Act 537 Sewage Facilities
Planning Authorizations

The Act 537 Program
On January 24, 1966, the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act (Act 537, as amended) was enacted to correct existing sewage disposal problems and prevent future problems. To meet this objective, the Act requires proper planning in all types of sewage disposal situations. Local municipalities are largely responsible for administering the Act 537 sewage facilities program. To assist local municipalities in fulfilling this responsibility, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) provides technical assistance, financial assistance, and oversight.

The Planning Process
Municipalities are required to develop and implement comprehensive official plans that provide for the resolution of existing sewage disposal problems, provide for the future sewage disposal needs of new land development; and provide for future sewage disposal needs of the municipality. This official plan is sometimes called the "base" plan or the "Act 537 plan." When a new land development project is proposed, municipalities are required to revise their official plan (unless the project is exempt from planning).

The Planning Forms
The following forms and their supporting documentation are used in the process of revising an official plan. The Planning Module Application Mailer is the first step in this process and must be submitted for all new land development projects. The mailer information is used by DEP to determine whether sewage facilities' planning is required and, if so, what type of planning is appropriate for a project. The Planning Module Component forms located on the following pages are provided as examples of the instructions and the type of information required for the planning process. The appropriate planning module forms will be provided by DEP either in paper or downloadable format in response to the completed Planning Module Application Mailer. Use only the most current planning forms for your submission. If there has been a project delay since planning forms were obtained from DEP, be sure to verify the forms originally received remain the most current forms available. In all cases, local municipal involvement is required, do not submit completed planning module forms directly to DEP without municipal coordination.

     
 

Contents
Notice: The new eLibrary is now the official location for authorizations on the DEP Website.
Click here for information on document viewers.
1. bulletLink to Act 537, Municipal Sewage Forms available from the DEP "eLibrary"
 
2.		 Sewage Facilities Planning 
Sewage Facilities Planning Application Mailer (3800-CD-WSFR0359, 9/2005)
bulletAvailable from the eLibrary.
Used by anyone proposing a new land development project.

3.		 Sewage Facilities Planning Module,
Component 1 - Exception To The Requirement To Revise The Official Plan (3800-FM-WSWM0350, 5/2002)
bulletAvailable from the eLibrary.
Used by persons proposing onlot sewage disposal for smaller scale, new land development projects under specific conditions provided in the instruction form.

4.		 Sewage Facilities Planning
Transmittal Letter For Sewage Facilities Planning, (3800-FM-WSWM0355, 1/2002)
bulletAvailable from the eLibrary.
Used by municipal officials as a cover letter when submitting Component 2, 3 and 3s sewage facilities planning module packages to the reviewing authority. (DEP or Delegated Agency)

5.		 Sewage Facilities Planning
Resolution For Plan Revision For New Land Development, (3800- FM -WSWM0356, 2/2002)
bulletAvailable from the eLibrary.
Used by municipal officials to document adoption of a Component 2, Component 3 or Component 3s Planning Module as a formal revision to the municipality's Official Act 537 Plan.

6.		 Sewage Facilities Planning Module
Component 2, Individual and Community Onlot Disposal of Sewage (3800-FM-WSFR0352, 10/2005)
bulletAvailable from the eLibrary.
Used by persons proposing the use of individual or community onlot sewage disposal systems, retaining tanks or DEP permitted large volume onlot sewage disposal systems.

7.		 Sewage Facilities Planning Module
Component 3, Sewage Collection and Treatment Facilities (3800-FM-WSFR0353, 9/2005)
bulletAvailable from the eLibrary.
Used by persons proposing sewage treatment plants, or connection, construction, expansion, or extension to public or private community sewerage systems.

8.		 Sewage Facilities Planning Module
Component 3M, Minor Act 537 Update Revisions (3800-FM-WSFR0353m, 10/2005)
bulletAvailable from the eLibrary.
Used by local municipalities and/or municipal authorities proposing minor update revisions to their existing Act 537 Official Plan.
Not intended for use by the general public.

9.		 Sewage Facilities Planning Module
Component 3S, Small Flow Treatment Facilities (3800-FM-WSFR0353s, 10/2005)
bulletAvailable from the eLibrary.
Used by persons proposing small flow sewage treatment facilities (individual treatment plants with flows no greater than 2,000 gallons per day) and final disposal to a stream or other method approved by DEP.

10.		 Sewage Facilities Planning Module
Component 4, Planning Agency or Health Dept Review (3800-FM-WSFR0362A&B&C)
bulletAvailable from the eLibrary.
Used in conjunction with other sewage facilities planning documents to obtain required comments from Local, County and Health department agencies.

11.		 Sewage Facilities Planning
Request For Planning Waiver and Non-Building Declaration, (3800-FM-WSWM0349, 2/2002)
bulletAvailable from the eLibrary.
Used by persons proposing subdivisions that do not involve creation of new sewage facilities.

12.		 Sewage Facilities Planning
Act 537 Plan Content and Environmental Assessment Checklist (3800-FM-WSWM0003, 11/2002)
bulletAvailable from the eLibrary.
Used by local municipalities proposing extensive update revisions to their existing Act 537 Official Plan.
Not intended for use by the general public
 
     

Return to Act 537 Sewage Facilities Electronic Forms Home Page