DEP’s Small Water Systems Technical Assistance Center Board is scheduled to meet on November 14 to discuss a proposed $7.5 million drinking water permit fee increase, including the imposition of an annual administration fee for the first time.

The fee proposal is designed to cover about half the cost of regulating Pennsylvania’s 9,000 drinking water systems and operator certification costs.

This proposed fee increase is one of 8 different fee increases in the regulatory process designed to help offset significant cuts to DEP’s General Fund budget.  The others include--

-- NPDES Water Quality Permit Review and Renewals: Nearly $9 million increase;

-- Laboratory Accreditation Fees: $170,000 increase (fee report);

-- Radiological Health, Radon Fees: $1.69 million  (fee report);

-- Coal Mining Permit Fees: fee proposal discussed by Mining and Reclamation Advisory Board.

-- Non-Coal Mining Permit Fees: fee proposal discussed by Aggregate Advisory Board

Proposed fee increases are also under consideration for the - Air Quality and Oil and Gas Programs.

The meeting will be held in Room 105 Rachel Carson Building, Harrisburg starting at  9:00.

For more information, visit DEP’s Small Water Systems Technical Assistance Center Board webpage or contact Dawn Hissner, DEP Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, 717-772-2189 or dhissner@pa.gov.

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11/14/2016