[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 28 (Friday, February 10, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 7925-7926]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-3263]



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SUSQUEHANNA RIVER BASIN COMMISSION

18 CFR Parts 803, 804 and 805


Review and Approval of Projects; Special Regulations and 
Standards; Hearings/Enforcement Actions

AGENCY: Susquehanna River Basin Commission.

ACTION: Public hearing on rulemaking and addition to comprehensive 
plan.

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SUMMARY: The Susquehanna River Basin Commission published in the 
Federal Register of June 8, 1994 (59 FR 29563) proposed rules on 
procedures for review of projects which also contained special review 
and approval requirements for consumptive uses of water, ground-water 
withdrawals and surface water withdrawals. Rules were also proposed 
setting special standards for water conservation and water use 
registration, and establishing hearing and enforcement procedures. A 
series of eight hearings were held during the summer of 1994 at various 
locations. This document announces: That the consumptive use portion of 
the proposed rulemaking action (Sec. 803.42) will be deferred pending 
further consultation with the regulated community; and that a final 
informal public hearing will be held on the non-consumptive use portion 
of the proposed rules.

DATES: The public hearing will be held on March 9, 1995, beginning at 
9:00 a.m. Written comments on the non-consumptive use portion of the 
proposed rules should be submitted by March 9, 1995.

ADDRESSES: The public hearing will be held at the Radisson Penn Harris 
Hotel and Convention Center, room Keystone E, 1150 Camp Hill By-Pass, 
Camp Hill, PA. Comments should be addressed to Richard A. Cairo, 
General Counsel/Secretary, Susquehanna River Basin Commission, 1721 N. 
Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17102-2391.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Richard A. Cairo, General Counsel/Secretary, SRBC, 717-238-0423.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Susquehanna River Basin Commission will 
hold a final public hearing on the non-consumptive use portion of a 
proposed rulemaking action in conjunction with its regular meeting on 
March 9, 1995 at the Radisson Penn Harris Hotel and Convention Center, 
Room Keystone E, 1150 Camp Hill By-Pass, Camp Hill, PA., beginning at 
9:00 a.m. This hearing will also cover a proposal to incorporate the 
proposed rules into the SRBC Comprehensive Plan. The proposed rules 
were published in the Federal Register on June 8, 1994 at p. 29563. 
Eight public hearings were held during the summer of 1994 at various 
locations throughout the basin.
    In response to the comments received at these hearings, a number of 
changes have been made in the proposed rules, the most notable of which 
is the withdrawal of proposed Sec. 803.42 on the consumptive use of 
water. In place of the proposed Sec. 803.42, the Commission will 
substantially retain its present consumptive use regulation found in 
the Code of Federal Regulations at 18 CFR Sec. 803.61. The Commission 
will continue the suspension of the consumptive use regulation with 
respect to agricultural consumptive uses while it works with 
representatives of the agricultural community to develop an appropriate 
approach to the management of agricultural related water use. Public 
water suppliers will also be consulted on the issue of consumptive use 
within their distribution systems.
    The scope of this final public hearing will be limited to the non-
consumptive use portion of the proposed rulemaking action. This portion 
of the regulation contains such items as a new surface water 
regulation, water use registration, approval durations, and new 
procedures for processing project applications. Procedures for 
notifying the public of pending applications and for holding public 
hearings are also strengthened.
    The hearing will be informal in nature. Comments should be limited 
to [[Page 7926]] the non-consumptive use portion of the proposed 
regulations. The Commission reserves the right to limit oral testimony 
in the interest of time. Written comments submitted at or before the 
hearing will also be accepted and made a part of the hearing record. 
All written comments should be submitted by March 9, 1995.
    Copies of the latest version of the proposed rules and a 
responsiveness document explaining why changes were made area available 
upon request to the Commission at 1721 N. Front Street, Harrisburg, PA. 
17102-2391, 717/238-0423. Written comments may be submitted to and 
further information obtained from Richard A. Cairo, General Counsel/
Secretary, at the same address and phone number.

    Dated: February 3, 1995.
Paul O. Swartz,
Executive Director.
[FR Doc. 95-3263 Filed 2-9-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7040-01-M