The proposed changes are expected to maintain the District's permit revenues at or near current levels for FY 02-03. Although annual permit renewal fees are anticipated to increase by approximately $500,000 as a result of the 5.3 percent Consumer Price Index (CPI) adjustment, it is likely that permit fees revenues from New & Modified sources will be reduced by a similar amount. This projection is based on the fact that it is very likely that fewer applications for major power plants will be submitted during the next fiscal year.
All Hearing Board Fees, contained in Schedule A, including Excess Emission Fees, will also be increased by 5.3 percent. Likewise, fees for non-permitted activities, such as Asbestos Operations, Aeration of Contaminated Soil and Removal of Underground Storage Tanks will also be adjusted by the 5.3 percent increase in the CPI.
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seq., and the CEQA Guidelines, 14 CCR 15000 et seq., require a government agency, such as the BAAQMD, that undertakes or approves a discretionary project, to consider the potential impacts of that project on all environmental media. The District's proposed fee increase is statutorily exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act as stated in the CEQA Guidelines Section 15273: "CEQA does not apply to the establishment, modification, structuring, restructuring, or approval of rates, tolls, fares, and other charges by public agencies..." See also Public Resources Code Section 21800(b)(8).
The details of the staff proposal are contained in the staff report and in the attached copy of Regulation 3, Fees, in strikeout and underline format.
The effective date of the proposed fee increases is July 1, 2002.
