Do you know there are Chapter 102 Regulations Affecting Agriculture?

Pennsylvania’s Chapter 102 (Erosion and Sediment Control and Stormwater Management)
regulations have existed since 1972. On November 19, 2010, additions and changes to
the regulations took effect. All farms are required to develop and implement a written
plan to reduce erosion when plowing and tilling (includes no-till cropping) and Animal Heavy Use Areas (AHUA) disturbing more than 5,000 sq. ft. Under Ch. 102, all agricultural plowing and tilling and AHUAs are required to implement agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs). Many farmers are familiar with the term conservation plan, which is a “written plan that identifies conservation practices and includes site specific Best Management Practices (BMPs) agricultural plowing and tilling activities and animal heavy use areas”. An NRCS conservation plan can be used to comply with the new Chapter 102 regulations if it meets all of the new requirements.

Please see DEP’s  Agricultural E&S Page for more information.

 

Common Ag BMP practices include:

• Permanent Vegetative Cover
• Conservation Tillage/No-till
• Cover Crops
• Contour Farming/Strip cropping
• Diversion
• Streambank Protection or Fencing
• Terraces
• Grassed Waterway