Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection is in the process of issuing new stormwater regulations that will significantly impact the entire state. ICP representatives were among those selected by DEP to be a part of the “public” review of the draft document and will be participating in the process that is expected to take at least one year to complete.

The initial focus groups met in late January and were offered an overview of the 600+ page manual but there was little substantive discussion on the content. Additional focus sessions will be held in the near future after participants have had a chance to review the lengthy and very technical document.

On initial review, DEP appears to be willing to make many of the changes that have been requested by the environmental community. The draft version of the “Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual” is, in large measure, reflective of the input of Cahill and Associates, a leading engineering firm in innovative stormwater control that was commissioned for the project. There is a heavy emphasis on infiltration methods and a recognition that the large detention basins of the past have not served us very well.

Although the environmental community has reason to be hopeful, the new BMP manual has yet to undergo a full review which will certainly include substantial input from the Home Builders Association. It should be expected that a substantial effort will be made to water down the manual and to reduce its effectiveness.

We have been told that the draft manual will be available on the DEP website but have been unable to locate it. When it becomes available, we will post a link and ask that anyone with any interest in the subject review the manual and provide us with comments which will all be forwarded to DEP.