NOTICES

State Water Plan; Critical Water Planning Area Nominations Notice of Availability for Public Comment

[39 Pa.B. 5988]
[Saturday, October 10, 2009]

 The Department of Environmental Protection (Department) and the six Regional Water Resource Committees are soliciting public comments on the watersheds nominated for consideration of Critical Water Planning Area (CWPA) designation, in accordance with 27 Pa.C.S. Chapter 31 (relating to water resources planning) (act).

 According to the Water Resources Planning Act, a CWPA is defined as a ''significant hydrologic unit where existing or future demands exceed or threaten to exceed the safe yield of available water resources.'' A list of watershed nominations, along with detailed technical reports for the areas that have been nominated and the Department's ''Guidelines for Identifying Critical Water Planning Areas'' are available on the Department's web site at http://www.depweb.state.pa.us, keyword ''Water Resources.''

 After consideration of public comments received on the nominations, the regional water resources committees will make recommendations for areas to be designated as CWPAs to the Statewide Water Resources Committee. The Statewide Committee will consider the data presented, and make a recommendation to the Department Secretary, who will consider designating the areas as CWPAs. After an area receives CWPA designation, a more intensive planning process will be undertaken to produce a Critical Area Resource Plan (CARP). The CARP that results from the study is not a regulatory document and will not be binding. It will, however, suggest measures and actions that could be adopted voluntarily to address the potential water shortage in the area.

 The Department will accept written comments on the areas nominated for consideration of Critical Water Planning Area designation through November 30, 3009. Written comments must be submitted to Leslie Sarvis, Department of Environmental Protection, Water Planning Office, P. O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063 or epstatewaterplan@state.pa.us.

 The Department and the regional water resources committees will hold public meetings and hearings around the State to answer questions and accept testimony pertinent to the watersheds nominated for consideration of CWPA designation. The public meetings will include presentations by Department staff and members of the respective Regional Water Resources Committees followed by an informal discussion period. The formal hearings will begin at the times noted as follows. The dates and locations for the series of public meetings and hearings are as follows:

October 28, 2009
Public Meeting at 2 p.m., Public Hearing at 3 p.m.
Ohio Regional Water Resources Committee
Westmoreland Conservation District
218 Donohoe Road
Greensburg, PA 15601

 Questions concerning this meeting should be directed to Lori Mohr, Water Planning Office, P. O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063, (717) 787-4628 or laumohr@ state.pa.us.

November 9, 2009
Regional committee business meeting at 12:45 p.m.
Public Meeting at 2 p.m., Public Hearing at 3 p.m.
Delaware Regional Water Resources Committee
Roadway Inn Conference Center (PA 629)
1151 Bulldog Drive
Allentown, PA 18104

 Questions concerning this meeting should be directed to Leslie Sarvis, Water Planning Office, P. O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063, (717) 772-5634, lsarvis@ state.pa.us.

November 12, 2009
Public Meeting at 2 p.m., Public Hearing at 3 p.m.
Great Lakes Regional Water Resources Committee
Erie County Conservation District
1927 Wager Road
Erie, PA 16509

 Questions concerning this meeting should be directed to Lori Mohr, Water Planning Office, P. O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063, (717) 787-4628, e-mail at mailto: laumohr@state.pa.us.

November 16, 2009
Public Meeting at 2 p.m., Public Hearing at 3 p.m.
Lower Susquehanna Regional Water Resources
 Committee
Department of Environmental Protection, Southcentral Regional Office, Susquehanna Room
909 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110

 Questions concerning this meeting should be directed to Jay Braund, Water Planning Office, P. O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063, (717) 783-2402, jbraund@ state.pa.us

November 17, 2009
Public Meeting at 2 p.m., Public Hearing at 3 p.m.
Potomac Regional Water Resources Committee
Adams County Agricultural Center
670 Old Harrisburg Road
Suite 201
Gettysburg, PA 17325

 Questions concerning this meeting should be directed to Leslie Sarvis, Water Planning Office, P. O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063, (717) 772-5634 or lsarvis@state.pa.us

November 18, 2009
Public Meeting at 2 p.m., Public Hearing at 3 p.m.
Upper/Middle Susquehanna Regional Water Resources
 Committee
Department of Environmental Protection Northcentral Regional Office
208 West Third Street, Suite 101
Williamsport, PA 17701

 Questions concerning this meeting should be directed to Jay Braund, Water Planning Office, P. O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063, (717) 783-2402 or jbraund@state.pa.us

 Unless otherwise noted, all Regional Water Resources Committees will conduct their regular business meeting from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on the same date and location as the public meetings and hearings. The business meetings are open to the public.

 An agenda for each meeting, including materials pertaining to the areas nominated for Critical Water Planning Area designation, will be available through the Public Participation Center on the Department's web site at www.depweb.state.pa.us (DEP Keyword: Public Participation, Participate).

 Persons planning to give oral testimony at the hearings should register in advance by contacting Karen Price at (717) 783-9499 or kprice@state.pa.us. A written copy of the testimony should be provided to Department staff at the hearings. Written testimony will also be accepted from persons who do not wish to give oral testimony at the meeting. Written testimony must be submitted by November 30, 2009, to Leslie Sarvis, DEP Water Planning Office, P. O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063 or epstatewaterplan@state.pa.us.

 Persons in need of accommodations as provided for in the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 should contact the Department at (717) 772-5634 or through the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at (800) 654-5984 (TDD) to discuss how the Department may accommodate their needs.

JOHN HANGER, 
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 09-1887. Filed for public inspection October 9, 2009, 9:00 a.m.]

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