Upcoming Commission Meetings
Fourth Quarter 2023

The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) will hold its fourth-quarter business meeting on Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. The business meeting is open to the public and will be held virtually via Zoom Webinar.

The DRBC held its fourth-quarter public hearing on Wednesday, November 8, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. The public hearing was open to the public and was held virtually via Zoom Webinar.

  • Written comments on the 26 draft dockets heard on November 8, 2023, were accepted through 5 p.m., Tuesday, November 14, 2023.

  • Written comments on the draft resolution heard on November 8, 2023, were accepted through 5 p.m., Monday, November 20, 2023.
4Q Business Meeting: December 6, 2023 - 10:30 A.M.

The 4Q public business meeting will take place via Zoom Webinar on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, commencing at 10:30 a.m.

The December 6, 2023, Business Meeting will include the following:

  • Adoption of the Minutes of the Commission's September 7, 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 resolution and draft dockets for withdrawals, discharges and other projects that were subjects of the public hearing on November 8, 2023.

Commission consideration on December 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 December 6 Business Meeting on items for which a hearing was completed on November 8 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:

  • Register for the Zoom Webinar. At this link, you are able to register to attend the business meeting and register to provide open public comment, if desired.

  • Watch the livestream on the DRBC's YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/delrivbasincomm/.

    • Recently, we have encountered some technical issues with livestreaming to YouTube. Please be aware that if you encounter problems accessing the livestream on YouTube, you can register for the Zoom Webinar, receive a link, and join the webinar promptly by phone or on a computer, even after the meeting has started.

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., December 5, 2023.

  • 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.
4Q Public Hearing: November 8, 2023 - 1:30 P.M.

The 4Q public hearing via Zoom Webinar took place on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, commencing at 1:30 p.m.

Items heard included one resolution and 26 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.

Please note: On November 13, 2023, the Commission will hold separate hearings on proposed amendments to its Rules of Practice and Procedure (RPP). For more information on the rulemaking, including how to attend the public hearings and submit written comments, please visit: https://www.nj.gov/drbc/meetings/proposed/notice_RPP_amendments.html.

The public was advised to check the Commission's web site periodically prior to the hearing date, as items scheduled for hearing may have been postponed if additional time is needed to complete the Commission's review, and items may have been added up to ten days prior to the hearing date. In reviewing docket descriptions, the public was 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 have registered for the Zoom Webinar & noted in your registration that you wished to testify (you could not provide testimony if watching on YouTube).

  • To ensure an opportunity to provide testimony, folks were asked to please register by 5 p.m. on November 7, 2023.

  • 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 have been made through the Commission's web-based comment system, SmartComment: https://dockets.drbc.commentinput.com/.

  • Written comments on the 26 draft dockets scheduled for hearing on November 8, 2023, were accepted through 5 p.m., Tuesday, November 14, 2023.

  • Written comments on the draft resolution scheduled for hearing on November 8, 2023, were accepted through 5 p.m., Monday, November 20, 2023 (extension of written comment deadline for this item only).

  • Use of the web-based system ensured that all submissions are captured in a single location and their receipt was acknowledged.

  • Exceptions to the use of this system were 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 Heard November 8, 2023

  1. American Nickeloid Company, D-1985-030-4. An application to renew the approval of the applicant's existing 0.045 mgd IWTP and its discharge. The IWTP will continue to discharge treated effluent to the Lehigh River at River Mile 183.7 - 45.1 (Delaware River - Lehigh River) within the drainage area of the section of the main stem Delaware River known as the Lower Delaware, which is classified as Special Protection Waters, in Walnutport Borough, Northampton County, Pennsylvania.

  2. Middle Smithfield Township, D-1990-080 CP-5. An application to renew the approval of the existing 1.0 mgd Fernwood WWTP. The WWTP will continue to discharge treated effluent to the Bush Kill at River Mile 226.9 – 2.3 (Delaware River – Bush Kill) which is located within the drainage area of the section of the main stem Delaware River known as the Middle Delaware, which the Commission has designated as Special Protection Waters, in Middle Smithfield Township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania.

  3. Maidencreek Township Authority, D-1991-058 CP-6. An application to approve the withdrawals from new wells 6 and 7 and renew a total combined allocation of 23.46 million gallons per month (mgm) of groundwater from new wells 6 and 7 and existing wells 2, 3 and 5 for public water supply. The wells are completed in the Allentown, Epler and Ontelaunee Formations in the Lower Maiden Creek and Willow Creek watersheds in Maidencreek Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania.

  4. Orwigsburg Borough, D-1992-005 CP-4. An application to renew the approval of an existing groundwater withdrawal of up to 11.8 million gallons per month from existing wells 1, 2, 3 and 4 for public water supply. The wells are completed in the Mahantango Formation and are located in the Manhannon Creek Watershed in Orwigsburg Borough, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.

  5. East Vincent Township, D-1993-032 CP-5. An application to renew the applicant's existing 0.325 mgd WWTP and its discharge. The WWTP will continue to discharge treated effluent to the Schuylkill River at River Mile 92.47 - 43.5 (Delaware River - Schuylkill River), via Outfall No. 001, in East Vincent Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

  6. Viant Collegeville, LLC, D-1993-061-4. An application to renew the approval of an existing groundwater withdrawal of up to 3.265 mgm associated with the remediation of groundwater from existing Wells Nos. UTM-1 and UTM-11. 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 Perkiomen Creek Watershed in Trappe Borough, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

  7. Lower Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority, D-1993-068 CP-4. An application to renew the approval of the existing 10 mgd Lower Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority WWTP. No modifications are proposed. The WWTP will continue to discharge treated effluent to Water Quality Zone 2 of the Delaware River at River Mile 122.1, via Outfall No. 001, Located in Bristol Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

  8. Northside Heights Mobile Home Estates, D-1996-039 CP-4. An application to renew the approval of the existing 0.1 mgd Northside Heights Estates WWTP and its discharge. The WWTP will continue to discharge treated effluent to an unnamed tributary (UNT) to Lizard Creek at River Mile 183.7 - 39.3 - 7.0 - 0.2 (Delaware River - Lehigh River - Lizard Creek - UNT Lizard Creek), via Outfall No. 001, within the drainage area to the Lower Delaware Special Protection Waters (SPW) , in  East Penn Township, Carbon County, Pennsylvania.

  9. Downingtown Area Regional Authority, D-1998-033 CP-5. An application to renew the applicant's existing 10.88 mgd WWTP and its discharge. The WWTP will continue to discharge treated effluent to the East Branch Brandywine Creek at River 70.73 – 1.5 – 20.0 – 7.65 (Delaware River - Christina River -  Brandywine Creek - East Branch Brandywine Creek) via Outfall No. 001, in East Cain Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

  10. Oley Township Municipal Authority, D-2001-036 CP-3. An application to renew the approval of an existing groundwater withdrawal of up to 10.416 mgm to supply the applicant's public water supply distribution system from existing Wells Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4.  The project wells are completed in Granitic Gneiss. The requested allocation is not an increase from the previous allocation. Well No. 1 is located in the Furnace Creek Watershed and Wells Nos. 2, 3 and 4 are located in the Manatawny Creek Watershed, which are both in Oley Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania.

  11. Rivercrest Homeowners Association, D-2001-045 CP-5. An application to renew the approval of the applicant's existing 0.112 mgd WWTP and its discharge. The WWTP will continue to discharge treated effluent to an unnamed tributary (UNT) to the  Schuylkill River at River Mile 92.47 - 36.3 - 0.5 (Delaware River - Schuylkill River - UNT Schuylkill River), via Outfall No. 001, and at Doe Run at River Mile 92.47 - 36.3 - 0.8 (Delaware River - Schuylkill River - Doe Run), via Outfall No. 002, all located in Providence Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

  12. Northampton Borough Municipal Authority, D-2004-006 CP-3. An application to renew the approval of an allocation of 248.0 million gallons per month of surface water from two existing surface water intakes on the Lehigh River and one existing intake at the Spring Mill Dam for public water supply. The intakes are located in the Lehigh River and Spring Creek Watersheds in Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania within the drainage area to the Lower Delaware which the Commission has designated as Special Protection Waters.

  13. Telford Borough Authority, D-2004-010 CP-3. An application to renew the approval of an existing groundwater withdrawal of up to 38.6 mgm to supply the applicant's public water supply distribution system from Well Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. 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 Telford Borough in Bucks and Montgomery County, Pennsylvania and West Rockhill and Hilltown Townships, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

  14. Bear Creek Mountain Resort and Conference Center, D-2005-016-4. An application to renew the approval of the applicant's existing 0.045 mgd WWTP and its discharge. The WWTP will continue to reuse its treated effluent for its snowmaking system (0.035 mgd) and discharge its treated effluent to land via a spray irrigation field. The WWTP and its discharge to land will continue to operate within the drainage area to Schuylkill River, located in Longswamp Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania.

  15. East Brandywine Township Municipal Authority, D-2007-043 CP-4. An application to renew the approval of the applicant's existing 0.055387 mgd Hillendale WWTP and its discharge to land. The WWTP will continue to discharge treated effluent to 4 designated drip areas, located within the drainage area to East Branch Brandywine Creek, located in East Brandywine Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

  16. Bryn Athyn Borough, D-2008-013 CP-6. An application to renew the approval of the applicant's existing 0.065 mgd Academy of The New Church WWTP and its discharge. The WWTP will continue to discharge treated effluent to an unnamed tributary (UNT) to Huntingdon Valley Creek at River Mile 109.75 - 12.02 - 1.11 - 0.17 (Delaware River - Pennypack Creek - Huntingdon Valley Creek - UNT Huntingdon Valley Creek) via Outfall No. 001, in Bryn Athyn Borough, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

  17. Department of the Navy, D-2010-038 CP-4. An application to renew the approval of an existing discharge of treated groundwater from the Department of the Navy, Warminster Groundwater Treatment Plant (GWTP). The existing GWTP will continue to pump and treat an average annual flow of 0.216 mgd of contaminated groundwater from 29 on-site wells for discharge to an unnamed tributary (UNT) of the Little Neshaminy Creek, a tributary of the Neshaminy Creek, at River Mile 115.6 – 23.6 – 3.3 – 1.4 (Delaware River – Neshaminy Creek – Little Neshaminy Creek – UNT), via Outfall No. 002, relocated for federal permitting requirements in Warminster Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

  18. Hamburg Municipal Authority, D-2012-022 CP-2. An application to renew the approval of a combined allocation of 35 million gallons per month of surface water and groundwater from Furnace Creek Reservoir and existing water filtration plant and existing wells HMA-2, HMA-3, HMA-4, HMA-5, HMA-6 and HMA-7 for public water supply. The project wells are located in the Furnace Creek and Schuylkill River Watersheds, in Windsor Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania.

  19. Pottstown Borough Water Authority, D-2013-022 CP-2. An application to renew the approval of the applicant's existing Water Filtration Plant (WFP) and its discharge of up to 0.121 of filter backwash. The WFP will continue to discharge 0.12 mgd of treated filter backwash and process water to the Schuylkill River at River Mile 92.47 - 55.7 (Delaware River - Schuylkill River) and 0.0098 to an unnamed tributary to the Schuylkill River at river mile 92.47 - 56 - 0.19 (Delaware River - Schuylkill River - UNT to Schuylkill River), via Outfall Nos. 001 and 002, respectively. The facility is located in West Pottsgrove Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

  20. Tyler Hill Camp, Inc, D-2017-001-2. An application to approve the applicant's existing 0.030 mgd WWTP and its discharge. The WWTP will continue to discharge to Laurel Lake, which flows to an unnamed tributary (UNT) of North Branch Calkins Creek at River Mile 295.8 - 0.7 - 4.0 - 1.2 - 0.3 (Delaware River - Calkins Creek - North Branch Calkins Creek - UNT North Branch Calkins Creek - Laurel Lake) located in Damascus Township, Wayne County, Pennsylvania, within the drainage area of the section of the non-tidal Delaware River known as the Upper Delaware, which is classified as Special Protection Waters.

  21. Glencrest MHP LLC, D-2017-007-2. An application to renew the approval of the applicant's existing 0.035 mgd WWTP and its discharge. The WWTP will continue to discharge treated effluent to an unnamed tributary (UNT) to Coplay Creek at River Mile 183.7 - 21.1 - 12.6 - 0.47 (Delaware River - Lehigh River - Coplay Creek - UNT to Coplay Creek), via Outfall No. 001, in Washington Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, within the drainage area to the Lower Delaware Special Protection Waters (SPW).

  22. Lehigh County Authority, D-2017-012 CP-2. An application to renew the approval of the applicant's existing 0.035 mgd Sand Spring WWTP, and its discharge. The existing WWTP will continue to discharge treated effluent to an unnamed tributary to Coplay Creek at River Mile 183.7 - 20.8 - 9.8 - 0.1 (Delaware River - Lehigh River - Coplay Creek - UNT to Coplay Creek) via Outfall 002, in the drainage area to the Lower Delaware Special Protection Waters (SPW) Area, in North Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.

  23. Bangor Area School District, D-2018-007 CP-2. An application to renew the applicant's existing 0.023 mgd WWTP and its discharge. The existing WWTP will continue to discharge treated effluent to an unnamed tributary (UNT) to Jacoby Creek at River Mile 207.5 - 2.3 - 2.4 (Delaware River - Jacoby Creek - UNT to Jacoby Creek), 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, in Upper Mount Bethel Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania.

  24. Philadelphia (City of), D-1970-053 CP-2. An application to upgrade to the docket holder’s existing Southwest Water Pollution Control Plant and to renew approval of its existing discharge. The proposed upgrade consists of installing a primary sedimentation tank (PST) and upgrading the appurtenant PST facilities to provide redundancy for maintenance. The existing SWPCP will continue to discharge treated effluent to Water Quality Zone 4 of the Delaware River at River Mile 91.7, located in the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

  25. Hickory Hills MHC, D-1973-079-3. An application to approve a modification of the docket holder's existing 0.06 million gallons per day (mgd) WWTP and its discharge. The existing two (2) train, extended aeration activated sludge treatment process will be replaced with a 2-train 0.06 mgd Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) system. The WWTP will continue to discharge to an unnamed tributary to East Branch Monocacy Creek at River Mile 183.66 - 11.5 - 10.1 - 6.3 - 0.35 (Delaware River - Lehigh River - Monocacy Creek - East Branch Monocacy Creek - UNT East Branch Monocacy Creek) via Outfall No. 001, within the drainage area to the Lower Delaware Special Protection Waters, in Moore Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania.

  26. Bangor Borough, D-1988-087 CP-2. The purpose of this docket is to approve upgrades and to renew approval of the docket holder's existing 1.6 million gallons per day (mgd) WWTP and its discharge. The purpose of the capital improvement is to upgrade the existing controls to modern standards, no treatment changes are proposed at this time. The docket holder's WWTP will continue to discharge up to 1.6 mgd of treated effluent to Martins Creek at River Mile 183.67 - 9.5 - 9.2 (Delaware River - Lehigh River - Martins Creek), within the drainage area of the section of the main stem Delaware River known as the Lower Delaware, which is classified as Special Protection Waters, in Washington Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania.
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 Amber Munchback, 609-477-7240.  

  • 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: October 27, 2023
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Related DRBC Public Hearing/Business Mtg Info

Email Notification:

2023 DRBC Quarterly Meeting Dates:

Procedures to Participate in DRBC Public Hearings, Business Meetings & Open Public Comment Sessions: