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EQB To Consider $7.9 Million Dam Safety, Waterways Management Fee Increases

The Environmental Quality Board meets on December 21 to consider a nearly $8 million increase in permit and administration fees associated with the dam safety ($933,495 increase) and waterway management ($7,052,390 increase) programs.

            DEP finalized $27.7 million in fee increases over the last year to make up for dramatic cuts to the agency's staff and General Fund budget over the last 8 years.  Now over $17.9 million in fee increases have been proposed, but not finalized.
            The fees finalized include:
-- Marcellus Shale Drilling Permits: $7,465,000 (from $935,000 to $8.4 million annually);
-- NPDES Water Quality Permits: $4,250,000 (from $750,000 to $5 million annually);
-- Chapter 102 Regulations: $6,665,000 (from $635,000 to $7.3 million annually);
-- Laboratory Certification: $1,550,000 (from $500,000 to $1.6 million annually);
-- Beneficial Use of Coal Ash: $75,000 annually;
-- Uniform Environmental Covenants: $82,250 annually; and
-- Air Quality Permits: $7.8 million (from $19,570,000 to $27,408,000 annually) - pending final publication and review in 2011 due to the sine die adjournment of the General Assembly.
            Among the proposed fees are:
-- Drinking Water Permits: $8.1 million (from $250,000 to $8,385,000 annually);
-- Non-Coal Mining Permits: $2,475,000 (from $25,000 to $2,500,000 annually);
-- Coal Surface Mining Permits: $350,000 (from $50,000 to $400,000 annually); and
-- (New) Waterway Management - $7 million; and
-- (New) Dam Safety - $933,495.

12/13/2010

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