[Federal Register: May 16, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 95)]
[Notices]
[Page 26576-26577]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16my03-52]
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DELAWARE RIVER BASIN COMMISSION
Notice of Public Hearing; Proposal To Revise the Fee Schedule for
the Review of Projects Under Section 3.8 and Article 10 of the Delaware
River Basin Compact
AGENCY: Delaware River Basin Commission.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
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SUMMARY: The Commission will hold a public hearing and solicit comment
on proposed changes to the fee schedule for the review of projects
under Section 3.8 and Article 10 of the Delaware River Basin Compact.
The Commission instituted project review fees in 1972, in order to
allocate to applicants a portion of the cost of reviewing water
resource projects. The fees, which are paid to the
[[Page 26577]]
Commission at the time applications are filed, were increased only
once, in 1991, and have not been revised since.
The substantive revisions include the following: Instituting filing
fees for projects sponsored by political subdivisions of the basin
states; for public projects costing less than $250,000, charging a fee
of $250; for privately sponsored projects costing $250,000 or less,
increasing the fee from $250 to $500; for projects costing from
$250,001 to $10,000,000, increasing the fee from 0.1 to 0.2 percent of
project cost; and for projects costing over $10,000,000, increasing the
fee from 0.04 to 0.06 percent of project cost, not to exceed $50,000.
In addition, the surcharge for any project resulting in an out-of-basin
diversion is proposed to be increased from 50 percent to double the fee
calculated in accordance with the foregoing. The method of calculating
project costs is proposed to remain unchanged. New fees are proposed to
be instituted for two types of actions: (1) A fee of $5,000 is proposed
for a request for an emergency certificate under Section 2.3.9B of the
Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure to waive or amend a docket
condition; and (2) a fee of $500 is proposed for the transfer of a
docket upon a change of ownership as defined in Resolution No. 87-15.
In all cases, if the fixed fee or fee calculated in accordance with the
prescribed formulas is deemed by the executive director to be
insufficient due to exceptional costs associated with Commission
review, it is proposed that the Commission may charge the applicant 100
percent of all costs deemed by the executive director to be
exceptional. The revised fee schedule is proposed to become effective
on July 1, 2003 for all applications submitted on or after July 1,
2003.
DATES: The public hearing will be held on June 26, 2003 during the
Commission's regular business meeting, which will begin at 1 p.m. The
hearing will continue until all those present who wish to testify are
afforded an opportunity to do so. Persons wishing to testify are asked
to register in advance with the Commission Secretary, by phoning 609-
883-9500 x203. Written comments will be accepted through the close of
the public hearing.
ADDRESSES: The public hearing will be held at the Commission's offices
at 25 State Police Drive in West Trenton, New Jersey. Directions are
posted on the Commission's Web site at http://www.drbc.net. Written
comments may be submitted electronically to http://www.drbc.net. Written
comments may be submitted electronically to fees@drbc.state.nj., with
a subject line reading ``FEES,'' or in hard copy to the Commission
Secretary, DRBC, PO Box 7360, West Trenton, NJ 08628-0360. The full
name, street or post office address, and telephone number for the
entity or individual submitting the comment must appear on all
submissions.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact Pamela M. Bush at 609-
883-9500, ext. 203 with questions about the hearing process and comment
period or the proposed changes in the project review fee schedule.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A draft resolution containing the proposed
new fee schedule may be viewed on the Commission's Web site, http://www.drbc.net.
The current fee schedule, set forth in Resolution No. 91-
3, also may be viewed on the web site.
Dated: May 12, 2003.
Pamela M. Bush,
Commission Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-12230 Filed 5-15-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6360-01-P