DE HB175

Increases fees for the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) across multiple programs, with many fees unchanged since 1991, to address funding gaps caused by rising operational costs and expected decreases in federal grants

Raises sediment and stormwater plan review fees from $80 to $975 per disturbed acre, and increases various professional license fees (percolation testers, system designers, septic tank installers, etc.) from $40 to $100 annually

Increases underground storage tank registration fees from $50 to $150 per tank annually, and raises contractor certification fees from $250 to $750 for companies and from $100 to $300 for on-site supervisors

Establishes new fee schedules for air quality permits ($500-$24,000 depending on complexity), waste facilities ($400-$14,000 annually), and water permits including NPDES discharge fees of $0.25 per 1,000 gallons up to $20,000 per entity

Municipal annual fees for wastewater discharge, groundwater disposal, and water allocation systems take effect July 1, 2026, at $0.10 per 1,000 gallons with a 50% phase-in rate for the first year