A revision of a state law adopted by the state house and senate and signed into law by the governor, which requires notification to school districts by municipalities of new developments, was reviewed by Susan A. Smith, executive director of the Schuylkill County Planning Commission with board members at their monthly meeting held Wednesday evening at the courthouse in Pottsville.

House Bill 823, amended by the state senate, known as Pennsylvania Municipal Planning Code, was changed to include that each month municipalities shall notify in writing to school districts in which a plan for a residential development was approved by the municipality during the preceding month. The notice shall include, but not limited to, the location of the development, the number and types of units to be included in the development, and the expected construction schedule.Smith told the board the new law requires the notification falls on the municipality whose ordinance is being administered. "In other words," Smith said, "the county would be required to provide notice for development in boroughs, townships which are covered by the county ordinance."County projectsThere are 14 county projects submitted by the county planning commission which are included in Penn-DOT's Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), Smith informed the board. Most are carryovers from the 2011 list. They are:Rush Township Pathways; Snyders Bridge replacement in West Penn Township; State Route 209 Broad Street Bridge rehabilitation in Tamaqua; State Route 61 safety improvements in Schuylkill Haven; Collins Street Bridge in Pottsville; Mady's Bridge in Pottsville; Mahantongo Creek Bridge replacement in Upper Mahantongo Township; Orwigsburg safe routes to school; Port Clinton Highway; Pottsville Street Bridge replacement in Port Carbon; Covered Bridge in Rock Village, Washington Township; State Route 645 over Swatara Creek in Pine Grove Township; and South Liberty Street Bridge rehabilitation in North Manheim Township.The board also discussed the county's responsibility to complete a review and the method in which the review is conducted of plans submitted by municipalities but no decisions were made as further study is needed.Project reviewsThe board reviewed various projects undertaken in municipalities.Copperhead Chemical Company,120 River Road, Walker Township, notified the county board that it is applying to Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Agency for a renewal of a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for its facility.Berks County Planning Commission notified the board that it had met with DEP in May and that Berks County agreed to make changes that DEP requested to each of the model stormwater management ordinances for Schuylkill River, Maiden Creek, and Sacony Creek.The board was notified by DEP that an application from Commonwealth Environmental Systems Landfill, located in Frailey Township, is seeking a permit for the use of aggregate as primary liner protection cover material and has received approval.The board was notified DEP has approved the application of Martin and Martin Inc., Blythe Township, for construction and demolition waste landfill located along the Burma Road (SR1006).The project involves a lined landfill for the disposal of construction and demolition waste. A wetland of 0.3 of an acre must be filled in order to construct the landfill. The project will also provide 1,600 feet pipe and 6,700 feet of channel to allow for possible restoration of Little Wolf Creek. (State Senator Dave Argall, Congressman Tim Holden and State Legislator Neal Goodman all criticized the granting of the permit).Port Clinton notified the county that borough will be applying for permit coverages from DEP for the proposed streambank stabilization and gravel bar removal project along Rattling Run and the Little Schuylkill River from the mouth of Rattling Run to SR61.Kyle Mahoney, manager of the Tower City Borough Authority, informed the board that the authority is applying for a minor stream crossing permit from DEP to facilitate an access road to their property for future timber harvesting activity.The board gave final approval to the subdivision plan of Domalakes/Golba/Hoppes to install private parking garages in the vicinity of their homes in Frackville.