Post on 14-Jul-2020
transcript
July 2020
DRBC: A Model Framework
DRBC was formed in response to
major water resource challenges
requiring regional solutions, and
to this day is a successful model
for federal-state collaboration.
DRBC is an effective forum for
managing the basin’s interstate
water resources holistically and
adaptively.
In its 50+ years, DRBC has
achieved many noteworthy
accomplishments, including:
DRBC regulations helped
dramatically improve dissolved
oxygen levels in the Delaware
Estuary, allowing for resident
and migratory fish populations to
thrive;
DRBC’s Special Protection Waters
program protects the existing
high quality waters of the river’s
non-tidal watershed;
DRBC’s Pollutant Minimization
Plan regulations have helped to
significantly reduce PCB loadings
to the river;
DRBC has been recognized for its
comprehensive water
conservation, drought
management, and watershed
planning programs.
Delaware River Basin Commission
25 Cosey Road, P.O. Box 7360
West Trenton, NJ 08628
www.drbc.gov
Delaware River Basin Commission: Managing, Protecting & Improving the Basin’s Water Resources Since 1961
A breakthrough in water resources
management occurred in 1961
when President Kennedy and the
governors of Pennsylvania, New
Jersey, New York, and Delaware for
the first time signed concurrent
compact legislation into law creating
a regional body with the force of law
to oversee a unified approach to
managing a river system without
regard to political boundaries.
The members of this regional body -- the Delaware River Basin Commission
(DRBC) -- include the four basin state governors and the Commander of the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers North Atlantic Division, who serves as the federal
representative. The five members appoint alternate commissioners, with the
governors selecting high-ranking officials from their state environmental
agencies. Each commissioner has one vote of equal power with a majority vote
needed to decide most issues. Exceptions are votes to apportion among the
signatory parties amounts required to support the current expense budget and
votes to declare a state of emergency resulting from a drought or catastrophe,
which require unanimity.
Commission programs include water quality protection, water supply
allocation, regulatory review, water conservation initiatives, watershed
planning, drought management, flood loss reduction, education/outreach, and
recreation. The DRBC is funded by its signatory parties, project review fees,
water use charges, compliance revenues, and grants.
Annual elections are held for commission chair, vice chair, and second vice
chair, based on a rotation of the five signatory parties. Delaware Governor
John Carney is currently serving as chair for the July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021
term. The other commission members are Federal Representative Brigadier
General Thomas J. Tickner (vice chair), Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf
(second vice chair), New Jersey Governor Philip D. Murphy, and New York
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo.
The commission holds business meetings and hearings on policy matters and
water resource projects under regulatory review. These sessions, along with
meetings of the commission’s advisory committees, are open to the public.
White House ceremonial signing of the
Delaware River Basin Compact, Nov. 2, 1961.
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UlsterUlster
DelawareDelaware
BerksBerks
KentKent
PikePike
SullivanSullivan
OrangeOrange
LuzerneLuzerne
WayneWayne
BucksBucks
ChesterChesterOceanOcean
SussexSussex
BroomeBroome
MonroeMonroe
BurlingtonBurlington
GreeneGreene
MorrisMorris
LancasterLancaster
SussexSussex
AtlanticAtlantic
SchuylkillSchuylkill
SalemSalem
CarbonCarbon
LehighLehigh
WarrenWarren
MonmouthMonmouth
HunterdonHunterdon
ChenangoChenango
CumberlandCumberland
MontgomeryMontgomery
MercerMercer
SchoharieSchoharie
NewNewCastleCastle
LackawannaLackawanna
GloucesterGloucester
NorthamptonNorthampton
CamdenCamden
Cape MayCape May
DelawareDelaware
LebanonLebanon
NEW YORKNEW YORK
PENNSYLVANIAPENNSYLVANIA
NEW YORK
NEW YORKNEW JERSEY
NEW JERSEY
PENNSYLVANIAPENNSYLVANIA
MARYLANDMARYLAND
DELAWAREDELAWARE
LewesLewes
DoverDover
CCammdenCamden
EastonEaston
DepositDeposit
TrentonTrenton
ReadingReading
HancockHancock
AllentownAllentown
WilmingtonWilmington
PPoort JJervisPort Jervis
PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia
Delaware Water GapDelaware Water Gap
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Miles
PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia
Delaware Bay
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Delaware River
Delaware River
DELAWARE RIVER BASIN
U N I T E D S T AT E S O F A M E R I C A
N E W J E R S E YN E W Y O R K
D E L A WA R EP E N N S Y LVA N I A
Delaware River Basin Commission
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