DEP to Hold Public Meetings, Consider Proposed Critical Water
Planning Areas
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Northcentral Regional Office
208 West Third Street, Suite 101
Williamsport, PA 17701
News Release
23 October 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Tom Rathbun
Phone: (717) 787-1323
Harrisburg – The Department of Environmental Protection will conduct
six public meetings and formal hearings to answer questions and accept
testimony on proposed critical water planning areas in Pennsylvania’s
six major river basins.
Critical water planning areas encompass watersheds where existing or
future water demands exceed or threaten to exceed the safe yield of
available water resources. The process for designating these areas was
established under Act 220 of 2002, the Water Resources Planning Act,
which created the first update to the state water plan in 26 years.
Act 220 established a Statewide Water Resource Committee and six
regional water resource committees tasked with updating, compiling and
reviewing water-use data, taking public comment, identifying where
existing and potential water-use conflicts and water quality issues may
occur, and creating recommendations for the state water plan.
This is the first step in approving the planning areas. The public
meetings will include presentations by DEP staff and members of the
respective regional committees, followed by an informal discussion
period. The formal hearings will begin immediately following the public
meeting.
Meetings are scheduled as follows:
Ohio River Regional Water Resources Committee - Oct. 28, 2009
Public Meeting at 2 p.m. - Formal Hearing at 3 p.m.
Westmoreland Conservation District - 218 Donohoe Road, Greensburg,
PA 15601
Contact: Lori Mohr
DEP Water Planning Office
P.O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063
(717)787-4628 laumohr@state.pa.us
Nominated Watersheds: Connoquenessing Creek, Indian Creek,
Laurel Hill Creek - Delaware River Regional Water Resources Committee -
Nov. 9, 2009 - Regional Committee Business Meeting at 12:45 p.m. -
Public Meeting at 2 p.m. - Formal Hearing at 3 p.m.
Roadway Inn Conference Center
111 Bulldog Drive, Allentown, PA 18104
Contact: Leslie Sarvis DEP Water Planning Office
P.O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063
(717)772-5634 lsarvis@state.pa.us
Nominated Watersheds: Brodhead Creek, Little Lehigh Creek,
tributaries to Neshaminy Creek - Great Lakes Regional Water Resources
Committee - Nov. 12, 2009 - Public Meeting at 2 p.m. - Formal Hearing
at 3 p.m.
Erie County Conservation District
1927 Wager Road, Erie, PA 16509
Contact: Lori Mohr
DEP Water Planning Office
P.O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063
(717)787-4628 laumohr@state.pa.us
Nominated Watershed: Temple Creek - Lower Susquehanna Regional
Water Resources Committee - Nov. 16, 2009 - Public Meeting at 2 p.m. -
Formal Hearing at 3 p.m.
DEP Southcentral Regional Office, Susquehanna Room
909 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg, PA 17110
Contact: Jay Braund
DEP Water Planning Office
P.O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063
(717)783-2402
jbraund@state.pa.us
Nominated Watersheds: Tributaries to Conewago Creek, Conestoga
River and Swatara Creek - Potomac River Regional Water Resources
Committee - Nov. 17, 2009 - Public Meeting at 2 p.m. - Formal Hearing
at 3 p.m.
Adams County Agricultural Center
670 Old Harrisburg Road, Suite 201, Gettysburg, PA 17325
Contact: Leslie Sarvis DEP Water Planning Office
P.O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063
(717)772-5634 lsarvis@state.pa.us
Nominated Watersheds: Alloway Creek, Marsh Creek/Rock Creek -
Upper/Middle Susquehanna Regional Water Resources Committee - Nov. 19,
2009 - Public Meeting at 2 p.m. - Formal Hearing at 3 p.m.
DEP Northcentral Regional Office
208 West Third St., Suite 101, Williamsport, PA 17701
Contact: Jay Braund
DEP Water Planning Office
P.O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063
(717)783-2402
jbraund@state.pa.us