Environmental Fees March 2007 Thomas W. Easterly, P.E., DEE, QEP IDEM Commissioner IDEM’s Business is Protecting Human Health and the Environment Protecting human health and.
Download ReportTranscript Environmental Fees March 2007 Thomas W. Easterly, P.E., DEE, QEP IDEM Commissioner IDEM’s Business is Protecting Human Health and the Environment Protecting human health and.
Environmental Fees March 2007 Thomas W. Easterly, P.E., DEE, QEP IDEM Commissioner IDEM’s Business is Protecting Human Health and the Environment Protecting human health and the environment costs money—IDEM spends money to: – Issue Permits – Review and approve Long Term Control Plans to address Combined Sewer Overflows – Develop regulations to protect the environment – Petition EPA to recognize that our air quality meets all health based standards – Inspect facilities for compliance Environmental Fees Funding for environmental regulation comes from three sources: Federal Funds– currently 35% State General Funds– currently 27% Dedicated Funds from Users of the Environment– 38% Note: IDEM’s total budget also includes funding for the Excess Liability Trust Fund (ELTF) which reimburses companies for cleaning up leaks of petroleum products IDEM’s proposed budget includes no increased fees The proposed budget is balanced and will allow us to continue to provide current levels of service through the biennium. The public is asking for improvements in a number of IDEM programs including: – CFO/CAFO (livestock agriculture) inspections – Storm water pollution and erosion control programs – Expedited permits – Water quality improvement projects – Better operation of Wastewater treatment plants Programs funded by users I believe the most responsible funding for environmental programs is user-based fees. I propose increasing fees or establishing new fees to fully support and improve Indiana’s environmental programs. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) will be working with legislators during the 2007 session to bring our environmental fees to levels that will adequately fund the programs. Programs funded by users Incremental move towards fee supported programs Faster permits, trained staff, quality assessments require fully funded programs Improved technologies to make doing business with IDEM easier Last major IDEM fee increase was in 1994 Recent Fee increases adequately fund a few programs: 2003 the Indiana General Assembly passed a fee for drinking water systems. 2005 the Excess Liability Trust Fund received an additional $0.002 per gallon and a full $0.01 on special fuels, formerly exempt. 2006 the Air Pollution Control Board increased Title V air permits by 25% Recent IDEM Accomplishments Reduced permit backlogs in all programs by 50%, plan to be current by the end of 2007 Petitioned EPA to redesignate all communities to attainment for Ozone Reduced use of outside contracts for core regulatory functions (air permits, ELTF) Reduced administrative duplication by combining support functions with other state agencies (e.g. IOT, SPD, OLC) IDEM Goals IDEM’s overall goal is to “Increase the personal income of all Hoosiers from the current $0.88/$1.00 of the national average to at least $1.00/$1.00 of the national average while maintaining and improving Indiana’s Environmental Quality.” In order to achieve that goal, IDEM will continue to strive to be clear, consistent and speedy. In order to meet even higher standards of responsiveness some IDEM programs need more stable funding. IDEM Budget Comparisons (w/o ELTF) 2005-2007 $240,798,257 2007-2009 $206,249,350 Federal: $57,530,097 (27.9%) Red Federal: $84,618,622 (35.1%) Red Dedicated: $91,318,803 (37.9%) Blue General: $64,860,832 (29.9%) Lt. Aqua Dedicated: $86,969,087 (42.2%) Blue General: $61,750,166 (29.9%) Lt. Aqua Fund Name Title V Air Permit Fees NPDES Permits Drinking Water Solid Waste Management Hazardous Waste Managemen t Hazardous Substance Response Special Fund CAFOs Totals 08-09 Income $19,815,000 $13,604,652 $8,495,690 $10,649,922 $12,849,736 $4,000,000 $4,907,118 $74,322,118 08-09 Expenses $25,008,250 $18,034,159 $9,261,776 $12,384,535 $16,243,331 $8,942,783 $5,835,811 $95,710,645 Income less Expenses ($5,193,250) ($4,429,507) ($766,086) ($1,734,613) ($3,393,595) ($4,942,783) ($928,693) ($21,388,527) Annual Spend down ($2,596,625) ($2,214,754) ($383,043) ($867,307) ($1,696,798) ($2,471,392) ($464,347) ($10,694,264) $2,500,000 $2,840,000 $0 Proposed Increases $2,800,000 $1,294,300 $9,434,300 Fee Proposals NPDES – 79 staff Fee Revenue: $3.8M Expenses: $6.2M Proposed Fee Revenue: $4.75M Annual Number of permits issued: 340 Proposed increase is 25% Fee Proposals Drinking Water/Wastewater Operator Certification – 6 current staff Fee Revenue: $146,000 Current Expenses: $471,000 Proposed Fee Revenue: $526,000 (would add 3 staff) Annual Number Certifications/tests issued: 4469 Wastewater Operator Biennial Renewal Fees Current New Increase Annual Increase Class I-SP $30 $60 $30 $15 Class I $30 $60 $30 $15 Class A-SO $30 $60 $30 $15 Class A $30 $60 $30 $15 Class II $30 $80 $50 $25 Class B $30 $80 $50 $25 Class III $30 $100 $70 $35 Class C $30 $100 $70 $35 Class IV $30 $120 $90 $45 Class D $30 $120 $90 $45 Classification Water System Operator Triennial Renewal Fees All $30 $150 $120 $40 Fee Proposals Wetland/Water Quality Certification – 7 staff Fee Revenue: $0 (60% federal funds/40% state funds) Expenses: $538,000 Proposed Fee Revenue: $96,900 – Proposed General Permit Fee $100 – Proposed Individual Permit Fee $200 Annual Number of permits issued: 760 Fee Proposals Storm-water Fees – 8 current Staff Fee Revenue: $365,000 Expenses: $698,000 Proposed Fee Revenue: $1.4M (add field staff for inspections) Annual Number of permits issued: 4,050 Rules 5, 6 and 13 have been funded through fees and enforcement fines Current Proposed Rule 5 $100 $400 Rule 6 $100 $150 Increase $300 per NOI $50 Annually MS 4 by Population 1-999 $0 $250 $250 per NOI 1,000-2,999 $0 $500 $500 per NOI 3,000-4,999 $0 $750 $750 per NOI 5,000-6,999 $0 $1,000 $1,000 per NOI 7,000-9,999 $0 $1,500 $1,500 per NOI 10,000 and up $0 $2,000 $2,000 per NOI MS 4 by Type Non-municipal $0 $500 per NOI County System $0 $2,000 per NOI Note: 25% reduction if MS4 is co-permitted Fee Proposals Hazardous Waste – 96 staff Fee Revenue: $1.3M Expenses: $8M Proposed Fee Revenue: $4.1M Permit Review, renewal, modifications and Corrective action plan reviews: 375 Federal funding (currently) 33% State funding (currently) 31% Fee funding (currently) 36% Questions Please contact either of these staff members with questions or for assistance: Sandra Flum, 232-9479 or [email protected] Bowden Quinn, 233-3835 or [email protected]