572 Public notice of proposed revision to Pennsylvania General NPDES permit for wet weather discharges from combined sewer systems (PAG-6)

Public Notice of Proposed Revision to Pennsylvania General NPDES Permit for Wet Weather Discharges from Combined Sewer Systems (PAG-6)

[30 Pa.B. 1810]

   In compliance with the provisions of the Federal Clean Water Act, The Clean Streams Law (35 P. S. §§ 691.1--691.1001), 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) by this notice seeks public comments on the proposed revisions to Pennsylvania General NPDES Permit for Wet Weather Discharges from Combined Sewer Systems (PAG-6), the Notice of Intent (NOI) and other related permit documents. The general permit being revised now was last issued June 17, 1995, and is scheduled to expire on June 16, 2000. The proposed revisions are necessary to reflect changes in State and Federal regulations and guidance affecting the discharges from CSO Systems. The revised documents set forth the effluent limitations and other terms and conditions of the permit and eligibility criteria to apply for coverage under the general permit. This general permit is not operative in waters designated for special protection and an individual permit will continue to be required for any discharges to waters designated for ''Special Protection'' in 25 Pa. Code Chapter 93.

   The following paragraphs summarize proposed revisions to the current permit documents.

   1.  General update/edit of all permit documents (NOI, Instructions, Fact sheet, permit itself, Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs) and other reporting forms and the like) to reflect changes to Bureau organization, changes in regional names/addresses, and the like.

   2.  Addition of Compliance History Block on NOI and instructions; the NOI and Instructions have been revised to require submission of a compliance history with permits issued by the Department. This is a standard Department requirement for permits and is being added to permit documents as they are reviewed and revised.

   3.  General clarification that the CSO GP may be used by eligible small CSO systems (less than 75,000 population) as well as satellite CSO systems that do not own/operate a treatment plant. This is not a new requirement, it is only a clarification of how the permit is used now.

   4.  Revision of CSO Permit language. The proposed revision is necessary to address specific comments the Department received over time from the regulated communities and also to accurately reflect EPA's CSO Policy of 1994.

   5.  Addition of the GIF Form to the GP Package--This is a standard Department requirement for permits and is being added to permit documents as they are reviewed and revised.

   6.  Addition of a definition of ''satellite CSO System'' and updating other definitions--The addition of new and revision of existing definitions is intended to clarify the permit.

   The draft permit document package has been completed and is on file in the Department's Central Office in the Division of Wastewater Management, Bureau of Water Quality Protection at the following location. The package can be obtained by writing to the following address or by calling: Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Quality Protection, Division of Wastewater Management, Rachel Carson State Office Building, P. O. Box 8774--11th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8774, [phone], E-mail address: [e-mail]., World Wide Web Address: http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/watermgt/Wqp/Forms/Forms_Home.htm.

   The Department invites public comments on the proposed revisions and any other recommended changes that should be made to the general permit and related documents. All comments must be submitted within 30 days from the date of the publication of this notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. If there is significant public interest in the general permit or if requested, the comment period may be extended at the discretion of the Department for an additional 15-day period. Only the comments received within the specified period will be considered in the formulation of the final documents for this general permit. Persons wishing to comment 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. A public meeting or hearing may be held if the Department considers the public interest and/or comments significant.

   Written comments should be submitted to the previously-noted address. The comments will also be accepted by electronic mail to be sent at [e-mail]. Persons with a disability may use the AT&T Relay Service by calling [phone] (TDD users) or [phone] (voice users). Comments will not be accepted by facsimile or on voice mail. Following the specified comment period, the Department will review all submitted comments, prepare written comments and response document (CRD) and prepare final documents package for this permit. An availability of the final permit documents will be announced in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. Anyone wishing to also receive a copy of the final documents may request them by contacting the noted addresses or telephone numbers.

   The Department will announce availability of the final permit in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. Once the availability of the final general permit is published for applicant's use, eligible CSO Systems that do not have a permit will be able to submit an NOI requesting coverage under the final general permit. The Department does not allow construction of a new combined sewer system and does not encourage existing individual NPDES permit holders with CSOs to apply for and obtain coverage under the revised general permit as terms and conditions of their individual permit should be identical to that of the CSO general permit. Any approval of permit coverage will be contingent upon the applicant's continued eligibility to apply for the general permit and a demonstrate compliance with prior permit terms and conditions. For CSO Systems with currently approved coverage, the Department may decide, individually, to revoke approval of existing coverage and re-issue the permittee the revised general permit.

JAMES M. SEIF,   
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 00-572. Filed for public inspection March 31, 2000, 9:00 a.m.]