189 Proposed Pennsylvania NPDES individual permit for stormwater discharges from Department of Transportation roadway systems in urbanized areas

Proposed Pennsylvania NPDES Individual Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Department of Transportation Roadway Systems in Urbanized Areas

[34 Pa.B. 644]

   Under The Clean Streams Law (35 P. S. §§ 691.1--691.1001) and sections 1905-A, 1917-A and 1920-A of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. §§ 510-5, 510-17 and 510-20), the Department of Environmental Protection (Department) seeks public comment on the Commonwealth's proposed NPDES Individual Permit for Stormwater Discharges for the Department of Transportation (DOT) roadway systems (PENNDOT MS4). The United States Environmental Protection Agency's Phase II Stormwater Permitting regulation in 40 CFR 122 requires permitting of small municipal separate stormwater systems (MS4s). The Department's proposed PENNDOT MS4 is consistent with Federal and State regulations and will be operative within all urbanized areas, as defined by the Bureau of Census.

   The proposed PENNDOT MS4 permit package is designed to reduce the impact of regulated stormwater discharges to the maximum extent practicable. The permit proposes the DOT's stormwater management program meet, at a minimum, the six following control measures: (1) public education and outreach; (2) public participation and involvement; (3) illicit discharge detection and elimination; (4) construction site stormwater runoff control; (5) post-construction stormwater management in new development and redevelopment; and (6) pollution prevention and good housekeeping for DOT roadway system operations and maintenance. In developing the proposed PENNDOT MS4 permit, the Department streamlined the permit approval process to develop a more practical approach for encouraging compliance with applicable State and Federal requirements.

   The proposed PENNDOT MS4 permit package is available for review by writing to the Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Watershed Management, 400 Market Street, 10th Floor, P. O. Box 8555, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8555, [phone], [e-mail]. The permit package is also available on the Department's website: www.dep.state.pa.us (DEP Keyword: Participate; scroll down to ''Proposals Open for Comment''; then choose ''Other Proposals'').

   Comments on the proposed PENNDOT MS4 package must be submitted to the Department by March 1, 2004. Only comments received by the Department on or before March 1, 2004, will be considered in finalizing the PENNDOT MS4 permit package. Persons wishing to comment on the proposed permit package should include their name, address and telephone number and a concise comment statement to inform the Department of the exact basis of the comment and the relevant facts upon which it is based. If significant issues of public interest are raised, the Department may schedule a public meeting or hearing. Written comments should be submitted at the previous address. Comments will also be accepted by e-mail and should be sent by March 1, 2004, to Stuart Gansell, [e-mail]. Comments will not be accepted by facsimile or voice mail.

   Persons with a disability may use the AT&T Relay Service at [phone] (TDD users) or [phone] (voice users). Following the specified comment period, the Department will review all submitted comments, prepare a written comments and response document and prepare a final documents package for this permit. An availability notice of the final permit documents will be announced in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. Individuals wishing to receive a copy of the final documents may request them by contacting the previous addresses or telephone numbers.

KATHLEEN A. MCGINTY,   
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 04-189. Filed for public inspection January 30, 2004, 9:00 a.m.]