Week of November 15, 2021
Click here for PULP's presentation and materials on the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) program for water utility providers (under the heading “Federal Water and Wastewater Assistance: A Primer for Utility Providers, 11/10/2021”)
Read more to participate in this grant program (LIHWAP).
This week
Legislation
HR 149 (Representative Jim Rigby – Cambria and Somerset Counties) - Directs the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study the costs and methods for permit holders to comply with the proposed revisions to General Permit PAG-07, General Permit PAG-08 and General Permit PAG-09.
Resolution Status: Introduced and referred to the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, and public hearing – October 25th (Note: PMAA provided testimony)
Voted out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee – November 15th
Important Meetings
Local Government Advisory Committee met on November 16th
Click for the meeting agenda.
Tom Zeuner of Northampton Bucks County Municipal Authority represents PMAA on the committee.
Environmental Quality Board met on November 16th approving (17-2) Safe Drinking Water PFAS MCL Rule (pre-draft proposed revisions)
Click here for meeting materials (scroll down to November 16th meeting: Proposed Rulemaking: Safe Drinking Water PFAS MCL Rule (25 Pa. Code Chapter 109)).
DEP Water Resource Advisory Committee (WRAC) meeting is scheduled for November 17th on Final Rulemaking - Water Quality Standard for Manganese and Implementation (25 Pa. Code, Chapters 93 and 96).
Click here for meeting materials (scroll down to November 18th meeting: Final Rulemaking - Water Quality Standard for Manganese and Implementation (25 Pa. Code, Chapters 93 and 96)).
Cory Miller of University Area Joint Authority represents PMAA on WRAC.
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Week of November 8, 2021
Recap (November 1 - 5)
Special Elections:
Democrats hold onto two seats in the House:
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Democrat Thom Welby (Lackawana County) won the 113th district vacated by Democrat Marty Flynn who was elected to the state Senate.
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Democrat Gina Curry (Delaware County) won the 164th district vacated by Democrat Margo Davidson.
Biosolids
PMAA representatives attended DEP’s second of four Biosolids stakeholders meetings to discuss proposed changes to Biosolids General Permits PAG-07 and PAG-08 requiring PFAS monitoring and P-index based land application rates. Click here for DEP’s presentation to the Water Resource Advisory Committee (WRAC) (scroll down to March 24th meeting and select Draft Biosolids Permit Presentation).
DEP Sewage Advisory Committee (SAC)
PMAA representatives attended DEP Sewage Advisory Committee meeting on November 4, 2021 to discuss changes to Act 34 of 2020 (Sewage Facilities Act) and the SAC workgroup report on technical guidance document - Sewage Management Program and Annual Reporting. Click here for meeting materials.
The Week Ahead
The House is scheduled to be in session November 15th , 16th, and 17th.
Upcoming Meetings
Environmental Quality Board (EQB) meeting – November 16th on the Safe Drinking Water PFAS MCL Rule (pre-draft proposed revisions). Click here for meeting materials (scroll down to Proposed Rulemaking: Safe Drinking Water PFAS MCL Rule (25 Pa. Code Chapter 109)).
Local Government Advisory Committee meeting - November 16th
DEP Water Resource Advisory Committee (WRAC) meeting – November 17th on a proposed regulation addressing schedules of compliance for NPDES permits for systems with combined sewer overflows (CSOs).
PMAA wastewater authorities, please contact PMAA Director of Government Relations, Jennie Shade (shade@municipalauthorities.org), if you are interested in joining PMAA’s workgroup developing comments on the proposed rulemaking.
Click here for the proposed rulemaking and meeting materials presented to the EQB (scroll down to October 19th meeting – Proposed Rulemaking: National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Schedules of Compliance (25 Pa. Code §92a.51)).