The Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law, 35 P.S. §§ 691.1 et seq. (Act of 1937, P.L. 1987, No. 394) was amended by the General Assembly as HB 1565 on October 16, 2014, and was signed into law on October 22, 2014, as Act 162 of 2014. Act 162 addresses buffer requirements in Pennsylvania regulations found in 25 Pa Code Chapter 102. The amendment pertains to individual NPDES permit applications for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Construction Activities, administered by DEP. Act 162 became effective December 21, 2014.
Additional Information
- Act 162 of 2014(opens in a new tab) (PDF) (unofficial copy)
- Riparian Buffer or Riparian Forest Buffer Equivalency Demonstration(opens in a new tab) (PDF) - This technical guidance document was published as Interim Final in the March 21, 2015 edition of the Pa Bulletin (45 Pa.B. 1450)(opens in a new tab). DEP accepted comments on this document during a 60-day public comment period concluding on May 20, 2015
- Riparian Buffer or Riparian Forest Buffer Offsetting Demonstration(opens in a new tab) (PDF) - This technical document was published as Interim Final in the March 21, 2015 edition of the Pa Bulletin (45 Pa.B. 1450)(opens in a new tab). DEP accepted comments on this document during a 60-day public comment period concluding on May 20, 2015.
- Implementation Plan for Act 162 of 2014(opens in a new tab) (PDF) - This technical guidance document was published as Interim Final in the December 20, 2014 edition of the Pa Bulletin (44 Pa.B. 7954)(opens in a new tab). DEP accepted comments on this document during a 60-day public comment period concluding on February 18, 2015.
- DEP conducted two webinars concerning the Riparian Buffer or Riparian Forest Buffer Offsetting technical guidance document. Video files and materials from the webinar conducted on March 10, 2015, are available on the Office of Water Management's webinar archive.
- DEP conducted two webinars concerning the Riparian Buffer or Riparian Forest Buffer Equivalency Demonstration technical guidance document. Video files and materials from the webinar conducted on March 10, 2015, are available on the Office of Water Management's webinar archive.
- DEP conducted a webinar on the Implementation Plan for Act 162 on December 17, 2014. Video files and materials from the webinar are available on the Office of Water Management's webinar archive.
- Act 162 Implementation FAQs(opens in a new tab) (PDF) (Last edited December 18, 2014)