[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 73 (Monday, April 17, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23490-23491]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-08067]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER BASIN COMMISSION


Public Hearing

AGENCY: Susquehanna River Basin Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Susquehanna River Basin Commission is seeking public 
comment on a new proposed general permit, General Permit GP-02 
Groundwater Withdrawals for Emergency Uses or Maintenance (GP-02). The 
proposed General Permit would approve the withdrawal of groundwater 
from wells for (1) emergency uses or (2) maintenance activities. The 
Commission will take oral testimony on the proposed General Permit at 
its regularly scheduled public hearing on May 4, 2023. The Commission 
will hold this hearing in person and telephonically. The deadline for 
the submission of written comments on the General Permit is May 30, 
2023.

DATES: The public hearing will convene on May 4, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. The 
public hearing will end at 9 p.m. or at the conclusion of public 
testimony, whichever is earlier. The deadline for submitting written 
comments on the General Permit is Tuesday, May 30, 2023.

ADDRESSES: This public hearing will be conducted in person and 
virtually. You may attend in person at Susquehanna River Basin 
Commission, 4423 N Front St., Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, or join by 
telephone at Toll-Free Number 1-877-304-9269 and then enter the guest 
passcode 2619070 followed by #.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jason Oyler, General Counsel and 
Secretary to the Commission, telephone: (717) 238-0423 or 
[email protected].
    The proposed General Permit and Fact Sheet are available on the 
Commission's website at https://www.srbc.net.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: GP-02 is designed to provide a pathway for 
projects that require temporary groundwater withdrawals, generally from 
back-up or reserve wells, to address an emergency or maintenance 
activity. Under SRBC regulations, these wells are subject to full 
technical review under 18 CFR part 806. For drinking water wells, they 
must also be fully permitted under the Safe Drinking Water laws and 
regulations of our member jurisdictions.
    GP-02 allows for and encourages proactive planning for how a 
project conducts and maintains operations during emergency or 
maintenance

[[Page 23491]]

outages of primary water sources. For public water supply sources 
specifically, GP-02 would focus the Commission's role with respect to 
wells needed for emergency or maintenance and activities, in part, by 
deferring to the member jurisdictions' safe drinking water permits as 
the primary sources of regulation. The proposed fee for coverage under 
GP-02 is $3,000, which includes review of the project's Contingency 
Plan and project details. This is less costly than the current 
regulatory review fees faced by these projects when they go through the 
full docket review process. GP-02 has a proposed term of fifteen (15) 
years, in keeping with Commission regulations at 18 CFR 806.31 where 
projects generally have a term of 15 years.

Opportunity To Appear and Comment

    Interested parties may call into the hearing to offer comments to 
the Commission on any business listed above required to be the subject 
of a public hearing. Given the nature of the meeting, the Commission 
strongly encourages those members of the public wishing to provide oral 
comments to pre-register with the Commission by emailing Jason Oyler at 
[email protected] before the hearing date. The presiding officer reserves 
the right to limit oral statements in the interest of time and to 
control the course of the hearing otherwise. Access to the hearing via 
telephone will begin at 6:15 p.m. Guidelines for the public hearing are 
posted on the Commission's website, www.srbc.net, before the hearing 
for review. The presiding officer reserves the right to modify or 
supplement such guidelines at the hearing. Written comments on any 
business listed above required to be the subject of a public hearing 
may also be mailed to Mr. Jason Oyler, Secretary to the Commission, 
Susquehanna River Basin Commission, 4423 North Front Street, 
Harrisburg, Pa. 17110-1788, or submitted electronically through https://www.srbc.net/regulatory/public-comment/. Comments on the GP-02 mailed 
or electronically submitted must be received by the Commission on or 
before Tuesday, May 30, 2023, to be considered.
    Authority: Pub. L. 91-575, 84 Stat. 1509 et seq.; 18 CFR 806.17.

    Dated: April 12, 2023.
Jason E. Oyler,
General Counsel and Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2023-08067 Filed 4-14-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7040-01-P