the best available information on a stream segment, and may be found on the Department's website at www.dep.state.pa.us. The directLink is ''water quality assessment and standards.'' The list includes streams that were evaluated for High Quality (HQ) status as Class A Wild Trout Streams in response to a submittal by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC). It also includes other streams that the Department has evaluated for existing use protection. The list is used by Department staff and County Conservation District employees in the review of requests for permits and approvals that may impact water quality. The list is also used by permit applicants and the general public.

       Existing use protection differs from designated use protection for a surface water in several ways. A designated use is a regulation that is the product of a rulemaking process, while an existing use is a Department classification for a stream based on the best available information for a surface water that the Department has reviewed. The existing use for a stream is determined as part of the Department action on a request for a permit or approval. An existing use is the use a waterbody actually attains on or after November 28, 1975. A designated use, on the other hand, constitutes the regulatory goal that the Environmental Quality Board (EQB) promulgates for a surface water, regardless of whether the water has actually attained such a use. If available information indicates that a waterbody attained a use at any time on or after November 28, 1975, and the water has since been degraded, the existing use is the most stringent use attained on or after that date regardless of subsequent degradation. Another important difference between existing and designated uses is that the regulations provide a mechanism whereby the designated use of a water may be made less stringent by the EQB in certain circumstances, but no such mechanism is available for an existing use.

       Classification of streams for existing use protection is an ongoing process. Agencies, organizations, individuals and others have the option of providing data to the Department, in accordance with Department protocols, which supports or refutes an existing use classification for a stream. Waterbodies on the list are periodically compiled into rulemaking actions taken before the EQB in order to change the designated use to match the existing use the stream attains. The Department intends to prepare, for EQB review, a proposed rulemaking package to update the designated use of the water to match the existing use of the water where an existing use evaluation indicates a use different than the current designated use of the water.

       The purpose of the public meeting is to explain the Department's existing use protection program. Table 1 includes streams evaluated by the Department for existing use protection from the list of Class A Wild Trout Streams approved by the PFBC after public comment and published at 29 Pa.B. 6202 (December 4, 1999); the Little Bush Kill et al., proposed rulemaking package (EQB meeting agenda, March 20, 2001); and additional streams evaluated by the Department.

       Data and other information supporting the existing use classifications are available for public review during normal business hours at the Division of Water Quality Assessment and Standards, 10th Floor, Rachel Carson State Office Building, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA, and can be obtained from the Division upon request in accordance with the Department's public information and copying policy. Questions concerning these evaluations can be directed to Richard H. Shertzer, Division of Water Quality Assessment and Standards, Bureau of Watershed Conservation, P. O. Box 8555, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8555, (rshertzer@state.pa.us), (717) 787-9637.

       The public meeting will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, February 12, 2001 in the auditorium (2nd Floor) of the Rachel Carson State Office Building, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA. During the public meeting, the Department will explain existing use protection and respond to questions.

       Persons in need of accommodations as provided for in the American with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) should contact Richard Shertzer at (717) 787-9637 or through the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at (800) 654-5984 (TDD) to discuss how the Department may accommodate their needs.

    JAMES M. SEIF,   
    Secretary

    TABLE 1  EXISTING USE CLASSIFICATION

    COUNTY STRM WATER BODY DESIG- EXISTING QUALIFIER LOCATION DATE EQB
    CODENATEDUSEOFPROP
    USEEVAL RULE
    BEDFORD 14462 COVE CREEK CWF EV RBP SURVEY-
    ANTIDEGRADATION
    BASIN, T-433 BRIDGE TO MOUTH 9/13/00
    BERKS 2080 FURNACE CREEK TSF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN, SOURCE TO 0.58 MILES UPSTREAM OF SR 4044 6/15/00
    BERKS 1833 WYOMISSING CREEK CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN, SR 0222 BRIDGE TO POOL FORMED BY THE DAM DOWNSTREAM FROM WYOMISSING BLVD. 6/15/00
    BERKS 1679 OYSTERVILLE CREEK CWF EV RBP SURVEY-
    ANTIDEGRADATION
    BASIN, SOURCE TO T-634 (RIVER MILE 2.6) 9/13/00
    BERKS 1679 OYSTERVILLE CREEK CWF HQ-CWF RBP SURVEY-
    ANTIDEGRADATION
    BASIN, T-634 TO MOUTH, EXCEPT UNT 01680 (01680 RETAINS CWF) 9/13/00
    BERKS 1439 W BR PERKIOMEN CREEK CWF EV RBP SURVEY-
    ANTIDEGRADATION
    BASIN, SR 1022 BRIDGE AT RIVER MILE 12.9 TO SR 2069 BRIDGE AT RIVER MILE 8.0 9/13/00
    BERKS/LEHIGH 1017 PERKIOMEN CREEK CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN, SOURCE TO SR 1010 6/15/00
    BLAIR/
    HUNTINGDON
    16099 FOX RUN WWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN 6/15/00
    CAMBRIA 26473 SANDY RUN CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN 6/15/00
    CAMERON 24963 DRIFTWOOD BR SINN CR TSF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN, SOURCE TO CONFLUENCE WITH ELK FORK 6/15/00
    CAMERON 24554 MILLER RUN CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN 6/15/00
    CENTRE 22997 LOGAN BRANCH CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT MAIN STEM, 135M UPSTREAM T-371 BRIDGE TO MOUTH 6/15/00
    CENTRE 22928 NITTANY CREEK CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN, I-80 TO MOUTH 6/15/00
    CENTRE 22966 SPRING CREEK CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN, LAMB ST. BRIDGE TO MOUTH 6/15/00
    CENTRE 23037 THOMPSON RUN CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN 6/15/00
    CENTRE 23093 WALLACE RUN CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN, UNNAMED TRIBUTARY AT GUM STUMP TO MOUTH 6/15/00
    CENTRE/
    CLEARFIELD
    25695 MOSHANNON CREEK TSF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN, SOURCE TO ROUP RUN 6/15/00
    CHESTER 728 W BR CRUM CREEK HQ-CWF EV RBP SURVEY-
    ANTIDEGRADATION
    BASIN 9/13/00
    CLEARFIELD 25862 SIMELING RUN CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN 6/15/00
    CLEARFIELD 56497 GRIMES RUN HQ-CWF CWF RBP SURVEY-
    ANTIDEGRADATION
    BASIN 9/13/00
    CLINTON 21159 GANN RUN CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN 6/15/00
    CLINTON 21151 GOTTSHALL RUN CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN 6/15/00
    CLINTON 22344 HENRY RUN CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN 6/15/00
    CLINTON 22345 LOVE RUN CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN 6/15/00
    CLINTON 21150 RAUCHTOWN CREEK CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN, SR 0880 UPSTREAM GOTTSHALL RN UPSTREAM TO CONFLUENCE ROCKEY/ KRAPE RN 6/15/00
    CLINTON 23663 TWO MILE RUN TSF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN, SOURCE TO CONFLUENCE WITH MIDDLE BRANCH TWO MILE RUN 6/15/00
    COLUMBIA 27548 FISHER RUN CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN 6/15/00
    COLUMBIA 27544 FURNACE RUN CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN 6/15/00
    COLUMBIA 27560 KLINGERMANS RUN CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN 6/15/00
    COLUMBIA 28078 TENMILE RUN CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN, SOURCE TO T-409 BRIDGE 6/15/00
    CRAWFORD 51892 EAST BR SUGAR CREEK CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN, FROM SR 0428 BRIDGE TO MOUTH 6/15/00
    CUMBERLAND 10261 LETORT SPRING RUN EV HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT MAIN STEM, EAST POMFRET STREET BRIDGE TO POST ROAD BRIDGE (1.8 MI.) 6/15/00
    CUMBERLAND 10222 TRINDLE SPRING RUN CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT MAIN STEM, SPRING SOURCE NEAR THE SILVER SPRING MEETING HOUSE TO MOUTH 6/15/00
    ELK 24612 DENTS RUN CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN 6/15/00
    ELK 24647 LITTLE DENTS RUN CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN 6/15/00
    ELK 24685 SPRING RUN CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN, CONFLUENCE OF STONY BROOK TO UNNAMED TRIBUTARY NEAR STATE FOREST BOUNDARY 6/15/00
    ELK 50251 VINEYARD RUN CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN, SOURCE TO SPRING CREEK - HORTON TOWNSHIP LINE 6/15/00
    ERIE 53478 TROUT RUN CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN 6/15/00
    FAYETTE 38284 BUCK RUN CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN, SOURCE TO A POINT 2.3 KM UPSTREAM OF THE MOUTH 6/15/00
    FAYETTE 38241 RASLER RUN CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN 10/24/00
    FRANKLIN 59258 W BR ANTIETAM CREEK CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN, SOURCE TO SR 0997 6/15/00
    JUNIATA 12305 LOST CREEK CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN, SOURCE TO SR 0035 6/15/00
    LACKAWANNA 28374 LACKAWANNA RIVER TSF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT MAIN STEM, FROM GILMARTIN ST TO SR 0347 6/15/00
    LANCASTER 7162 CONOWINGO CREEK CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN, SOURCE TO SR 3005 6/15/00
    LEBANON/
    LANCASTER
    7693 FURNACE RUN TSF CWF RBP SURVEY-
    ANTIDEGRADATION
    BASIN, SOURCE TO SR 1026 6/15/00
    LEBANON/
    LANCASTER
    7693 FURNACE RUN TSF WWF RBP SURVEY-
    ANTIDEGRADATION
    BASIN, SR 1026 TO MOUTH 6/15/00
    LEBANON/
    SCHUYLKILL
    9361 SWATARA CREEK CWF WWF RBP SURVEY-
    ANTIDEGRADATION
    MAIN STEM, CONFLUENCE OF LOWER LITTLE SWATARA CREEK TO GREEN POINT STATION (RIVER MILE 46.9) 9/13/00
    LUZERNE 28352 SOLOMON CREEK CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN, SOURCE TO CONFLUENCE WITH PINE CREEK 6/15/00
    LYCOMING 21164 AUGHANBAUGH RUN CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN 6/15/00
    LYCOMING 21004 BIG RUN CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN 6/15/00
    LYCOMING 21409 FLICKS RUN CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN 6/15/00
    LYCOMING 21139 MCMURRIN RUN CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN, FROM SAND SPRING TO SINK NEAR T-303 6/15/00
    LYCOMING 21131 MORGAN VALLEY RUN CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN 6/15/00
    MCKEAN 57031 E BR TUNUNGWANT CR CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT MAIN STEM, T-331 BRIDGE TO SR 4002 BRIDGE 6/15/00
    MCKEAN/
    POTTER
    58156 ALLEGHENY PORTAGE CR TSF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT MAIN STEM, FROM BROWN HOLLOW TO SCAFFOLD LICK RUN 6/15/00
    MIFFLIN 12550 FROG HOLLOW CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN 6/15/00
    MIFFLIN 12429 KISHACOQUILLAS CR TSF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT MAIN STEM, FROM YEAGERTOWN RAILROAD BRIDGE TO MILL ROAD BRIDGE 6/15/00
    MONROE 3987 MIDDLE CREEK CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN, T-444 DOWNSTREAM TO MOUTH 6/15/00
    MONROE 3917 POHOPOCO CREEK CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN, FROM BRIDGE ON SR 3016 TO SR 0209 BRIDGE IN KRESGEVILLE 6/15/00
    NORTHAMPTON 3343 NANCY RUN CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN, SR 3007 TO MOUTH 6/15/00
    NORTHAMPTON 3345 SAUCON CREEK CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT MAIN STEM, 0.4 MI ABOVE HIGH STREET BRIDGE IN BETHLEHEM TO SR 0412 BRIDGE 6/15/00
    PIKE 5056 LITTLE BUSH KILL HQ-CWF EV RBP SURVEY-
    ANTIDEGRADATION
    BASIN, SOURCE TO AND INCLUDING UNT 05067 9/13/00 3/20/01
    PIKE 5056 LITTLE BUSH KILL HQ-CWF EV RBP SURVEY-
    ANTIDEGRADATION
    BASIN, UNT 05059 TO MOUTH, EXCLUDING UNT 05057 9/13/00 3/20/01
    POTTER 58529 DWIGHT CREEK CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN 6/15/00
    POTTER 57116 OSWAYO CREEK CWF EV DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN, BRIZZEE HOLLOW TO CLARA CREEK, EXCEPT S BR OSWAYO CREEK 6/15/00 3/20/01
    SCHUYLKILL 2295 BEAR CREEK CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN, SOURCE TO 500M BELOW SR 895/T-594 JUNCTION NEAR ROEDERS 6/15/00
    SCHUYLKILL 2227 BEAVER CREEK CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN, SOURCE TO BRIDGE ON A LANE OFF SR 1013 6/15/00
    SCHUYLKILL 2225 COLD RUN CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN, SOURCE TO BEAVER CREEK 6/15/00
    SCHUYLKILL 27563 CROOKED RUN CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN 6/15/00
    SCHUYLKILL 27570 LITTLE CROOKED RUN CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN 6/15/00
    SCHUYLKILL 2250 OWL CREEK CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN, TAMAQUA RESERVOIR TO MOUTH 6/15/00
    SCHUYLKILL 27593 RATTLING RUN CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN 6/15/00
    SCHUYLKILL 27580 TREXLER RUN CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN 6/15/00
    SCHUYLKILL 3856 LIZARD CREEK TSF CWF RBP SURVEY-
    ANTIDEGRADATION
    BASIN, SOURCE TO DORSET ROAD 6/15/00 3/20/01
    SCHUYLKILL/
    BERKS
    2206 UNT TO L SCHUYLKILL R CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN 6/15/00
    SCHUYLKILL/
    LUZERNE
    27569 RACCOON CREEK CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN 6/15/00
    SOMERSET 45336 BEAVERDAM RUN CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN, POND OUTFLOW NEAR SR 1035 TO A POINT 0.6 MI BELOW SR 1018 6/15/00
    SOMERSET 45404 HIGGINS RUN CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT MAIN STEM, RM 1.37 TO MOUTH 6/15/00
    TIOGA 21904 BALDWIN RUN CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN 6/15/00
    TIOGA 21892 CANADA RUN CWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN 6/15/00
    TIOGA 31068 JEMISON CREEK WWF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT BASIN, SOURCE TO T559 AT AZELTA 6/15/00
    WARREN 56497 BROWNS RUN CWF EV RBP SURVEY-
    ANTIDEGRADATION
    BASIN, SOURCE TO DUTCHMAN RUN 9/13/00 3/20/01
    WARREN 56499 DUTCHMAN RUN CWF EV RBP SURVEY-
    ANTIDEGRADATION
    BASIN, SOURCE TO T-413, MEAD TOWNSHIP 9/13/00 3/20/01
    WARREN 56502 UNNAMED TRIBUTARY TO DUTCHMAN RUN CWF EV RBP SURVEY-
    ANTIDEGRADATION
    BASIN 9/13/00 3/20/01
    WARREN 56498 MORRISON RUN CWF EV RBP SURVEY-
    ANTIDEGRADATION
    BASIN 9/13/00 3/20/01
    YORK 8032 CODORUS CREEK TSF HQ-CWF DESIGNATED CLASS A WILD TROUT MAIN STEM, SR 3047 TO SR 0116 6/15/00
    YORK 7374 RAMBO RUN CWF EV RBP SURVEY-
    ANTIDEGRADATION
    BASIN 9/13/00
    YORK 8035 TROUT RUN WWF HQ-CWF RBP SURVEY-
    ANTIDEGRADATION
    BASIN, SOURCE TO UNNAMED TRIBUTARY AT RIVER MILE 0.3 9/13/00
    YORK 8035 TROUT RUN WWF CWF RBP SURVEY-
    ANTIDEGRADATION
    BASIN, FROM AND INCLUDING UNNAMED TRIBUTARY AT RIVER MILE 0.3 TO MOUTH 9/13/00
    [Pa.B. Doc. No. 01-82. Filed for public inspection January 19, 2001, 9:00 a.m.]

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