The DEP adopted the Fiscal Year (FY) 2003 Fee Report and Fee Schedule for the Treatment Works Approval (TWA) permitting program on October 8, 2002. In accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:1C, notice of the public hearing and opportunity to comment on the proposed FY2003 budget and fee schedule was provided in the New Jersey Register on September 3, 2002, at 34 N.J.R. 3135(a). Copies of the TWA Fee Report and Fee Schedule were mailed to those parties who applied for and/or received a TWA permit during FY2002 and was made available to other interested parties upon request.

The Department held a public hearing on the FY2003 fee schedule on Monday, September 9, 2002 at the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust, in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. No individuals attended or testified at the public hearing. Additionally, the Department received no written comments on the proposed TWA budget and fee schedule.

Gautam R. Patel, Chief of the Bureau of Engineering South, Division of Water Quality, served as the hearing officer at the September 9, 2002 public hearing on the FY2003 TWA Fee Report and Fee Schedule. After reviewing the record regarding the TWA Fee Report, Mr. Patel recommended that the Department adopt the FY2003 TWA Fee Report and Fee Schedule. Since November 1, 2002, TWA permit fees are being calculated using a "P" coefficient of 0.0026. The "P" coefficient will increase to 0.0032 effective June 1, 2003.