[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] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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