Nutrient Credit Trading Program; Notice of Certification Requests [41 Pa.B. 3940]
[Saturday, July 16, 2011]The Department of Environmental Protection (Department) provides notice of the following certification requests that have been submitted under the Nutrient Credit Trading Program (Trading Program). See 25 Pa. Code § 96.8 (relating to use of offsets and tradable credits from pollution reduction activities in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed), published at 40 Pa.B. 5790 (October 9, 2010).
Nutrient trading is a market-based program that provides incentives for entities to create nutrient reduction credits (credits) by going beyond statutory, regulatory or voluntary obligations and goals to remove nutrients from a watershed. The credits can be traded to help others more cost-effectively meet their obligations or goals. The primary purpose of the Trading Program is to provide for more efficient ways for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permittees to meet their effluent limits for nutrients.
The information described in this notice relates to submitted certification requests from April 23, 2011, through July 1, 2011.
Background
Before a credit can be used by an NPDES permittee, a three-step process is followed: (1) the certification request must be approved; (2) generation of the credits must be verified; and (3) the credits must be registered.
Approval is also known as certification, which is a written approval by the Department for the use of a pollutant reduction activity to generate credits. Certifications are based on at least: (1) a written request describing the qualifying pollutant reduction activity that will reduce the pollutant loadings delivered to the applicable watershed; (2) the calculation to quantify the pounds of reductions expected; and (3) a verification plan that, when implemented, ensures that the qualifying pollutant reduction activity has taken place.
Once the credits are certified, they must be verified to be applied toward an NPDES permit for compliance with effluent limits. Verification means implementation of the verification plan contained in the certification. Verification plans require annual submittal of documentation to the Department that demonstrates that the qualifying pollutant reduction activity has taken place for the applicable compliance year.
The credits also need to be registered by the Department before they can be applied toward an NPDES permit for compliance with effluent limits. Registration occurs only after credits have been certified, verified and a contract has been submitted. The Department registers credits for use during the compliance year in which the qualifying pollutant reduction activity has taken place. The Department provides registered credits with an annual registry number for reporting and tracking purposes.
Certification Requests
The following requests are being reviewed by the Department. The Department will accept written comments on these proposed pollutant reduction activities for 30 days.
Applicant Pollution Reduction Activity Description Lycoming County Conservation District This certification request is for credits to be generated from the pollutant reduction activity of off-stream watering with stream fencing, precision grazing and a installed riparian forested buffer for Client GrRLoT0001. Lycoming County Conservation District This recertification request is for credits to be generated from the pollutant reduction activity of manure export for Client WhCWaT0001. Written Comments
Interested persons may submit written comments on these proposed pollutant reduction activities by August 15, 2011. The Department will accept comments submitted by e-mail, but comments submitted by facsimile will not be accepted. A return name and address must be included in each e-mail transmission. Written comments should be submitted to Ann Roda, Water Planning Office, Department of Environmental Protection, P. O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063, (717) 787-4785, aroda@state. pa.us.
For further information about these proposals or the Trading Program contact Ann Roda, at the previously listed address or phone number or visit the Department's web site at www.depweb.state.pa.us (DEP Keywords: ''Nutrient Trading'').
MICHAEL L. KRANCER,
Secretary[Pa.B. Doc. No. 11-1190. Filed for public inspection July 15, 2011, 9:00 a.m.]
