2017-02011. Notice of Public Hearing and Business Meeting February 15 and March 15, 2017

Notice is hereby given that the Delaware River Basin Commission will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, February 15, 2017. A business meeting will be held the following month, on Wednesday, March 15, 2017. The hearing and business meeting are open to the public and will be held at the Washington Crossing Historic Park Visitor Center, 1112 River Road, Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania.

Public Hearing. The public hearing on February 15, 2017 will begin at 1:30 p.m. Hearing items will include draft dockets for the withdrawals, discharges and other water-related projects subject to the Commission's review, and a resolution to adopt the Commission's Water Resources Program for fiscal years 2017-2019.

The list of projects scheduled for hearing, including project descriptions, will be posted on the Commission's Web site, www.drbc.net,, in a long form of this notice at least ten days before the hearing date. The draft resolution scheduled for hearing also will be posted at www.drbc.net ten or more days prior to the hearing.

Written comments on matters scheduled for hearing on February 15 will be accepted through 5:00 p.m. on February 21. Time permitting, an opportunity for Open Public Comment will be provided upon the conclusion of Commission business at the March 15 Business Meeting; in accordance with recent format changes, this opportunity will not be offered upon completion of the Public Hearing.

The public is advised to check the Commission's Web site periodically prior to the hearing date, as items scheduled for hearing may be postponed if additional time is deemed necessary to complete the Commission's review, and items may be added up to ten days prior to the hearing date. In reviewing docket descriptions, the public is also asked to be aware that project details commonly change in the course of the Commission's review, which is ongoing.

Public Meeting. The public business meeting on March 15, 2017 will begin at 10:30 a.m. and will include: Adoption of the Minutes of the Commission's December 14, 2016 business meeting, announcements 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 latter are expected to include resolutions for the Minutes (a) authorizing the Executive Director to enter into a professional services contract with LimnoTech to support the development of a hydrodynamic and water quality model of eutrophication effects for the Delaware River Estuary; and (b) providing for implementation of an e-comment system for the collection of public comments.

After all scheduled business has been completed and as time allows, the Business Meeting will also include up to one hour of Open Public Comment.

There will be no opportunity for additional public comment for the record at the March 15 Business Meeting on items for which a hearing was completed on February 15 or a previous date. Commission consideration on March 15 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.

Advance Sign-Up for Oral Comment. Individuals who wish to comment on the record during the public hearing on February 15 or to address the Commissioners informally during the Open Public Comment portion of the meeting on March 15 as time allows, are asked to sign up in advance by contacting Ms. Paula Schmitt of the Commission staff, at [e-mail].

Addresses for Written Comment. Written comment on items scheduled for hearing may be delivered by hand at the public hearing or: By hand, U.S. Mail or private carrier to: Commission Secretary, P.O. Box 7360, 25 State Police Drive, West Trenton, NJ 08628; by fax to Commission Secretary, DRBC at 609-883-9522; or by email (preferred) to [e-mail]. If submitted by email, written comments on a docket should also be sent to Mr. David Kovach, Manager, Project Review Section at [e-mail].

Accommodations for Special Needs. Individuals in need of an accommodation as provided for in the Americans with Disabilities Act who wish to attend the informational meeting, conference session or hearings should contact the Commission Secretary directly at 609-883-9500 ext. 203 or through the Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) at 711, to discuss how we can accommodate your needs.

Additional Information, Contacts. Additional public records relating to hearing items may be examined at the Commission's offices by appointment by contacting Carol Adamovic, 609-883-9500, ext. 249. For other questions concerning hearing items, please contact Judith Scharite, Project Review Section assistant at 609-883-9500, ext. 216.

Dated: January 25, 2017.

Pamela M. Bush,

Commission Secretary and Assistant General Counsel.