November 17, 1999

Mrs. Carol Young
Division of Assessments and Standards
Bureau of Watershed Conservation
10^th Floor, Rachel Carson State Office Building
400 Market Street
P.O. Box 8555
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8555

Subject: Comments on Draft Final Chapter 92 Regulations

Dear Mrs. Young:

At the Agricultural Advisory Board's October 20^th meeting the Board had the opportunity to review the draft final regulations related to the Regulatory Basics Initiative for proposed amendments to Chapters 16, 92, 93, 95, and 97, and the proposed creation of Chapter 96.

During our review, it was noted in the Chapter 92 regulations, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permitting, Monitoring and Compliance, that section 92.81, subsection (a)(8), was revised to reinstate the existing language which prohibits the issuance of general NPDES permits for activities in high quality and exceptional value waters. The previous draft of the regulations would have authorized issuance of general NPDES permits for discharges to high quality waters, but not to exceptional value waters. The Agricultural Advisory Board unanimously passed a motion advocating the use of general NPDES permits in high quality waters, and recommends that the appropriate revisions be made to the Chapter 92 regulations to allow for the issuance of general NPDES permits in high quality waters.

Any correspondence related to the issue should be directed to the Department's liaison to the Board, Dean Auchenbach, at the Bureau of Water Quality Protection address. If I may be of further assistance please contact me at 570-784-9326.