The bill amends the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act by updating the provisions related to groundwater discharge permit fees. It allows the Department to levy an annual fee on facilities or municipalities discharging wastewater into the ground or groundwater until October 1, 2027. The fee structure is specified, with a group 1 facility being charged $7,500, while group 2 facilities and municipalities with 1,000 or fewer residents will incur a fee of $1,800. Additionally, group 2a and group 3 facilities will be charged $300 and $240, respectively.

The bill also introduces a timeline for the Department to grant or deny permit applications, stipulating that a decision must be made within 180 days of receiving a complete application, unless an extension is agreed upon. If the Department fails to meet this timeline, applicants will receive a 15% discount on their permit fee. Furthermore, municipalities required to pay the fee can pass it on to users of their facilities. The definitions of facility groups have been clarified, explicitly stating that municipalities with populations of 1,000 or fewer are not included in the group classifications.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 324.3122