(a) The Department of Environmental Protection shall have the power and authority to develop, prepare and modify the Pennsylvania Hazardous Waste Facilities Plan. The plan shall include:

(b) In preparation of the plan the department shall consult with affected persons, municipalities and state agencies. Within 60 days after the effective date of this act the secretary shall appoint the Pennsylvania Hazardous Waste Facilities Planning Advisory Committee. The department shall insure that the advisory body consist of substantially equivalent proportions of the following four groups: private citizens, representatives of public interest groups, public officials and citizens or representatives of organizations with substantial economic interest in the plan. It shall specifically include but not be limited to a representative of a waste treatment operator, a waste generator, local governments, environmentalists, and academic scientist.

(c) The committee may recommend to the department the adoption of such rules and regulations, standards, criteria and procedures as it deems necessary and advisable for the preparation, development, adoption and implementation of the Pennsylvania Hazardous Waste Facilities Plan.

(d) A vacancy occurring on the committee shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment and the secretary or his representative shall serve as chairperson of the committee.

(e) The committee shall establish operating procedures and may solicit the advice of municipalities or other persons.

(f) The committee shall disband after adoption of the plan by the Environmental Quality Board unless the committee is reconstituted as a provision of the plan.

(g) Not later than two years after the date of enactment of this act, the Environmental Quality Board shall adopt the Pennsylvania Hazardous Waste Facilities Plan and the department shall review and amend said plan as necessary but in no event less than every five years following adoption.