Availability of Technical Guidance [37 Pa.B. 4579]
[Saturday, August 18, 2007]Technical guidance documents are available on the Department of Environmental Protection's (Department) website at www.depweb.state.pa.us (DEP Keywords: Technical Guidance). The ''Final Documents'' heading is the link to a menu of the various Department bureaus where each bureau's final technical guidance documents are posted. 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 2007.
Ordering Paper Copies of Department Technical Guidance
The Department encourages the use of the Internet to view and download technical guidance documents. When this option is not available, persons can order a paper copy of any of the Department's draft or final technical guidance documents by contacting the Department at (717) 783-8727.
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
DEP ID: 562-3000-102. Title: Coal and Industrial Mineral Mining Inspections. Description: This guidance document (formerly titled ''Inspection'') defines the content and frequency of inspections of coal and industrial minerals mining activities by inspectors of the Department's Bureau of District Mining Operations. Substantive revisions were made to the guidance in order to eliminate the requirement for monthly inspections for mining permits issued under 25 Pa. Code Chapter 87, Subchapter F or 25 Pa. Code Chapter 88, Subchapter G (relating to surface coal mines: minimum requirements for remining areas with pollutional discharges; and anthracite surface mining activities and anthracite bank removal and reclamation activities: minimum requirements for remining areas with pollutional discharges). In addition, a revision was also made to the document to ensure consistency with Federal regulations. Previously, the document identified that inspections would not be conducted after the bond for a mine site is collected. However, since Federal regulations require that inspections continue after collection of the bond, the inconsistency in the guidance was rectified.
Notice advertising the substantive revisions to the technical guidance document was published at 37 Pa.B. 2142 (May 5, 2007). A 30-day public comment period was provided, which concluded on June 4, 2007. One comment was received from the Federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. In response to the comment submitted, the guidance was revised in Section II.F.3 to include the statement that inspection frequency may be reduced to quarterly inspections on forfeited sites, if the sites are backfilled and stabilized with at least 70% overall ground cover, have effective erosion and sediment control structures which are preventing off site impacts, have no discharges that require treatment or which exhibit a degradational trend, and do not present public health or safety hazards or environmental concerns. In response to this noted change, the Department also added Section II.G. to the guidance to elaborate on the priority order for which site inspections will be carried out by the Department. In addition to these changes, the Department has also clarified in the guidance that large industrial mineral mine sites should be inspected four times per year, whereas small sites may be inspected two times per year. Contact: William S. Allen, Jr., Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Mining and Reclamation, P. O. Box 8461, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8461, (717) 787-5103, wallen@state.pa.us. Effective Date: August 18, 2007.
KATHLEEN A. MCGINTY,
Secretary[Pa.B. Doc. No. 07-1483. Filed for public inspection August 17, 2007, 9:00 a.m.]
