PADEP Withdraws General Permit Regarding Beneficial Use of Brine

On January 25, 2013, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection issued a notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin acknowledging that its general permit number WMGR128 had been rescinded on January 8, 2013.  As first issued to Integrated Water Technologies, Inc,. on September 1, 2012, the WMGR128 general permit was titled (and intended to cover activities involving) the “Beneficial Use of Crystallized Sodium Chloride and Liquid Calcium Chloride from the Processing of Oil and Gas Liquid Waste”.  According to the January 25, 2013 notice, DEP “determined that the notice provided to the public on April 9, 2011, advising the public of the Department’s receipt of the permit application and soliciting public comments, was not sufficiently detailed to provide the category of proposed beneficial use.”  The DEP also stated in that notice that it intends to republish the WMGR128 application for public comment in the near future.  Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future, an environmental advocacy group, appealed the public notice regarding WMGR128 to the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board last fall.