[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 104 (Wednesday, May 31, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 34747-34748]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-11205]


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DELAWARE RIVER BASIN COMMISSION

18 CFR Parts 401 and 420


Regulatory Program Fees and Water Charges Rates

AGENCY: Delaware River Basin Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: Notice is provided of the Commission's regulatory program fees 
and schedule of water charges for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 
2023.

DATES: This final rule is effective July 1, 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elba L. Deck, CPA, Director of Finance 
and Administration, 609-883-9500, ext. 201.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Delaware River Basin Commission 
(``DRBC'' or ``Commission'') is a Federal-interstate compact agency 
charged with managing the water resources of the Delaware River Basin 
on a regional basis without regard to political boundaries. Its members 
are the governors of the four basin states--Delaware, New Jersey, New 
York and Pennsylvania--and on behalf of the federal government, the 
North Atlantic Division Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
    In accordance with 18 CFR 401.43(c), on July 1 of every year, the 
Commission's regulatory program fees as set forth in tables 1, 2 and 3 
of that section are subject to an annual adjustment, commensurate with 
any increase in the annual April 12-month Consumer Price Index (CPI) 
for Philadelphia published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 
during that year. Pursuant to 18 CFR 420.41(c), the same indexed 
adjustment applies to the Commission's schedule of water charges for 
consumptive and non-consumptive withdrawals of surface water within the 
basin. The referenced April 12-month CPI for 2023 showed an increase of 
4.74%. Commensurate adjustments are thus required.
    This notice is made in accordance with 18 CFR 401.43(c) and 18 CFR 
420.41(c), which provide that a revised fee schedule will be published 
in the Federal Register by July 1. The revised fees also may be 
obtained by contacting the Commission during business hours or by 
checking the Commission's website.

List of Subjects

18 CFR Part 401

    Administrative practice and procedure, Project review, Water 
pollution control, Water resources.

18 CFR Part 420

    Water supply.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Delaware River Basin 
Commission amends parts 401 and 420 of title 18 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations as set forth below:

PART 401--RULES OF PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE

0
1. The authority citation for part 401 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: Delaware River Basin Compact (75 Stat. 688), unless 
otherwise noted.

Subpart C--Project Review Under Section 3.8 of the Compact

0
2. In Sec.  401.43, revise tables 1, 2, and 3 to read as follows:


Sec.  401.43  Regulatory program fees.

* * * * *

[[Page 34748]]



         Table 1 to Sec.   401.43--Docket Application Filing Fee
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Docket application
          Project type                   fee              Fee maximum
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Water Allocation...............  $491 per million     Greater of:
                                  gallons/month of     $18,420 \1\ or
                                  allocation,\1\ not   Alternative
                                  to exceed            Review Fee.
                                  $18,420.\1\ Fee is
                                  doubled for any
                                  portion to be
                                  exported from the
                                  basin.
Wastewater Discharge...........  Private projects:    Alternative Review
                                  $1,228; \1\ Public   Fee.
                                  projects: $614 \1\.
Other..........................  0.4% of project      Greater of:
                                  cost up to           $92,099 \1\ or
                                  $10,000,000 plus     Alternative
                                  0.12% of project     Review Fee.
                                  cost above
                                  $10,000,000 (if
                                  applicable), not
                                  to exceed $92,099
                                  \1\.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Subject to annual adjustment in accordance with paragraph (c) of
  this section.


    Table 2 to Sec.   401.43--Annual Monitoring and Coordination Fee
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Annual fee         Allocation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Water Allocation..................         \1\ 368  <4.99 mgm.
                                           \1\ 553  5.00 to 49.99 mgm.
                                           \1\ 798  50.00 to 499.99 mgm.
                                         \1\ 1,013  500.00 to 9,999.99
                                                     mgm.
                                         \1\ 1,228  > or = to 10,000
                                                     mgm.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Annual fee  Discharge design
                                                     capacity
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wastewater Discharge..............         \1\ 368  <0.05 mgd
                                           \1\ 749  0.05 to 1 mgd.
                                         \1\ 1,007  1 to 10 mgd.
                                         \1\ 1,228  >10 mgd.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Subject to annual adjustment in accordance with paragraph (c) of
  this section.


                                    Table 3 to Sec.   401.43--Additional Fees
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Proposed action                           Fee                              Fee maximum
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Emergency Approval Under 18 CFR 401.40  $5,000........................  Alternative Review Fee.
Late Filed Renewal Surcharge..........  $2,000........................
Modification of a DRBC Approval.......  At Executive Director's         Alternative Review Fee.
                                         discretion, Docket
                                         Application Fee for the
                                         appropriate project type.
Name change...........................  $1,228\1\.....................
Change of Ownership...................  $1,842\1\.....................
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\1\ Subject to annual adjustment in accordance with paragraph (c) of this section.

PART 420--BASIN REGULATIONS--WATER SUPPLY CHARGES

0
3. The authority citation for part 420 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  Delaware River Basin Compact, 75 Stat. 688.


0
4. In Sec.  420.41, revise paragraphs (a) and (b) to read as follows:


Sec.  420.41  Schedule of water charges.

* * * * *
    (a) $98 per million gallons for consumptive use, subject to 
paragraph (c) of this section; and
    (b) $0.98 per million gallons for non-consumptive use, subject to 
paragraph (c) of this section.
* * * * *

    Dated: May 19, 2023.
Pamela M. Bush,
Commission Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-11205 Filed 5-30-23; 8:45 am]
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