625 Availability of technical guidance

Availability of Technical Guidance

[33 Pa.B. 1781]

   Technical guidance documents are on the Department of Environmental Protection's (Department) website (www.dep.state.pa.us) at the Public Participation Center page. The ''January 2003 Inventory'' heading is the Governor's list of nonregulatory guidance documents. The ''Final Documents'' heading is the link to a menu of the various Department bureaus and from there to each bureau's final technical guidance documents. The ''Draft Technical Guidance'' heading is the link to the Department's draft technical guidance documents.

   The Department will continue to revise its nonregulatory documents, as necessary, throughout 2003.

Ordering Paper Copies of Department Technical Guidance

   The Department encourages the use of the Internet to view guidance documents. When this option is not available, persons can order a bound paper copy of the latest inventory or an unbound paper copy of any of the final documents listed on the inventory by calling the Department at [phone].

   In addition, bound copies of some of the Department's documents are available as Department publications. Check with the appropriate bureau for more information about the availability of a particular document as a publication.

Changes to Technical Guidance Documents

   Following is the current list of recent changes. Persons who have questions or comments about a particular document should call the contact person whose name and phone number is listed with each document.

Final Technical Guidance--Minor Revisions

   DEP ID:  362-2207-004. Title:  Impact of the Use of Subsurface Disposal on Ground Water Nitrate-Nitrogen Levels. Description:  Upon review of the existing language in this document, the Department has made revisions in order to remain consistent with 25 Pa. Code § 71.62 (relating to individual and community onlot sewage systems). Listed are the main document revisions:

   1.  Page 6, IV., B., 1., remove sentence, ''These are designed to eliminate nitrates prior to effluent discharge in a stream.''

   2.  Page 8, V., B., 1., remove phrase,'' toward receiving surface waters.''

   3.  Page 8, V., B., 2., remove sentence, ''Alternately, a discharge to surface waters that does not meet surface water quality.''

   4.  Page 9, VI., F., in first sentence, remove phrase, ''or stream.''

   Effective Date:  April 5, 2003. Contact: Milt Lauch, [phone], [e-mail].

Draft Technical Guidance

   DEP ID:  580-2219-004. Title: Section 224(b)--Alternate Method of Test Drilling. Description:  To protect the health and safety of underground coal mine workers, it is necessary to ensure that the active mine workings will not accidentally mine through to adjacent workings. The purpose of this guidance is to set forth standards and procedures to enable the use of alternative drilling techniques to comply with the requirements of section 224(b) of the Act without filing an individual request to adopt an alternative item or method. Comment Period Ends: May 5, 2003. Anticipated Effective Date: May 24, 2003. Contact: Paul Hummel, [phone], [e-mail].

KATHLEEN A. MCGINTY,   
Acting Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 03-625. Filed for public inspection April 4, 2003, 9:00 a.m.]