The Delaware River Basin Commission held its regularly scheduled business meeting on Thursday, September 5, 2024.

The meeting, which was open to the public, was held remotely via Zoom Webinar.

A public hearing was held remotely on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, via Zoom Webinar. Items heard at the public hearing, which began at 1:30 p.m., included 33 draft dockets for withdrawals, discharges and other water-related projects that could have a substantial effect on the Basin's water resources and are subject to the Commission's review.

• Written comments on the items up for hearing on August 7, 2024, were accepted through 5 p.m., Monday, August 12, 2024.

Both the public hearing and business meeting were livestreamed to DRBC's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/delrivbasincomm. 

Business Meeting Agenda

The business meeting on September 5, 2024, began at 10:30 a.m. and adjourned at approximately 11:30 a.m.

An open public comment session began after the close of the business meeting and lasted for approximately a half hour. Please Note: 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.

The agenda for the business meeting follows, with links to the items approved (links to documents are added to this page as they become available).

Items heard at the August 7, 2024, public hearing are noted by *.

1. Call to Order & Welcome. (Commission Chair, Ken Kosinski)

2. Roll Call and Introductions. (Commission Secretary Pam Bush and Commissioners)

3. Minutes. (Pam Bush; The minutes of the June 5, 2024, business meeting were approved by unanimous vote)

• June 5, 2024, Minutes (pdf)
  
  

4. Announcements.

• Upcoming Advisory Committee Meetings (Pam Bush)
  
  
• Upcoming Other Meetings with DRBC staff participation (Pam Bush)

5. Hydrologic Conditions Report. (Sara Sayed)

• View Hydrologic Conditions Report (pdf)
  
  
• Check hydrologic conditions in the Basin daily at hydrosnap.drbc.net

6. Summary of Executive Director's Report. (Steve Tambini)

• The DRBC recently issued its 2023 Annual Report. This year's annual report once again highlights the mission and results of the DRBC to manage, protect and improve the water resources of the Delaware River Basin for the benefit of over 14 million people in four states. If you have not already done so, I encourage you to download a copy from the DRBC website. The report will take you on a journey from the headwaters to the ocean and highlight the diversity of the Basin along the mainstem Delaware River, the critical work being performed throughout the Basin and some of the continuing water resource management challenges. Read the 2023 Annual Report (pdf).
  
  
• A few updates related to climate change:
  
  
  • The Rutgers University Office of the State Climatologist in NJ reported that June 2024 was the second warmest June on record. July 2024 saw continued hot temperatures where 22 days reached at least 90 degrees, with about 1/3rd of the days reaching over 95 degrees. Using these NJ temperature data as surrogate for the Basin, they indicate that climate and weather extremes will continue to impact the water resources of the Basin. 
    
    
  • At our last meeting in June in Narrowsburg, NY the Commissioners approved a Resolution to develop a Climate Resilience Plan for the Basin and directed DRBC staff to identify and recommend activities and actions within the authority, jurisdiction and expertise of the Commission when developing its Plan. As announced, the DRBC's Advisory Committee on Climate Change (ACCC) will meet remotely on September 11, 2024. The meeting is open to the public, and one of the items on the agenda will be a discussion of a draft framework for developing the Climate Resilience Plan. Learn more about the September 11 ACCC meeting.
    
    
  • In addition, the DRBC and EPA Region 3 are hosting a Climate Practitioners Workshop on Monday, October 28, 2024. The full-day workshop will be held at The Discovery Center in Philadelphia, Pa. The workshop is free, and registration is required. Learn more about the Climate Practitioners Workshop.

• Despite the extreme heat and stormy weather conditions of this past summer, the DRBC staff performed extensive water sampling throughout the Basin. I would like to recognize and thank Elaine Panuccio, John Yagecic, Jake Bransky and Jeremy Conkle for organizing and executing this impressive effort. With support from several DRBC staff and interns, they safely delivered significant water quality monitoring results supporting work in several areas of study and potential policy including: emerging contaminants; habitat assessment; the impact of thermal plumes; PFAS; chlorides; harmful algal blooms; bacteria that can impact recreational uses; and nutrients, just to name a few. For more information about water quality monitoring and assessment and this year's efforts, please visit the DRBC website.
  
  
• The DRBC has several activities and meetings on our calendars this fall. We are proud to be engaged with an active Basin community. As such, we are also participating in several upcoming events being led by Basin friends and partners including:
  
  
  • Thursday, September 12: Water Resources Association of the Delaware River Basin's Annual Awards Dinner
    
    
  • Saturday, September 21: Trenton River Days
    
    
  • Sunday, September 22: Upper Delaware Council's River Valley Awards
    
    
  • Thursday and Friday, September 26 and 27: Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed's Annual Forum
    
    
  • Saturday, September 28: Delaware River Festival
    
    
  • Wednesday, October 9: Partnership for the Delaware Estuary's Experience the Estuary Celebration
    
    
  • Wednesday and Thursday, October 16 and October 17: Friends of the Upper Delaware River's River Rendezvous
    
    
  • Wednesday, October 23: New Jersey Association of Flood Plain Managers' Annual Conference
    
    
• I am pleased to welcome Matt Amato, who recently joined the DRBC as a Water Resource Scientist. Dr. Amato has a Ph.D. in Environmental Science from Rutgers University, School of Environmental & Biological Sciences and recently worked at the University of California with machine learning models to predict subsurface flow properties with remote sensing.
  
  
• As you have heard, this is my last Business Meeting as Executive Director of DRBC. I still have a few more months on the job; however, since I’ll not have this platform again, please allow me to publicly express my deep appreciation for the rare and extremely rewarding opportunity to lead this unique and special federal interstate agency.
  
  
  • First to the DRBC Commissioners, as my successor will quickly learn, it's not always easy having 5 bosses. However, with the knowledge and expertise you and your agency colleagues have graciously provided, I am proud that our teams worked together to advance water management and policy for the basin. Thank you for your trust and support.
    
    
  • I don’t know of any other state or federal, or interstate agency that provides so much opportunity for public input and public access to decision makers as does DRBC. Based upon the passion, dedication and commitment of the diverse stakeholders throughout the basin, the demand for wider and deeper interactions with our publics keeps growing. We have done more and more to reach new and underserved communities and to hear from more diverse voices. I can also assure our stakeholder that we do listen. We might not always agree, but we listen. I want to thank all our stakeholders and partners for your work with DRBC and independent of DRBC to support the water resources of the Basin.
    
    
  • When I came to DRBC in 2014, besides being a bit lost in the complexities of this agency and this Basin, what I remember vividly is the challenge of just keeping up with the brilliant staff at DRBC. I still learn from our staff every day. It is a blessing. I just want to acknowledge "for the Minutes" that the DRBC staff is an exceptional group of water professionals who wake up every day to support the mission to manage, protect and improve the Basin's water resources. The Basin community is very lucky to have a Commission and such talented staff to support its charge. To the DRBC staff, I will miss your passion, your knowledge and our culture of caring for the Basin and for each other. I am very confident that, under new leadership starting in December, you will continue your long legacy of success.

7. General Counsel's Report. (Ken Warren)

8. Resolution for the Minutes honoring Ken Kosinski, P.E. (Steve Tambini)

• A RESOLUTION for the Minutes honoring Ken Kosinski, P.E., upon his retirement from a distinguished career in state and interstate water resources management. (this Resolution for the Minutes was approved unanimously by the Commissioners; pdf)
  

9. Resolution for the Minutes honoring Steve Tambini, P.E. (Kristen Bowman Kavanagh)

• A RESOLUTION for the Minutes honoring Steven J. Tambini, P.E., for his dedication to sound water resource management and his immense contributions to sustainably managing the water resources of the Delaware River Basin. (this Resolution for the Minutes was approved unanimously by the Commissioners; pdf)

10. Resolution for the Minutes regarding the Storage Study. (Kristen Bowman Kavanagh)

• A RESOLUTION for the Minutes authorizing the Executive Director to enter into a contract for engineering services to evaluate additional selected storage options to meet potential water supply and flow management needs in the Delaware River Basin. (this Resolution for the Minutes was approved unanimously by the Commissioners; pdf)

11. Resolution for the Minutes regarding Lab Analytical Services. (Namsoo Suk)

• A RESOLUTION for the Minutes authorizing the Executive Director to enter into one or more contracts with the lowest responsible bidder(s) qualified to perform laboratory analytical services relating to toxic substances in the Delaware River and Bay. (this Resolution for the Minutes was approved unanimously by the Commissioners; pdf)

12. Resolution for the Minutes to Appoint a new Executive Director. (Pamela Bush)

• A RESOLUTION for the Minutes to appoint a new Executive Director. (this Resolution for the Minutes was approved unanimously by the Commissioners; pdf)
  
  
• View news release announcing Kristen Bowman Kavanagh, P.E., as the new Executive Director (issued September 5, 2024)
  

*13. Project Review Docket Applications. (David Kovach; approved dockets are pdfs)

• Please note that at each of its public meetings, the Commission may consider action on any item for which a hearing has been completed or may defer one or more such items for consideration at a public meeting of the Commission on a future date.
  
  
• Dockets #1-33 were subject to public hearings on August 7, 2024.
  
  
• Dockets #1-33 were approved unanimously by the Commissioners on September 5, 2024. 

View docket location map of projects heard on August 7 (pdf)

1. South Coatesville Borough, D-1974-039 CP-7.
   
   
2. Myerstown Borough, D-1974-176 CP-5.
   
   
3. Newtown Artesian Water Company, D-1978-029 CP-5.
   
   
4. Central Wayne Regional Authority, D-1986-009 CP-6.
   
   
5. Dublin Borough, D-1986-070 CP-4.
   
   
6. Morrisville Municipal Authority, D-1987-008 CP-5.
   
   
7. Fleetwood Borough Authority, D-1987-054 CP-7.
   
   
8. Spring Township, D-1988-077 CP-6.
   
   
9. Kutztown Borough, D-1989-039 CP-5.
   
   
10. Knights Bridge Corporation, D-1990-054-3.
    
    
11. Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc., D-1991-086 CP-4.
    
    
12. Hamburg Municipal Authority, D-1992-073 CP-6.
    
    
13. Sinking Spring Borough, D-1994-031 CP-5.
    
    
14. Pennsylvania American Water Company, D-1996-009 CP-3.
    
    
15. Allied Utility Services, Inc., D-1996-025 CP-4.
    
    
16. Central Carbon Municipal Authority, D-1999-048 CP-4.
    
    
17. South Coventry Township, D-2000-026 CP-3.
    
    
18. Avondale Borough, D-2000-066 CP-4.
    
    
19. Wernersville Municipal Authority, D-2001-017 CP-3.
    
    
20. Westfall Township Municipal Authority, D-2002-023 CP-7.
    
    
21. Greater Pottsville Area Sewer Authority, D-2002-041 CP-4.
    
    
22. Portland Borough, D-2003-009 CP-6.
    
    
23. Ledgerock Golf Club, D-2004-026-3.
    
    
24. Bear Creek Management Company, D-2004-035-3.
    
    
25. Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority, D-2004-039 CP-3.
    
    
26. Lower Milford Township, D-2009-010 CP-4.
    
    
27. Tobyhanna Army Depot, D-2009-041 CP-5.
    
    
28. Lehigh County Authority, D-2010-001 CP-5.
    
    
29. Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc., D-2014-007 CP-2.
    
    
30. Monroe Career & Technical Institute (MCTI), D-2019-002 CP-2.
    
    
31. Nestle Purina Petcare Co., D-1983-018-3.
    
    
32. Quakertown Borough, D-1984-026 CP-3.
    
    
33. Town of Delaware, D-2011-012 CP-2.