Availability of Technical Guidance [37 Pa.B. 5320]
[Saturday, September 29, 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: 012-5500-001. Title: 2008 Environmental Education Grants Program Manual and Forms. Description: The 2008 Environmental Education Grants Program Manual and Forms is a guide for eligible organizations interested in applying for the Department's Environmental Education (EE) grants program. The manual provides information on program eligibility, including instructions for how to apply for a grant and details on the requirements and procedures that must be followed if a grant is awarded. The Pennsylvania Environmental Education Act (act) (35 P. S. §§ 7521--7528) was signed into law on June 22, 1993. The act established a policy that EE is critically important to all citizens in this Commonwealth; created an EE Fund from 5% of the Department's pollution fine moneys; and created the EE grants program for the distribution of the EE fund money. Substantive changes were made to the manual from its 2007 version, including increasing the Mini-Grant Track allocation awards to $3,000 each; adding School Outdoor Learning Resources as a new Mini-Grant Track category; and including teacher preparation programs that meet the Academic Standards for Environment and Ecology and Science and Technology as an eligible activity that colleges and universities may apply for funding under the Conservation and Education Organizations and Institutions Open Track. A notice requesting public comment on the draft version of the manual, including the substantive changes, was published at 37 Pa.B. 4142 (July 28, 2007). A 30-day public comment period was provided on the draft manual that concluded on August 27, 2007. No public comments were received on the draft guidance document. Contact: Lisa Zell, Department of Environmental Protection, Environmental Education and Information Center, Rachel Carson State Office Building, P. O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063, (717) 705-4086 or lzell@state.pa.us. Effective Date: October 1, 2007.
Notice to Rescind Technical Guidance
DEP ID: 400-5900-115. Title: Confined Space Safety. Description: This guidance document was formerly issued in 1997 by the Department to provide personnel with the appropriate procedures for conducting job duties involving work near confined space openings. In 2004, the Department's Office of Administration finalized policy for Department employees that provides additional specificity concerning the performance of duties in or near confined spaces. The more recent policy supercedes the former guidelines issued in 1997, which are now rescinded, as they do not provide current Department protocol and policy. Contact: Questions concerning the rescission of technical guidance document No. 400-5900-115 can be directed to Kristine Smith, Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Field Operations, Rachel Carson State Office Building, 16th Floor, P. O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063, (717) 787-9240, kristismit@ state.pa.us. Effective Date: September 29, 2007.
KATHLEEN A. MCGINTY,
Secretary[Pa.B. Doc. No. 07-1802. Filed for public inspection September 28, 2007, 9:00 a.m.]
