The Department of Environmental Protection shall have the following powers and duties:

(1) Before July 19, 1994, to make an assessment of and report to the Environmental Quality Board and the General Assembly on the extent to which malfunctioning on-lot sewage systems contribute to the pollution of waters of this Commonwealth and to identify what regulatory or legislative initiatives, if any, the Department of Environmental Protection deems necessary to abate that pollution.

(2) Before July 19, 1994, to make an assessment of and report to the Environmental Quality Board and the General Assembly on the extent to which improper water well construction contributes to groundwater pollution due to the intrusion of nutrients from the surface and to identify what regulatory or legislative initiatives, if any, the Department of Environmental Protection deems necessary to abate that pollution.

(3) Before July 19, 1995, to make an assessment of and report to the Environmental Quality Board and the General Assembly on the extent to which the application of chemical fertilizers and other plant nutrients for nonagricultural purposes contributes to the pollution of the waters of this Commonwealth and to identify what regulatory or legislative initiatives, if any, the Department of Environmental Protection deems necessary to abate that pollution.

(4) Before July 19, 1995, to make an assessment of and report to the Environmental Quality Board and the General Assembly on the extent to which nutrients from storm water runoff contribute to the pollution of waters of this Commonwealth and to identify what regulatory or legislative initiatives, if any, the Department of Environmental Protection deems necessary to abate that pollution.

(5) Before July 19, 1995, to make an assessment of and report to the Environmental Quality Board and the General Assembly on the extent to which atmospheric deposition of nutrients contribute to the pollution of the waters of this Commonwealth and to identify what regulatory or legislative initiatives, if any, the Department of Environmental Protection deems necessary to abate that pollution.

(6) To include, in the assessments in paragraphs (1) through (5), recommendations to the General Assembly for budgetary and legislative initiatives where program resources or statutory authority is not adequate to address pollution sources identified in those assessments.

(7) To provide technical and administrative assistance to the commission in carrying out its responsibilities under this chapter.