Delaware River Basin Commission|Upcoming Commission Meetings

By inergency On Jan 26, 2024

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First Quarter 2024

Public Hearing

The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) will hold its first-quarter public hearing on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. The public hearing is open to the public and will be held virtually via Zoom Webinar.

Business Meeting

The DRBC will hold its first-quarter business meeting on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. The business meeting is open to the public and will be held virtually via Zoom Webinar.

Public Hearing: February 7, 1:30 P.M.

The 1Q public hearing via Zoom Webinar will take place on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, commencing at 1:30 p.m.

Items to be heard include 23 draft dockets for withdrawals, discharges and other projects that could have a substantial effect on the Basin’s water resources, all of which are listed below.

The public is advised to check the Commission’s web site periodically prior to the hearing date, as items scheduled for hearing may be postponed if additional time is needed to complete the Commission’s review, and items may be added up to ten days prior to the hearing date. In reviewing docket descriptions, the public is also asked to be aware that the details of projects may change during the Commission’s review, which is ongoing.

To Attend the Public Hearing +/- Provide Oral Testimony:

Please Note:

To provide testimony on public hearing items, you must register for the Zoom Webinar & note in your registration that you wish to testify (you cannot provide testimony if watching on YouTube).
To ensure an opportunity to provide testimony, please register by 5 p.m. on February 6, 2024.
To ensure a smooth connection, please make sure you are using the most up to date version of Zoom. It is recommended to do this prior to the scheduled public hearing time. For questions related to using the Zoom interface, please visit https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us for Zoom support.
Use of the Zoom registration interface for both webinar and public testimony registration is being provided on a pilot basis and is subject to change. People who register will receive an email confirmation (from Delaware River Basin Commission Meetings <noreply@zoom.us>) when they register; folks will also receive a reminder email on the day of the public hearing that will include the registration details. Please check your spam if you do not see this email in your in-box.

To Provide Written Comment on the Public Hearing Items:

Written comment on items scheduled for hearing should be made through the Commission’s web-based comment system, SmartComment: https://dockets.drbc.commentinput.com/.
Written comments on matters scheduled for hearing on Wednesday, February 7 will be accepted through 5:00 p.m. on Monday, February 12, 2024.
Use of the web-based system ensures that all submissions are captured in a single location and their receipt is acknowledged.
Exceptions to the use of this system are available based on need, by writing to the attention of the Commission Secretary, DRBC, P.O. Box 7360, 25 Cosey Road, West Trenton, NJ 08628-0360.

Items to be Heard February 7, 2024

Lehigh County Authority, D-1977-041 CP-5. An application to renew approval of the docket holder’s existing 0.08 mgd Lynn Township WWTP and its discharge. The WWTP will continue to discharge treated effluent to Ontelaunee Creek at River Mile 92.47 – 86.7 – 21.5 – 8.7 (Delaware River – Schuylkill River – Maiden Creek – Ontelaunee Creek) via Outfall No. 001, in Lynn Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.
Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc., D-1978-083 CP-3. An application to renew the approval of an existing groundwater withdrawal of up to 95.69 mgm to supply the applicant’s Bristol public water supply distribution system from existing Wells Nos. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. The project wells are completed in the unconsolidated sand and gravel aquifer. The requested allocation is not an increase from the previous allocation. The project is located in the Delaware River Watershed, in Bristol Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Summit Hill Water Authority, D-1984-003 CP-5. An application to renew the approval of an existing groundwater withdrawal of up to 9.8 mgm from Wells 1, 2, 3 and 4 for public water supply. The wells are completed in the Mauch Chunk Formation and are located in the White Bear Creek Watershed, within the drainage area of the Lower Delaware, which the Commission has classified as Special Protection Waters, in Summit Hill Borough, Carbon County, Pennsylvania.
Brightsmith, LLC, D-1985-059-4. An application to renew the approval of the existing 0.0334 mgd Brightsmith IWTP and its discharge of treated industrial wastewater and non-contact-cooling water (NCCW). The application also requests to renew approval of a Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) determination of 2,500 mg/l average monthly effluent concentration. The IWTP will continue to discharge to a stormwater ditch which discharges to Biles Creek, which is a tidal tributary to the Delaware River Water Quality Zone 2 at River Mile 130.3 – 1.9 (Delaware River – UNT Biles Creek) in Falls Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Walnutport Authority, D-1990-087 CP-4. An application to renew the approval of an existing groundwater withdrawal of up to 8.267 mgm to supply the applicant’s public water supply distribution system from existing Wells Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and Heimbach Well completed in the Pen Argyl Member of the Martinsburg Formation. The requested allocation is not an increase from the previous allocation. The wells are located in Lehigh River Watershed in Walnutport Borough and Lehigh Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, within the drainage area to the section of the main stem Delaware River known as the Lower Delaware, which the Commission has classified as Special Protection Waters.
Pennsylvania American Water Company, D-1992-064 CP-5. An application to renew the approval of the existing 7.0 mgd Coatesville WWTP and its discharge. The WWTP will continue to discharge treated sewage effluent to West Branch Brandywine Creek at River Mile 70.7 – 1.5 – 20.0 – 15.5 (Delaware River – Christina River – Brandywine Creek – West Branch Brandywine Creek), in the Borough of South Coatesville, Chester County, Pennsylvania.
Ametek US Gauge Division, D-1993-025-4. An application to renew the approval of an existing groundwater withdrawal of up to 4.0 mgm associated with the remediation of groundwater from existing Wells Nos. RW-1, MW-6S and MW-10S. The project wells are completed in the Brunswick Formation. The requested allocation is not an increase from the previous allocation. The project is located in the Commission’s designated Southeastern Pennsylvania Ground Water Protected Area (SEPA GWPA) in the East Branch Perkiomen Creek Watershed in Sellersville Borough, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Evonik Corporation, D-1996-011-5. An application to renew approval of the docket holder’s existing 1.8 million gallons per day (mgd) IWTP and its discharge of treated industrial process wastewater and non-contact cooling water (NCCW). The Evonik Chester Facility is located in the City of Chester, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The facility will continue to discharge to Water Quality Zone 4 of the Delaware River at River Mile 82.2.
Whitehall Township Authority, D-2000-009 CP-3. An application to renew the approval of an existing groundwater withdrawal of up to 44.0 million gallons per month (mgm) of water from six existing wells for use in the applicant’s public water supply system. The requested allocation is a reduction in the previously approved allocation of 57.38 mgm. The wells are completed in the Allentown and Epler Formations in the Coplay Creek, Lower Jordan Creek and the Lehigh River-Delaware River Watersheds, within the drainage area of the Lower Delaware, which the Commission has classified as Special Protection Waters, in Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.
Yardley Country Club, Inc., D-2000-032-3. An application to renew the approval of an existing groundwater withdrawal of up to 6.2 mgm to irrigate the applicant’s golf course from existing Well No. YCC-1 completed in the Stockton Formation. The requested allocation is not an increase from the previous allocation. The project well is located in the Delaware River Watershed in Yardley Borough, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc., D-2001-050 CP-4. An application to renew the approval of an existing groundwater withdrawal of up to 18.8 mgm to supply the applicant’s Perkiomen public water supply distribution system from existing Wells Cranberry 2, 3, 4, Meyers A and B and Rahns 1 and 3. The project wells are completed in Brunswick Formation. The requested allocation is not an increase from the previous allocation. The project is located in the Commission’s designated Southeastern Pennsylvania Ground Water Protected Area (SEPA GWPA) in the Perkiomen Creek Watershed, in Perkiomen Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc., D-2001-054-4. An application to renew the approval of the existing 0.053 mgd Aqua PA Culbertson Run WWTP. The WWTP will continue to discharge treated effluent to Culberston Run, which is a tributary of East Branch Brandywine Creek, Brandywine Creek, and the Christina River, at River Mile 70.7 – 1.8 – 20.0 – 14.2 – 2.3 (Delaware River – Christina River – Brandywine Creek – East Branch Brandywine Creek – Culbertson Run). Additionally, the WWTP will continue to discharge treated effluent to nearby drip disposal seepage beds, all located in East Brandywine Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania.
Aronimink Golf Club, D-2001-062-3. An application to renew the approval of an existing groundwater withdrawal of up to 11.16 mgm to irrigate the applicant’s golf course from existing Wells Nos. 1,2,3 and A completed in Felsic Gneiss rock of the Upland portion of the Piedmont Province. The requested allocation is not an increase from the previous allocation. The project is located in the Darby Creek Watershed in Newtown Square, Delaware County, Pennsylvania.
Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc., D-2002-006 CP-5. An application to renew the approval of the existing 0.40 mgd Lake Harmony WWTP and its discharge. The WWTP will continue discharge treated effluent to Shingle Mill Run at River Mile 183.67 – 84.0 – 4.9 – 0.29 (Delaware River – Lehigh River – Tobyhanna Creek – Shingle Mill Run), upstream of the F.E. Walter Reservoir, which is located within the drainage area of the section of the main stem Delaware River known as the Lower Delaware, which the Commission has designated as Special Protection Waters in Kidder Township, Carbon County, Pennsylvania.
Downingtown Municipal Water Authority, D-2006-031 CP-4. An application to renew the approval of the applicant’s existing 2.5 mgd Downingtown Water Filtration Plant (WFP) and its discharge of up to 0.466 mgd. The WFP will continue to discharge filtration backwash and supernatant to Beaver Creek, at river mile 70.73 – 1.5 – 20.0 – 9.0 – 0.4 (Delaware River – Christina River – Brandywine Creek – East Branch Brandywine Creek – Beaver Creek), located in Downingtown Borough, Chester County, Pennsylvania.
WestRock Converting Company, LLC, D-2006-041-4. An application to renew the approval of the applicant’s existing 0.06 mgd IWTP and its discharge and the discharge of 0.2866 mgd of Non-Contact Cooling Water. The NCCW and treated process water will continue to be discharged to Brodhead Creek at River Mile 213.0 – 1.1 (Delaware River – Brodhead Creek), in Smithfield Township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania, within the drainage area to the section of the non-tidal Delaware River known as the Middle Delaware, which the Commission has designated as Special Protection Waters.
Maxatawny Township Municipal Authority, D-2007-001 CP-4. An application to renew the approval of an existing 0.14 mgd WWTP and its discharge. The WWTP will continue to discharge treated effluent to Saucony Creek, which is tributary to Maiden Creek upstream of Lake Ontelaunee, which is tributary to the Schuylkill River, at River Mile 92.5 – 86.2 – 2.9 – 5.4 – 2.1 – 6.6 (Delaware River – Schuylkill River – Maiden Creek – Lake Ontelaunee – Maiden Creek – Saucony Creek) via Outfall No. 001 in Maxatawny Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania.
Laury MHC, LLC, D-2008-007 CP-4. An application to renew the approval of the applicant’s existing 0.0375 mgd WWTP and approve its transfer of ownership. The current Riverview Estates Mobile Home Park (MHP) WWTP, formerly referred to as the Keystone MHP WWTP, is now owned by Laury MHC, LLC, the WWTP will continue to discharge treated effluent to the Lehigh River at River Mile 183.67 – 26.4 (Delaware River – Lehigh River), via Outfall No. 001. The project is located within the drainage area to the section of the non-tidal Delaware River known as the Lower Delaware, which the Commission has designated as Special Protection Waters, located in North Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.
Pocono Waterworks Company, Inc., D-2013-009 CP-3. An application to renew the approval of the existing 0.021 Pine Grove Estates WWTP and its discharge. The WWTP will continue to discharge treated effluent to an unnamed tributary to the Delaware River at River Mile 289.5 – 1.7 (Delaware River – UNT to Delaware River) within the drainage area of the section of the main stem Delaware River known as the Upper Delaware, which the Commission has designated as Special Protection Waters, in Damascus Township, Wayne County, Pennsylvania.
SPG, Inc., D-2018-002-2. An application to renew the approval of the applicant’s 0.020 mgd Whispering Hollow South WWTP and its discharge. The WWTP will continue to discharge to an unnamed tributary (UNT) to Hokendauqua Creek at River Mile 183.7 – 22.5 – 6.3 – 0.8 ( Delaware River – Lehigh River – Hokendauqua Creek – UNT to Hokendauqua Creek), via Outfall No. 001, in Allen Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, within the drainage area to the Lower Delaware Special Protection Waters (SPW).
Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc., D-1981-061 CP-5. An application to renew the approval of an existing groundwater withdrawal with an increase in total allocation from 18.38 mg/30 days to 20.5 mgm to supply the applicant’s Fawn Lake, Masthope and Woodloch public water supply distribution systems from existing Wells FL-2, FL-3, FL-4, FL-5, MH-4, MH-5, WL-5, WL-6 and new Well WL-10. Wells MH-1 and WL-9 will be removed from the docket with this approval. The approval will also increase the Fawn Lake water system allocation from 8.5 mg/30 days to 10.5 mgm. The project wells are completed in the Upper Devonian Catskill Formation in the Westcolang Creek, West Falls Creek, and Teedyuskung Creek Watersheds in Lackawaxen Township, Pike County, Pennsylvania within the drainage area of the section of the main stem Delaware River known as the Upper Delaware, which is classified as Special Protection Waters.
Amity Township, D-1990-078 CP-6. An application to upgrade and expand the applicant’s existing 2.2 mgd WWTP to 4.35 MGD. The plant has been experiencing some inflow and infiltration problems. The upgrades and expansion will allow for better treatment. The WWTP will continue to discharge treated effluent to the Schuylkill River at River Mile 92.5 – 58.4 (Delaware River – Schuylkill River) in Amity Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania.
Trane Technologies Company LLC, D-2006-014-4. An application to renew approval of the applicant’s existing 0.075 mgd IWTP and its discharge and for a TDS determination to modify the TDS limit. The docket holder has found that naturally occurring TDS in groundwater may exceed the TDS in effluent standard when the system is operated at full capacity. Treated effluent will continue to be discharged to Lopatcong Creek at River Mile 182.0 – 1.87 (Delaware River – Lopatcong Creek) via Outfall No. DSN002A, in the Town of Phillipsburg, Warren County, New Jersey, within the drainage area to the Lower Delaware, which is classified as Special Protection Waters.

Business Meeting: March 6, 10:30 A.M.

The 1Q public business meeting will take place via Zoom Webinar on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, commencing at 10:30 a.m.

View Business Meeting Agenda (posted ~10 days before business mtg.)

The March 6, 2024, Business Meeting will include the following:

Adoption of the Minutes of the Commission’s December 6, 2023, Business Meeting;
Announcement of upcoming meetings and events;
A report on hydrologic conditions;
Reports by the Executive Director and the Commission’s General Counsel; and
Consideration of any items for which a hearing has been completed or is not required.

The agenda is expected to include consideration of the draft dockets for withdrawals, discharges and other projects that were subjects of the public hearing on February 7, 2024.

Commission consideration on March 6 of items for which the public hearing is closed may result in approval of the item (by docket or resolution) as proposed, approval with changes, denial or deferral. When the Commissioners defer an action, they may announce an additional period for written comment on the item, with or without an additional hearing date, or they may take additional time to consider the input they have already received without requesting further public input. Any deferred items will be considered for action at a public meeting of the Commission on a future date.

There will be no opportunity for additional public comment for the record at the March 6 Business Meeting on items for which a hearing was completed on February 7 or a previous date.

After all scheduled business has been completed and as time allows, the business meeting will be followed by up to one hour of Open Public Comment, an opportunity to address the Commission on any topic concerning management of the Basin’s water resources outside the context of a duly noticed, on-the-record public hearing.

To Attend the Business Meeting +/- Provide Open Public Comment:

Please Note:

To provide open public comment, you must register for the Zoom Webinar & note in your registration that you wish to provide open public comment (you cannot provide comment if watching on YouTube).
Registration for open public comment does not guarantee an opportunity to speak during the 1-hour session, based on time limitations and other factors. Those interested in giving public comment should register by 5 p.m., March 5, 2024.
Comments made during open public comment sessions are not included in any decision-making record. There is no requirement for the Commission to provide for open public comment.
To ensure a smooth connection, please make sure you are using the most up to date version of Zoom. It is recommended to do this prior to the scheduled business meeting time. For questions related to using the Zoom interface, please visit https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us for Zoom support.
Use of the Zoom registration interface for both the business meeting webinar and open public comment registration is being provided on a pilot basis and is subject to change. People who register will receive an email confirmation (from Delaware River Basin Commission Meetings <no-reply@zoom.us>) when they register; folks will also receive a reminder email on the day of the business meeting that will include the registration details. Please check your spam if you do not see this email in your in-box.

Contacts for Public Hearing & Business Meeting

For Additional Info & Questions:

Additional public records relating to hearing items may be examined at the Commission’s offices by appointment by contacting Donna Woolf, 609-477-7222.
For other questions concerning hearing items, please contact David Kovach, Project Review Section Manager, at 609-477-7264.
For general questions on how to participate in the public hearing and/or business meeting, or for questions related to the DRBC process, please email contact@drbc.gov.

Accommodations for Special Needs:

Individuals in need of an accommodation as provided for in the Americans with Disabilities Act who wish to attend the meeting or hearing should contact the Commission Secretary directly at 609-477-7203 or through the Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) at 711, to discuss how we can accommodate your needs.
Those with limited internet access may listen and speak at virtual public meetings of the DRBC using any of several toll-free phone numbers that will be provided to all virtual meeting registrants.

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Notice Posted: January 25, 2024
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