Environment (Water Quality)

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Clean Streams Law to allow specific residential construction sites to request a waiver for certain stormwater discharge permits. It directly affects developers building on land between one and three acres that causes significant ground disturbance. Under the new provision, these sites could apply to bypass standard National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit requirements if they meet specific federal criteria. The change aims to streamline regulatory processes for medium-sized construction projects while maintaining oversight through a formal waiver application process. The law will become effective 60 days after its passage.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Clean Streams Law to allow construction sites disturbing between one and two acres to request a waiver for certain stormwater discharge permits. By referencing existing federal regulations, the legislation provides a formal mechanism for these smaller projects to bypass specific state permitting requirements. The change directly affects developers and landowners managing medium-sized construction projects, streamlining the regulatory process for them. The law takes effect 60 days after being passed.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Clean Streams Law to allow construction sites disturbing between one and five acres to request a waiver from certain stormwater discharge permit requirements. Under the new provision, if a construction site meets specific federal criteria for a waiver, the state environmental department must grant it. The change applies to construction projects that would otherwise need a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit for stormwater runoff. The bill takes effect 60 days after passage.

HB 874 amends Pennsylvania's Safe Drinking Water Act to clarify definitions and update rules for temporary exemptions. It specifically revises the definition of "public water system" to exclude religious facilities (like churches) using private wells for drinking water, while clarifying that systems serving at least 15 connections or 25 daily users qualify as public systems. The bill also modifies how the Department can grant exemptions from water quality standards, requiring proof that exemptions won’t risk health (including no microbial contaminant evidence) and setting federal expiration dates for such exemptions. These changes directly affect public water systems, small communities, and religious organizations relying on private wells, with the law taking effect 60 days after passage.

HB 1370 amends Pennsylvania's Clean Streams Law to exempt construction sites building single-family residential homes from requiring a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. This change directly affects residential construction companies and developers building standalone single-family homes. The bill adds a new provision (Section 402(c)(3)) specifying that such sites are exempt from otherwise applicable NPDES permit requirements under the Clean Streams Law. The exemption takes effect 60 days after the bill's enactment.