Tell DEP that you support the denial of permits that do not protect our Exceptional Value (EV) waters of Tunkhannock Creek and Keiper Run.
Dear Elected Official:
I write in support of DEP’s proposed denial of the Route 115 Associates’ NPDES permit application, No. PAD450180.
When first submitted to DEP, this application did not address construction sequencing, did not analyze the discharges from five cross-pipes conveying runoff across/along Route 115 onto neighboring properties, incorrectly identified the receiving waters, failed to meaningfully address antidegradation requirements or to provide a separate analysis for each receiving water, lacked adequate detail about the underground infiltration basins that are the substantial part of the proposed BMPs, did not include soil testing results, and was inconsistent with infiltration testing information informally submitted to the DEP prior to the application’s submission, resulting in a 9-page incompleteness letter from DEP. Significant problems with the stormwater design still remained nine months later when DEP issued a second deficiency letter, despite DEP’s attempts to provide in-depth direction to the Applicant. This is simply unacceptable. I support DEP’s decision to deny this permit application.
I am very happy that DEP is taking its trustee duties seriously under Pennsylvania’s Constitutional Environmental Rights Amendment to protect our water resources from degradation. I encourage DEP to deny woefully inadequate permit applications like this more often and sooner in the application process to save time, money, and our environment!
Thank you for your consideration of these comments.