[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 26 (Monday, February 9, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6477-6478]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-3074]


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DELAWARE RIVER BASIN COMMISSION

18 CFR Part 430


Protection Area Permits for New Withdrawals; Amendments to the 
Delaware River Basin Commission's Ground Water Protected Area 
Regulations for Southeastern Pennsylvania

AGENCY: Delaware River Basin Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: At its January 28, 1998 business meeting, the Delaware River 
Basin Commission amended its Ground Water Protected Area Regulations 
for Southeastern Pennsylvania by the establishment of numerical 
withdrawal limits for subbasins in the Protected Area.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 28, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Commission's Ground Water Protected Area 
Regulations for Southeastern Pennsylvania are available from the 
Delaware River Basin Commission, P.O. Box 7360, West Trenton, New 
Jersey 08628.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan M. Weisman, Commission 
Secretary, Delaware River Basin Commission, (609) 883-9500 ext. 203.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 24, 1997 the Commission held a 
public hearing on proposed amendments to its Ground Water Protected 
Area Regulations for Southeastern Pennsylvania as noticed in the 
Federal Register, Vol. 62, No. 90, page 25569, May 9, 1997 and Vol. 62, 
No. 117, page 33058, June 18, 1997. The Commission has considered the 
extensive testimony and comments from interested parties and has 
revised the proposed amendments in response to those comments. A 
``Response Document on Proposed Amendments to the Southeastern 
Pennsylvania Ground Water Protected Area Regulations'' is available 
upon request to Ms. Weisman at the number provided above.

List of Subjects in 18 CFR Part 430

    Water supply.

    18 CFR Part 430 is amended as follows:

PART 430--GROUND WATER PROTECTION AREA: PENNSYLVANIA

    1. The authority citation for Part 430 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: Pub. L. 87-328 (75 Stat. 688).

    2. Section 430.13 is amended by adding new paragraphs (h) through 
(m), to read as follows:


Sec. 430.13  Protected area permits for new withdrawals.

* * * * *
    (h) Dockets and protected area permits may be issued for a duration 
of up to ten years and shall specify the maximum total withdrawals that 
must not be exceeded during any consecutive 30-day period. Such maximum 
total withdrawals shall be based on demands projected to occur during 
the duration of the docket or protected area permit.
    (i) Ground water withdrawal limits shall be defined for subbasins 
in accordance with the provisions of (i)(1) or (2) of this section. The 
limits for specific subbasins are set forth in (i)(3) of this section.
    (1) Baseflow frequency analyses shall be conducted for all 
subbasins in the Southeastern Pennsylvania Ground Water Protected Area. 
The analyses shall determine the 1-year-in-25 average annual baseflow 
rate. The 1-year-in-25 average annual baseflow rate shall serve as the 
maximum withdrawal limit for net annual ground water withdrawals for 
subbasins. If net annual ground water withdrawals exceed 75 percent of 
this rate for a subbasin, such a subbasin shall be deemed ``potentially 
stressed.'' The Commission shall maintain a current list of net annual 
ground water withdrawals for all subbasins. ``Net'' annual ground water 
withdrawals includes total ground water withdrawals less total water 
returned to the ground water system of the same subbasin.
    (2) Upon application by the appropriate governmental body or 
bodies, the withdrawal limits criteria set forth in (i)(1) of this 
section may be revised by the Commission to provide additional 
protection for any subbasin identified in (i)(3) of this section with 
streams or stream segments designated by the Commonwealth of 
Pennsylvania as either ``high quality,'' or ``exceptional value,'' or 
``wild,'' or ``scenic,'' or ``pastoral,'' or to correspond with more 
stringent requirements in integrated resource plans adopted and 
implemented by all municipalities within a subbasin identified in 
(i)(3) of this section. Integrated resource plans shall be developed 
according to sound principles of hydrology. Such plans shall at a 
minimum assess water resources and existing uses of water; estimate 
future water demands and resource requirements; evaluate supply-side 
and demand-side alternatives to meet water withdrawal needs; assess 
options for wastewater discharge to subsurface formations and streams;

[[Page 6478]]

consider stormwater and floodplain management; assess the capacity of 
the subbasin to meet present and future demands for withdrawal and 
nonwithdrawal uses such as instream flows; identify potential conflicts 
and problems; incorporate public participation; and outline plans and 
programs including land use ordinances to resolve conflicts and meet 
needs. Integrated resource plans shall be adopted and implemented by 
all municipalities within a subbasin and incorporated into each 
municipality's Comprehensive Plan.
    (3) Subject to public notice and hearing, this section may be 
updated or revised based upon the following: the completion of baseflow 
frequency analyses for the remaining subbasins with the Protected area; 
new and evolving information on hydrology and streamflow and ground 
water monitoring; or in accordance with (i)(2) of this section. The 
potentially stressed levels and withdrawal limits for all delineated 
basins and subbasins are set forth below:

                          Neshaminy Creek Basin                         
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Potentially  Withdrawal
                    Subbasin                       stressed      limit  
                                                    (mgy)        (mgy)  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
West Branch Neshaminy..........................       1054         1405 
Pine Run.......................................        596          795 
North Branch Neshaminy.........................        853         1131 
Main Stem Doylestown...........................        710          946 
Main Stem Warwick..............................        889         1185 
Little Neshaminy Warrington....................        505          673 
Park Creek.....................................        582          776 
Little Neshaminy Warminster....................       1016         1355 
Mill Creek.....................................       1174         1565 
Main Stem Northampton..........................        596          794 
Newtown Creek..................................        298          397 
Core Creek.....................................        494          658 
Ironworks Creek................................        326          434 
Main Stem Lower Neshaminy......................       3026         4034 
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (j) Upon its determination that a subbasin is potentially stressed, 
the Commission shall notify all ground water users in the subbasin 
withdrawing 10,000 gallons per day or more during any 30-day period of 
its determination. If any such users have not obtained a docket or 
protected area permit from the Commission, they shall be required to 
apply to the Commission within 60 days of notification.
    (k) In potentially stressed subbasins, dockets and protected area 
permit applications for new or expanded ground water withdrawals must 
include one or more programs to mitigate the adverse impacts of the new 
or expanded ground water withdrawal. The eligible programs are noted 
below. If the remainder of the application and the program(s) submitted 
are acceptable, the withdrawal may be approved by the Commission for an 
initial three-year period. The applicant shall implement the program(s) 
immediately upon Commission approval. If after the three-year period 
the program(s) is deemed successful by the Commission, the docket or 
permit duration may be extended for up to 10 years. The project sponsor 
shall be required to continue the program(s) for the duration of the 
docket or permit.
    (1) A conjunctive use program that demonstrates the applicant's 
capability to obtain at least 15 percent of its average annual system 
usage from a reliable surface water supply. An acceptable program shall 
include either reservoir storage or an interconnection with a surface 
water supplier and an agreement or contract to purchase water from the 
supplier for the duration of the docket or permit.
    (2) A water conservation program that exceeds the requirements of 
Sec. 430.15. For existing water utilities, the program shall reduce 
average annual per capita water usage by at least five percent. All 
conservation programs shall include water conservation pricing, either 
inclining block rates, seasonal rates, or excess-use surcharges, and 
plumbing fixture rebate or retrofit components. For self-supplied 
users, the program shall include water efficient technologies such as 
recycling, reuse, xeriscaping, drip or micro irrigation, or other 
innovative technology approved by the Commission.
    (3) A program to monitor and control ground water infiltration to 
the receiving sewer system. The program must quantify ground water 
infiltration to the system and document reductions in infiltration. The 
program should include such measures as leakage surveys of sewer mains, 
metering of sewer flows in mains and interceptors, analysis of sewer 
system flows to quantify infiltration, and remedial measures such as 
repair of leaks and joints, main lining, and main replacement.
    (4) An artificial recharge or spray irrigation program that 
demonstrates a return of at least 60 percent of the total new or 
expanded annual withdrawal to the same ground water basin and aquifer 
system from which it is withdrawn. The program shall not impair ground 
water quality.
    (5) An alternative program approved by the Commission to mitigate 
the adverse impacts of the new or expanded ground water withdrawal.
    (l) The durations of all existing dockets and protected area 
permits may be extended by the Commission for an additional five years 
if the docket or permit holder successfully implements in either (k)(1) 
or (k)(2) of this section. If the docket or permit holder successfully 
implements both options, the docket or permit may be extended for an 
additional ten years. The Executive Director shall notify all docket 
and permit holders potentially affected by this resolution of their 
right to file an application to determine their eligibility for 
extension.
    (m) It is the policy of the Commission to prevent, to the extent 
reasonably possible, net annual ground water withdrawals from exceeding 
the maximum withdrawal limit. An application for a proposed new or 
expanded ground water withdrawal that would result in net annual ground 
water withdrawals exceeding the maximum withdrawal limit established in 
paragraph (i)(3) of this section shall set forth the applicant's 
proposal for complying with the Commission's policy, with such 
supporting documentation as may be required by the Executive Director. 
Notification of the application shall be given to all affected existing 
water users who may also submit comments or recommendations for 
consideration by the Commission on the pending application. In taking 
action upon the application, the Commission shall give consideration to 
the submissions from the applicant and affected water users. If the 
Commission determines that it is in the public interest to do so, it 
may reduce the total of proposed and existing ground water withdrawals 
within a subbasin to a level at or below the withdrawal limit. Unless 
otherwise determined by the Commission, docket and permit holders shall 
share equitably in such reductions.

    Dated: January 29, 1998.
Susan M. Weisman,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-3074 Filed 2-6-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6360-01-P