Title 27, ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES

(a) Preparation and adoption.--In accordance with this chapter and with ongoing consultation with the Statewide committee and the department, each regional committee shall guide the development of and recommend to the Statewide committee a regional plan component for review, appr…

(a) General rule.--The State water plan and regional plan shall include: (1) An inventory of the surface water resources of each region of this Commonwealth, including an identification of the boundaries of significant watersheds and an estimate of the safe yield of such sources …

(a) Creation.--There is created within the department a regional committee for each of the following regions in this Commonwealth: (1) The watershed drainage area of the Delaware River and its tributaries. (2) The watershed drainage area of the West Branch Susquehanna River subba…

(a) Establishment.--There is established within the department the Statewide Water Resources Committee. The purpose of the committee is to coordinate the development of the State water plan, recommend policies and guidelines for and oversee the development of the State water plan…

(a) Preparation of State water plan.-- (1) A State water plan shall be developed and adopted in accordance with this section within five years of the effective date of this chapter. After the initial adoption of a State water plan, the plan shall be amended and updated every five…

(a) General use of plan.--The State water plan is intended to serve as a policy and guidance document, providing information, objectives, priorities and recommendations to be considered and weighed in a broad range of State, local and private decisions. The State water plan is no…

(a) General rule.--In cooperation with the Compact Basin Commissions and Federal, State and regional agencies with responsibilities relating to water resources management, the department shall establish and maintain a Statewide system to gather, process and distribute information…

(a) Interim registration program.--Pending the adoption of regulations for registration and reporting under subsection (b), each public water supply agency and each hydropower facility, irrespective of the amount of withdrawal, and each person whose total withdrawal or withdrawal…

(a) General rule.--Except as provided in subsection (b), information required to be submitted to the department under this chapter shall be subject to the provisions of the act of June 21, 1957 (P.L.390, No.212), referred to as the Right-to-Know Law. (b) Exception.--The departmen…

(a) Technical assistance center.--The department shall establish and maintain a water resources technical assistance center to promote voluntary water conservation and to provide technical assistance on water resources uses issues, including methods for efficient water use, inclu…

(a) Authorization.--The department is authorized to provide grants for the following purposes: (1) Reimbursement of up to 75% of the cost of preparing a voluntary water use reduction plan under section 3120(a)(2) (relating to water conservation). (2) Water resources education, te…

(a) Use of funds.--The department shall use fees collected from the use of the Statewide data system to defray the reasonable costs of administering sections 3117 (relating to Statewide data system) and 3118 (relating to water use registration and reporting). (b) Public records a…

(a) General rule.--A violation of this chapter or an order or regulation under this chapter shall constitute a public nuisance. (b) Applicability of other law.--Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as affecting the application of 18 Pa.C.S. § 5101 (relating to obstructing a…

(a) Issuance.--The department may issue orders necessary to aid in the enforcement of this chapter. An order may be issued if the department finds that a person is in violation of this chapter or of a regulation issued under this chapter. The department may, in its order, require…

(a) Abatement of nuisances.--An activity or condition declared to be a public nuisance under section 3132 (relating to public nuisance) shall be restrained or prevented in the manner provided by law or equity for abatement of public nuisances, and the reasonable expense thereof m…

(a) Other remedies.--The collection of a penalty under this chapter shall not be construed as estopping the Commonwealth, a municipality or an authorized agency from proceeding in courts of law or equity to abate public nuisances under existing law. (b) Remedies additional and cu…

(a) Limitations upon department.--Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to authorize, diminish or expand the existing authority of the department, including the Environmental Quality Board, to regulate, control or require permits for the withdrawal or use of water.…