Jan. 22, 2020
HARRISBURG — House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Chairman Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) convened a voting meeting today to adopt a letter (excerpted below) directing the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) to reject Environmental Quality Board (EQB) Regulation 7-534:
“The Committee voted today, January 22, in favor of sending you this letter disapproving of the
regulation regarding the Triennial Review of Water Quality Standards on behalf of our constituents and
businesses. As the standing House Committee with legislative oversight over the Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP), it is our role to ensure that regulations proposed by DEP through the
EQB are reasonable, consistent with the intent of the Acts on which they are based, and proposed in a
manner consistent with the law.
“As part of the regulatory process, DEP is required to complete a Regulatory Analysis Form…
DEP stated in their Regulatory Analysis Form that it was not possible for them to do so…Not only is this completely unacceptable, but it violates the law.
“Pennsylvanians should not be punished because of DEP’s inability to adequately complete the tasks assigned to them.
“DEP has been making changes to stream classifications without consulting with or giving any
opportunity to participate to local individuals who know the most about their streams.
“Improper stream classification can impair the use of properties, hampering local businesses’ attempts to
develop and use land in safe and environmentally friendly ways. Including a reasonable provision in this
regulation to provide notice to landowners and municipalities would have been a simple and essential
change for DEP to make, but this step was not taken. Again, this failure hurts the business community
and property owners throughout Pennsylvania.
“Additionally, DEP did not comply with the law when developing the regulation…We therefore ask IRRC to disapprove this regulation in its final form since the provisions of the regulation are plainly unreasonable…We the undersigned members of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, write this letter to draw your attention to our concerns and disapproval of this final regulation and respectfully ask for your consideration.”
Follow the link here to view the complete IRRC letter.
Representative Daryl Metcalfe
12th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Ty McCauslin, 717.772.9979
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