Pennsylvania Code Amendments to implement recommendations embodied in the Bureau of Water Quality Management's Regulatory Basics Initiative (RBI) reports will involve eight separate regulation packages, as follows:

1. Special Protection Waters (Antidegradation) Program

25 PA Code Chapters 16, 92, and 93

• The purpose of these proposed revisions is to modify portions of the existing program to streamline and improve the program and to address EPA disapproval issues. The Department has been utilizing a regulatory negotiation (Reg-Neg) process to develop program changes; however, expediting the regulation changes has been given a high priority as a result of a Federal Court order to EPA to promulgate federal regulations to correct program disapproval issues. The Department will continue to utilize reg-neg stakeholder input as the final rulemaking proposal is developed

• The first draft of regulations was prepared on May 7, 1995.

• A public hearing to receive comments on the draft regulations is scheduled for June 18, 1996. The next meeting of the reg-neg stakeholders is scheduled for June 24, 1996.

• The anticipated date for EQB consideration is August 20, 1996 or September 17, 1996.

2. Modifications to Water Quality Standards

25 PA Code Chapters 16 and 93

• The purpose of these proposed revisions is twofold - (a) to address regulations which have been identified in the RBI analyses as more stringent than federal requirements, imposing disproportionate costs, overly prescriptive and obsolete or redundant, and (b) to incorporate changes needed to implement the federal Great Lakes Water Quality Initiative (GLI).

It is anticipated that the first draft of the proposed revisions will be developed by

October 18, 1996.

• Meetings will be scheduled the Air & Water Quality Technical Advisory Committee Water Subcommittee as needed to discuss the Committee's recommendations. Interested stakeholders in the Great Lakes Basin will also be consulted on those revisions prepared to implement the GLI. A public meeting for preliminary input on the GLI has been scheduled for June 20, 1996 in Erie.

• The anticipated date for EQB consideration is February 18, 1997.

3. Modifications to NPDES Program rules, Water Quality Management Permitting rules and General Water Quality Management Provisions

25 PA Code Chapters 91, 92, 94, 95, 97 and 101.

• The purpose of these proposed revisions is two fold - to address changes needed to address issues identified in the RBI analyses (all criteria) and to incorporate changes needed to implement the federal Great Lakes Water Quality Initiative (GLI).

It is anticipated that the first draft of the proposed revisions will be developed by

October 18, 1996.

• Advisory Committee Reviews - see item 2 above.

• The anticipated date for EQB consideration is February 18, 1997.

4/5. Modifications to Storage Tank and Spill Prevention Act Regulations

25 PA Code Chapter 245.

• The purpose of these proposed revisions is to address program requirements which are more stringent than federal requirements.

Revisions to Section 245.1 were included in provisions which were approved by the EQB as proposed rulemaking on November 15, 1994 and are scheduled for consideration for final rulemaking by the EQB on July 16, 1996. Revisions to Section 245.2 have been incorporated in revisions presented to the EQB as proposed rulemaking on April 16, 1996. The anticipated date for EQB consideration of final rulemaking is June 17, 1997.

• All revisions to Storage Tank Program regulations are prepared in consultation with the Storage Tank Advisory Committee.

6. Sewage Amendments - Planning, Permitting and Disposal Facilities

25 Code Chapters 71, 72 and 73

• The purpose if these proposed revisions is to implement the provisions of Act 26 of 1989 and some provisions of Act 149 of 1995, including permit exemptions for certain properties of 10 acres or more, a process for exempting soil mottling as an on-lot disposal system limiting factor and to incorporate a variety of administrative changes.

• Proposed revisions were approved by the EQB April 18, 1995 and were published in the PA Bulletin on August 5, 1995. Final rulemaking is scheduled to be presented to the EQB on June 18, 1996.

• Both the proposed and final rulemaking packages were prepared in close coordination with the Sewage Advisory Committee. Improvements to rulemaking emphasized by the Regulatory Basics Initiative have been incorporated into the final rulemaking package.

7. Comprehensive Sewage Facilities Amendments

25 PA Code Chapters 71, 72 and 73.

• The purpose of these proposed revisions is to implement the provisions of Act 149 of 1995 and other program modifications recommended by the Sewage Advisory Committee.

• Proposed rulemaking was presented to and approved by the EQB on January 16, 1996. The proposed rulemaking was published in the PA Bulletin on March 30, 1996. Six public hearings were conducted during April and May, 1996.

• The proposed rulemaking was prepared in close coordination with the Sewage Advisory Committee through a series of meetings with both the Regulations Subcommittee and the Full Committee. The RBI guidelines have been used in the development of these revisions.

• The anticipated date for EQB consideration of final rulemaking is December 17, 1996.

8. Municipal Financial Assistance

25 PA Code Chapter 103

• The purposes of these revisions are to eliminate provisions which relate to the federal sewerage constructing grants program which are obsolete due to the phase-out of the federal program, to update portions of the provisions implementing the Act 339 sewage treatment works subsidy program, and to update regulations relating to the use of Land and Water Conservation Act funds for municipal sewerage needs.

• It is anticipated that the first draft of the proposed revisions will be developed by September 20, 1996.

• There are currently no committees advisory to the Department on these funding programs.

• The anticipated date for EQB consideration of proposed regulations is December 17, 1996.