Southeastern Pa. Groundwater Protected Area (SEPA-GWPA)
1999 Amendments/Final Rule: Establishes numerical withdrawal limits for 62 subbasins entirely or partially within the GWPA

AGENCY: Delaware River Basin Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: At its June 23, 1999 business meeting, the Delaware River Basin Commission amended its Ground Water Protected Area Regulations for Southeastern Pennsylvania by the establishment of numerical withdrawal limits for 62 subbasins entirely or partially within the Protected Area.

EFFECTIVE DATE: June 23, 1999.

ADDRESS: Copies of the Commission's Ground Water Protected Area Regulations for Southeastern Pennsylvania are available from the Delaware River Basin Commission, P.O. Box 7360, West Trenton, New Jersey 08628.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan M. Weisman, Commission Secretary, Delaware River Basin Commission, (609) 883-9500 ext. 203.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 9, 1999 the Commission held public hearings on proposed amendments to its Ground Water Protected Area Regulations for Southeastern Pennsylvania as noticed in the Federal Register issues of January 12, 1999 and March 3, 1999; the Pennsylvania Bulletin issues of February 6, 1999 and March 6, 1999; the New Jersey Register of February 16, 1999, the New York State Register of January 20, 1999; and the Delaware Register of Regulations of February 1, 1999. The Commission has considered the extensive testimony and comments from interested parties and has prepared a "Response Document on Proposed Amendments to the Ground Water Protected Area Regulations for Southeastern Pennsylvania: May 1999" which is available upon request to Ms. Weisman at the number provided above.

The Commission's Ground Water Protected Area Regulations for Southeastern Pennsylvania are hereby amended as follows:

1. Subsection 6.i.(3) is hereby revised to read as follows:

(3) The potentially stressed levels and withdrawal limits for all delineated basins and subbasins are set forth below:

Neshaminy Creek Basin  
Subbasin Potentially Stressed   Withdrawal Limit
  (million gallons per year, or mgy)   (mgy)
West Branch Neshaminy Creek Basin 1054   1405
Pine Run Basin 596   795
North Branch Neshaminy Creek 853   1131
Doylestown Subbasin Neshaminy Creek 710   946
Warwick Subbasin Neshaminy Creek 889   1185
Warrington Subbasin Little Neshaminy Creek 505   673
Park Creek Basin 582   776
Warminster Subbasin Little Neshaminy Creek 1016   1355
Mill Creek Basin 1174   1565
Northampton Subbasin Neshaminy Creek 596   794
Newtown Creek 298   397
Core Creek Basin 494   658
Ironworks Creek Basin 326   434
Lower Section Subbasin Neshaminy Creek 3026   4034
       
Schuylkill River Basin  
Subbasin Potentially Stressed   Withdrawal Limit
  (mgy)   (mgy)
Hay Creek 974   1299
Lower Reach Manatawny-Ironstone Creek 1811   2414
Pigeon Creek 611   815
Schuylkill-Crow Creek 1157   1543
Schuylkill-Mingo Creek 671   895
Schuylkill-Plymouth-Mill Creeks 4446   5929
Schuylkill-Sixpenny Creek 1490   1987
Schuylkill-Sprogels Run 1091   1455
Schuylkill-Stony Creek 687   916
Schuylkill-Trout Creek 1082   1443
Stony Creek 1242   1655
Valley Creek 1865   2486
       
French and Pickering Creek Subbasins  
Subbasin Potentially Stressed   Withdrawal Limit
  (mgy)   (mgy)
Lower Reach French Creek 634   845
Lower Reach Pickering Creek 1716   2288
Middle Reach French Creek 1608   2145
South Branch French Creek 1044   1393
Upper Reach French Creek 1295   1726
Upper Reach Pickering Creek 1358   1811
       
Perkiomen and Skippack Creek Subbasins  
Subbasin Potentially Stressed   Withdrawal Limit
  (mgy)   (mgy)
East Branch Perkiomen-Indian Creeks 633   844
East Branch Perkiomen-Mill Creeks 720   961
East Branch Perkiomen-Morris Run 1214   1619
Hosensack-Indian Creeks 1257   1676
Lower Reach Skippack Creek 1069   1426
Perkiomen-Deep Creeks 1047   1396
Perkiomen-Lodal Creeks 1200   1600
Perkiomen-Macoby Creek 1252   1669
Swamp-Middle Creeks 1423   1898
Swamp-Minister Creeks 547   730
Swamp-Scioto Creeks 746   994
Towamencin Creek 466   622
Unami-Licking Creeks 992   1322
Unami-Ridge Valley Creeks 1068   1424
Upper Reach Perkiomen Creek 1223   1631
Upper Reach Skippack Creek 813   1084
West Branch Perkiomen Creek 1566   2088
       
Delaware River Basin  
Subbasin Potentially Stressed   Withdrawal Limit
  (mgy)   (mgy)
Jericho Creek 421   562
Mill Creek 1600   2134
Paunnacussing Creek 513   684
Pidcock Creek 563   751
Upper Reach Cobbs Creek 871   1161
Upper Reach Crum Creek 1290   1721
Upper Reach Darby Creek 1625   2167
Upper Reach East Branch Chester Creek 1865   2487
Upper Reach Frankford Creek 1414   1886
Upper Reach Poquessing Creek 1008   1344
Upper Reach Ridley Creek 1707   2275
       
Tohickon Subbasin  
Subbasin Potentially Stressed   Withdrawal Limit
  (mgy)   (mgy)
Tohickon-Beaver-Morgan Creeks 1156   1541
Tohickon-Deep Run 956   1274
Tohickon-Geddes-Cabin Runs 602   803
Tohickon-Lake Nockamixon 556   741
Tohickon-Three Mile Run 726   968
       
   
Pennypack and Wissahickon Subbasins  
Subbasin Potentially Stressed   Withdrawal Limit
  (mgy)   (mgy)
Lower Reach Wissahickon Creek 2750   3666
Upper Reach Wissahickon Creek 1302   1736
Middle Reach Pennypack Creek 1295   1727
Upper Reach Pennypack Creek 1358   1811
       
Brandywine Creek Subbasin  
Subbasin Potentially Stressed   Withdrawal Limit
  (mgy)   (mgy)
East Branch Brandywine-Taylor Run 1054   1405
Middle Reach Brandywine Creek 823   1098
Upper Reach Brandywine Creek 1614   2153
West Branch Brandywine-Beaver Run 2110   2813
West Branch Brandywine-Broad Run 2380   3173
West Valley Creek 1673   2231
       
Lehigh Subbasin  
Subbasin Potentially Stressed   Withdrawal Limit
  (mgy)   (mgy)
Upper Reach Saucon Creek 946   1262

 

Subject to public notice and hearing, this section may be updated or revised based upon new and evolving information on hydrology and streamflow and ground water monitoring or in accordance with (2).

2. This resolution shall become effective immediately.

Delaware River Basin Compact, 75 Stat. 688.

Susan M. Weisman
Secretary
June 29, 1999