On February 16 the Environmental Quality Board published final fee increases for permits under the Dam Safety and Encroachment Program which will generate $3,641,012 in new revenue for these programs; from $452,450 under the old fee structure to an estimated $4,093,462 under the new fees. (PA Bulletin page 967)

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); and

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

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).

2/18/2013