The Delaware River Basin Commission Tuesday announced it will use a new, two-day format for its next business meeting and public hearing on March 5 and 6.

The March 5 public hearing will begin at 1 p.m. and conclude by 4 p.m. The March 6 business meeting will begin at 12:15 p.m. Both the hearing and business meeting are open to the public and will be held at the DRBC office building, located at 25 State Police Drive in West Trenton, N.J.

In the past, the public hearing on proposed projects to be considered for approval by the commissioners was held immediately prior to a vote as part of the afternoon business meeting. Under the new format to be used on a pilot basis in March, a public hearing on the proposed permits (referred to as "dockets" by DRBC) and resolutions relating to projects will take place on March 5, the day prior to the business meeting where they may be considered for commission action.

Written comments on the projects also will be accepted through the close of the March 5 hearing. There will be no opportunity for additional public comments at the March 6 business meeting on those items for which a hearing was completed on March 5 or a previous date.

"The commissioners believe this new format will provide them with some additional time to review any public input they may receive on a proposed project before taking action," DRBC Executive Director Carol R. Collier said. "We'll see how the new format works and make adjustments as necessary for future hearings and meetings."

The March 5 hearing will afford an opportunity for public comment on the proposed projects listed in the public hearing and meeting notice posted on the commission's website. This list is current as of February 5; however, the public is advised to check the commission's website periodically prior to the hearing date since projects may be dropped if additional time is deemed necessary to complete the commission's review. Draft dockets and resolutions relating to these projects will be posted approximately 10 days prior to the hearing date.

The March 6 business meeting will include the adoption of past meeting minutes, announcements, a report on hydrologic conditions, reports by the executive director and general counsel, consideration of items subject to a hearing that was previously completed, and a public dialogue session. The commissioners also may consider action on any matters not subject to a public hearing.

Commission consideration on March 6 of items for which the public hearing is closed may result in either approval of the docket or resolution as proposed, approval with changes, denial, or deferral. When the commissioners defer an action, they may announce an additional period for written comment on the item, with or without an additional hearing date, or they may take additional time to consider the input they have already received without requesting further public input. Any deferred items will be considered for action at a public meeting of the commission on a future date.

For more information on upcoming meetings/hearings, visit the DRBC website.

2/11/2013