DEP has posted an alert on their website (scroll down) concerning the COVID-19 Emergency Request to Temporarily Suspend Regulatory Requirements and/or Permit Conditions. To request a temporary suspension, you will need to fill out the form that is on the alert webpage.
Note that suspension of any regulatory requirement will be determined on a case-by-case basis via the District Mining Offices and Regional Offices, together with Legal Counsel and top DEP management, and must be related to coping with the COVID-19 emergency. DEP does not plan to offer blanket waivers of regulations at this time.
View AlertThis link is to a DEP Alert webpage outlining what you need to know regarding your permits and permit conditions due to COVID-19.
Additionally, DEP is suspending the timeframes for providing permit decisions established in the Policy for Implementing the Department of Environmental Protection Permit Review Process and Permit Decision Guarantee due to the office closures related to COVID-19.
We are in contact with the Bureau of Mining and will continue to update you as information becomes available. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact Josie Gaskey.
All DEP offices are closed including district mining offices and regional offices. Everyone that has a laptop is to be working and checking emails. All regular mining inspections are deferred for two weeks, with the exception of underground mines as those inspections are deemed a matter of life and death. The Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation is currently working on two emergency projects and they will be stabilizing those sites and leaving the site. Emergencies will still be handled.
All snail mail delivery to all DEP offices is on hold. Mail will be checked and distributed on a weekly basis, so if you need to snail mail something, you should email your DEP contact and let them know you have done so. Clerical staff will be checking incoming phone messages daily and redirecting as appropriate.
In addition, DEP’s lab is shut down and they are sending all samples to another accredited lab. You may want to check with the lab you use for your DMR sampling to ensure they are working.
Please do not hesitate to contact Josie Gaskey if you have a challenge, as we are in contact with DEP regularly.
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