The Chapter 109 General Update and Fee Package Proposed Rulemaking was published in the PA Bulletin on August 26, 2017. This drinking water package includes new annual fees and also revised permit fees.  Other changes include alarm and shutdown capabilities, auxillary power, revised turbidity requirements, etc.
 
This fee package is in response to lack of funding to the state budget for the PA drinking water program. EPA has put DEP on notice for failure to meet the federal requirement for onsite review of water system operations and maintenance capability (also known as a sanitary survey). Click here for DEP’s response letter to EPA.
 
The comment period ended on September 25, 2017. Click here for PMAA's comments. Click here for all comments. 

An overview of the fee part of the package is below:

• Establishes new annual fees and amends existing permit fees.

  • To fill the funding gap to ensure sufficient program capacity to protect public health, comply with existing environmental laws and regulations, and maintain primacy.

• To cover about 50% of state costs or of $7.5 million. The remaining funding ($7.7 million) will continue to come from the General Fund.

• Fees will cover technical services; operations; program management, development and administration; and other state costs.

  • The proposed fees are intended to bear a reasonable relationship to the actual cost of providing services.

  • The fees also factor in affordability and equitability.