HS/HCS/HB 1927 - WASTE WATER FEES - This act establishes a fee structure for fees collected for the removal of waste water. All funds received through the payment of fees will be placed in the state treasury and credited to the Natural Resources Protection Fund.

A privately owned treatment works (POTW) or an industry which treats human sewage will pay an annual fee based upon the design flow of the facility which is expressed in gallons per day of flow beginning with a fee of $100 if the design flow is less than five thousand gallons per day to a fee of $3,500 if the design flow is equal to or greater than one million gallons per day.

Persons who produce industrial process wastewater which requires treatment and who apply for or possess a site specific permit will pay an annual fee of $5,000 if the industry is a class IA concentrated animal feeding operation.

If facilities have been issued operating permits based upon categorical standards pursuant to the federal Clean Water Act, then the annual fee is:

1. $3,500 if the design flow is less than one million gallons per day;

2. $5,000 if the design flow is equal to or greater than one million gallons per day.

Persons who apply for a site-specific permit used solely for industrial storm water will pay an annual fee of $1,000 if the design flow is less than one million gallons per day or $2,350 if the design flow is equal to or greater than one million gallons per day.

Persons who apply for a general permit will pay a permit fee for the discharge of storm water.

1. The fee for the discharge of storm water from a land disturbance site is $300.00;

2. The fee for the operation of a chemical fertilizer or pesticide facility is $50;

3. The fee for a general permit for the operation of an animal feeding operation or a concentrated animal feeding operation is $150.

4. The fee for potentially contaminated storm water is $150 but the fee for those with general permits is $60.

Requests for modifications may be made. There is a fee for such requests, but the Department of Natural Resources may waive the fee under certain circumstances.

Water quality certification requests will be accompanied by fees. Requests will include an application form for section 404 permits as administered by the United States Army Corps of Engineers and will be accompanied by a $75 fee. The fee is waived where an activity is authorized through a general permit by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the water quality certification is issued for that general permit and the certification is accepted.

Persons with a sewer service connection to public sewer systems will pay an annual fee. The annual fee for residential customers other than those served by a metropolitan sewer district ranges from forty to eighty cents per year, depending on the size of the sewer service. Commercial and industrial customers, except those served by the metropolitan sewer district, shall pay from $3 to $25 annually. Metropolitan sewer district customers shall pay 50% of the fee in the first year and 100% thereafter. The Commission may revise the fee schedule.

GENERAL PERMITS - This act gives the Clean Water Commission of the State of Missouri the authority to establish general permits for construction and establish fees. Permits for classes may be provided by rule for classes of facilities that pose a minimal threat to public health or the environment.

The Department of Natural Resources must issue permits within 180 days, if public hearings are required, or 60 days, if public hearings are not required. If the Department fails to act on a permit, it shall refund the application fee. These provisions apply to applications received after January 1, 2001. The Commission shall by rule set shorter review periods for classes of applicants.

Moneys paid in permit fees under Chapter 644, RSMo, shall not be used to study or restore the Missouri or Mississippi Rivers.

WATER POLLUTION AND STORMWATER BONDS - This portion of the act contains enabling statutes that allow the borrowing of moneys to implement the provisions of Amendment No. 7 as passed in November 1998 relating to water pollution and stormwater control:

1) $10 million pursuant to Article III, Section 37(e) of the Missouri Constitution for control of water pollution, improvements to drinking water systems, storm water control and financing rural water and sewer grants;

2) $20 million pursuant to Article III, Section 37(g) of the Missouri Constitution to fund the finance and construction of rural water and sewer grants or loans; and

3) $40 million pursuant to Article III, Section 37(h) of the Missouri Constitution for the creation of the Stormwater Control Bond and Interest Fund to fund stormwater control plans, studies and projects in first classification counties and the City of St. Louis. Fifty percent of the moneys shall be provides as grants.

Provisions similar to this act are included in SCS/HCS/HB 1074 and are included in the TAT version of HCS/SB 741 (2000). The portions of this act pertaining to water pollution control permits are similar to SB 983 (2000).
OTTO FAJEN