The Environmental Quality Board published final regulations increasing permit review fee revenue  for surface and underground mining operations from about $50,000 annually to about $400,000 a year.  The final version of the fee increases were approved by the EQB in July (see the July EQB meeting agenda for more details).

DEP has now finalized $26.5 million in fee increases over the last three years to make up for dramatic cuts to the agency's staff and General Fund budget in each of the last 10 years. 

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;

-- Noncoal Mining Permit Review Fees: $2,475,000 (from $25,000 to $2.4 million annually);

-- Coal Surface Mining Permits: $350,000 (from $50,000 to $400,000 annually);

-- Dam Safey and Water Obstruction Permit Fees: $3,641,012 (from $452,450 to $4,093,462 annually) [adopted as final by EQB in October, but not published as final in PA Bulletin].

DEP Secretary Krancer acted to withdraw proposed Drinking Water Permits fee increases in December which would have raised $8.1 million (from $250,000 to $8,385,000 annually).

11/12/2012