Puslapio vaizdai
PDF
„ePub“

DELAWARE RIVER BASIN COMPACT

1629

ware River and its tributaries. Such standards shall not be deemed to impair or restrict the power of the signatory parties or their political subdivisions to adopt zoning and other land use regulations not inconsistent therewith.

(b) The commission may study and determine the nature and extent of the flood plains of the Delaware River and its tributaries. Upon the basis of such studies, it may establish encroachment lines and delineate the areas subject to flood, including a classification of lands with reference to relative risk of flood and the establishment of standards for flood plain use which will safeguard the public health, safety and property. Prior to the adoption of any standards delineating such area or defining such use, the commission shall hold public hearings, in the manner provided by Article 14, with respect to the substance of such standards. At or before such public hearings the proposed standards shall be available, and all interested persons shall be given an opportunity to be heard thereon at the hearing. Upon the adoption and promulgation of such standards, the commission may enter into agreements to provide technical and financial aid to any municipal corporation for the administration and enforcement of any local land use ordinances or regulations giving effect to such standards.

6.3 Flood Lands Acquisition. The commission shall have power to acquire the fee or any lesser interest in lands and improvements thereon within the area of a flood plain for the purpose of restricting the use of such property so as to minimize the flood hazard, converting property to uses appropriate to flood plain conditions, or preventing unwarranted constrictions that reduce the ability of the river channel to carry flood water. Any such action shall be in accord with the standards adopted and promulgated pursuant to Section 6.2.

6.4 Flood and Stream Stage Warnings and Posting. The commission may cause lands particularly subject to flood to be posted with flood hazard warnings, and may from time to time cause flood advisory notices to be published and circulated as conditions may warrant.

ARTICLE 7

WATERSHED MANAGEMENT

Section 7.1 Watersheds Generally. The commission shall promote sound practices of watershed management in the basin, including projects and facilities to retard runoff and waterflow and prevent soil erosion.

7.2 Soil Conservation and Forestry. The commission may acquire, sponsor or operate facilities and projects to encourage soil conservation, prevent and control erosion, and to promote land reclamation and sound forestry practices. 7.3 Fish and Wildlife. The commission may acquire, sponsor or operate projects and facilities for the maintenance and improvement of fish and wildlife habitats related to the water resources of the basin.

7.4 Cooperative Planning and Operation.

(a) The commission shall cooperate with the appropriate agencies of the signatory parties and with other public and private agencies in the planning and effectuation of a coordinated program of facilities and projects authorized by this Article.

1630

DELAWARE RIVER BASIN COMPACT

(b) The commission shall not operate any such project or facility unless it has first found and determined that no other suitable unit or agency of government is available to operate the same upon reasonable conditions, in accordance with the intent and purpose expressed in Section 1.5 of this compact.

ARTICLE 8

RECREATION

Section 8.1 Development. The commission shall provide for the development of water related public sports and recreational facilities. The commission on its own account or in cooperation with a signatory party, political subdivision or any agency thereof, may provide for the construction, maintenance and administration of such facilities, subject to the provisions of Section 8.2 hereof. 8.2 Coperative Planning and Operation.

(a) The commission shall cooperate with the appropriate agencies of the signatory parties and with other public and private agencies in the planning and effectuation of a coordinated program of facilities and projects authorized by this article.

(b) The commission shall not operate any such project or facility unless it has first found and determined that no other suitable unit or agency of government is available to operate the same upon reasonable conditions, in accordance with the intent and purpose expressed n Section 1.5 of this compact.

8.3 Operation and Maintenance. The commission, within limits prescribed by this article, shall:

(a) Encourage activities of other public agencies having water related recreational interests and assist in the coordination thereof;

(b) Recommend standards for the development and administration of water related recreational facilities;

(c) Provide for the administration, operation and maintenance of recreational facilities owned or controlled by the commission and for the letting and supervi sion of private concessions in accordance with this article.

8.4 Concessions. The Commission shall after notice and public hearing provide by regulation for the award of contracts for private concessions in connection with recreational facilities, including any renewal or extension thereof, upon sealed competitive bids after public advertisement therefor.

ARTICLE 9

HYDROELECTRIC POWER

Section 9.1 Development. The waters of the Delaware River and its tributaries may be impounded and used by or under authority of the commission for the generation of hydroelectric power and hydroelectric energy, in accordance with the comprehensive plan.

9.2 Power Generation. The commission may develop and operate, or authorize to be developed and operated, dams and related facilities and appurte

DELAWARE RIVER BASIN COMPACT

1631

nances for the purpose of generating hydroelectric power and hydroelectric

energy.

9.3 Transmission. The commission may provide facilities for the transmission of hydroelectric power and hydroelectric energy produced by it where such facilities are not otherwise available upon reasonable terms, for the purpose of wholesale marketing of power and nothing herein shall be construed to authorize the commission to engage in the business of direct sale to consumers.

9.4 Development Contracts. The commission may after public notice and hearing enter into contracts on reasonable terms, consideration and duration under which public utilities or public agencies may develop hydroelectric power and hydroelectric energy through the use of dams, related facilities and appurtenances.

9.5 Rates and Charges. Rates and charges fixed by the commission for power which is produced by its facilities shall be reasonable, nondiscriminatory, and just.

ARTICLE 10

REGULATION OF WITHDRAWALS AND DIVERSIONS

Power of Regulation. The Commission may regulate and control withdrawals and diversions from surface waters and ground waters of the basin, as provided by this article. The commission may enter into agreements with the signatory parties relating to the exercise of such power or regulation or control and may delegate to any of them such powers of the commission as it may deem necessary or desirable.

10.2 Determination of Protected Areas. The commission may from time to time after public hearing upon due notice determine and delineate such areas within the basin wherein the demands upon supply made by water users have developed or threaten to develop to such a degree as to create a water shortage or to impair or conflict with the requirements or effectuation of the comprehensive plan, and any such areas may be designated as "protected areas." The commission, whenever it determines that such shortage no longer exists, shall terminate the protected status of such area and shall give public notice of such termination.

10.3 Withdrawal Permits. In any protected areas so determined and delineated, no person, firm, corporation or other entity shall divert or withdraw water for domestic, municipal, agricultural or industrial uses in excess of such quantities as the commission may prescribe by general regulation, except (i) pursuant to a permit granted under this article, or (ii) pursuant to a permit or approval heretofore granted under the laws of any of the signatory states.

10.4 Emergency. In the event of a drought or other condition which may cause an actual and immediate shortage of available water supply within the basin, or within any part thereof, the commission may, after public hearing, determine and delineate the area of such shortage and declare a water supply emergency therein. For the duration of such emergency as determined by the commission no person, firm, corporation or other public or private entity shall divert or withdraw water for any purpose, in excess of such quantities as the commission

1632

DELAWARE RIVER BASIN COMPACT

may prescribe by general regulation or authorize by special permit granted hereunder.

10.5 Standards. Permits shall be granted, modified or denied as the case may be so as to avoid such depletion of the natural stream flows and ground waters in the protected area or in an emergency area as will adversely affect the comprehensive plan or the just and equitable interests and rights of other lawful users of the same source, giving due regard to the need to balance and reconcile alternative and conflicting uses in the event of an actual or threatened shortage of water of the quality required.

10.6 Judicial Review. The determinations and delineations of the commission pursuant to Section 10.2 and the granting, modification or denial of permits pursuant to Section 10.3 through 10.5 shall be subject to judicial review in any court of competent jurisdiction.

10.7 Maintenance of Records. Each state shall provide for the maintenance and preservation of such records of authorized diversions and withdrawals and the annual volume thereof as the commission shall prescribe. Such records and supplementary reports shall be furnished to the commission at its request.

10.8 Existing State Systems. Whenever the commission finds it necesary or desirable to exercise the powers conferred by this article any diversion or withdrawal permits authorized or issued under the laws of any of the signatory states shall be superseded to the extent of any conflict with the control and regulation exercised by the commission.

ARTICLE 11

INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS

Section 11.1 Federal Agencies and Projects. For the purposes of avoiding conflicts of jurisdiction and of giving full effect to the commission as a regional agency of the signatory parties, the following rules shall govern federal projects affecting the water resources of the basin, subject in each case to the provisions of Section 1.4 of this compact:

(a) The planning of all projects related to powers delegated to the commission by this compact shall be undertaken in consultation with the commission; (b) No expenditure or commitment shall be made for or on account of the construction, acquisition or operation of any project or facility nor shall it be deemed authorized, unless it shall have first been included by the commission in the comprehensive plan;

(c) Each federal agency otherwise authorized by law to plan, design, construct, operate or maintain any project or facility in or for the basin shall continue to have, exercise and discharge such authority except as specifically provided by this section.

11.2 State and Local Agencies and Projects. For the purposes of avoiding conflicts of jurisdiction and of giving full effect to the commission as a regional agency of the signatory parties, the following rules shall govern projects of the signatory states, their political subdivisions and public corporations affecting water resources of the basin:

DELAWARE RIVER BASIN COMPACT

1633

(a) The planning of all projects related to powers delegated to the commission by this compact shall be undertaken in consultation with the commission; (b) No expenditure or commitment shall be made for or on account of the construction, acquisition or operation of any project or facility unless it shall have first been included by the commission in the comprehensive plan;

(c) Each state and local agency otherwise authorized by law to plan, design, construct, operate or maintain any project or facility in or for the basin shall continue to have, exercise and discharge such authority, except as specifically provided by this section.

11.3 Reserved Taxing Powers of States. Each of the signatory parties reserves the right to levy, assess and collect fees, charges and taxes on or measured by the withdrawal or diversion of waters of the basin for use within the jurisdictions of the respective signatory parties.

11.4 Project Costs and Evaluation Standards. The commission shall establish uniform standards and procedures for the evaluation, determination of benefits, and cost allocations of projects affecting the basin, and for the determination of project priorities, pursuant to the requirements of the comprehensive plan and its water resources program. The commission shall develop equitable cost sharing and reimbursement formulas for the signatory parties including:

(a) Uniform and consistent procedures for the allocation of project costs among purposes included in multiple-purpose programs;

(b) Contracts and arrangements for sharing financial responsibility among and with signatory parties, public bodies, groups and private enterprise, and for the supervision of their performance;

(c) Establishment and supervision of a system of accounts for reimbursable purposes and directing the payments and charges to be made from such accounts;

(d) Determining the basis and apportioning amounts (i) of reimbursable revenues to be paid signatory parties or their political subdivisions, and (ii) of payments in lieu of taxes to any of them.

11.5 Cooperative Services. The commission shall furnish technical services, advice and consultation to authorized agencies of the signatory parties with respect to the water resources of the basin, and each of the signatory parties pledges itself to provide technical and administrative services to the commission upon request, within the limits of available appropriations and to cooperate generally with the commission for the purposes of this compact, and the cost of such services may be reimbursable whenever the parties deem appropriate.

ARTICLE 12

CAPITAL FINANCING

Section 12.1 Borrowing Power. The commission may borrow money for any of the purposes of this compact, and may issue its negotiable bonds and other evidences of indebtedness in respect thereto. All such bonds and evidences of indebtedness shall be payable solely out of the properties and revenues of the

« AnkstesnisTęsti »