Help Stop DEP’s Proposed Weakening of Stormwater Permitting!!!
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Please email a comment letter today to kmurin@state.pa.us

 

PADEP is poised to adopt four stormwater initiatives intended to make it easier for developers to get stormwater permits approved. DEP’s announced justification for the initiatives is that “the timely review and delivery of NPDES Post Construction Stormwater permits continues to be a concern to builders and developers.” Stormwater pollution is the most serious water quality problem in many urbanizing areas of Pennsylvania. Minimizing and properly controlling stormwater pollution from new development and redevelopment is imperative, if we are to restore healthy conditions to Pennsylvania’s waterways. Streamlining permitting is not the answer! We are urging concerned individuals to help derail the proposals and tell DEP not to compromise our water quality. Please email a comment letter today to kmurin@state.pa.us, addressed to:

Deputy Secretary Cathy Myers
Department of Environmental Protection
Rachel Carson State Office Building
Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063

Please make the following points:

  • DEP’s proposed streamlining of the stormwater permitting process would discourage developers from designing projects that avoid and minimize stormwater pollution.
  • DEP’s proposed plan to contract with private engineers to review permits would inappropriately put governmental responsibilities in private hands; DEP should use the resources to hire additional permit review staff where needed.
  • DEP’s proposal for a preliminary permit review process, by agency staff and the permittee representatives alone, threatens the integrity of the permit review process and deprives the public of any meaningful opportunity to comment on NPDES permit applications.

Granting expedited, general permits for supposedly “low risk activities” including stormwater permits for brownfield redevelopment projects would place Pennsylvania’s waters at greater risk by heightening the potential that toxic materials would not receive proper management.

Urge DEP to abandon their four stormwater permitting initiatives and ensure full and proper protection of our waterways from stormwater pollution.

Thank you!

For more information contact:
pennsylvania.chapter@sierraclub.org
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