OCR Text |
Show wide range of uses ( Province of British Columbia, 1974). Rentals are payable whether the licensee exercises his rights or not. Current rental rates are presented in Appendix A. Except for water used for hydropower, the annual rental fees are nominal. Of the approximately $ 11 million of annual revenue produced by these fees, in 1976 two- thirds came from hydropower. The main purpose of the fees, according to a province water official, is not to generate revenue, but to establish government ownership of the resources and encourage licensees to give up unused rights. The revenues are not earmarked for water development or administration but revert to the general funds of the province. Arkansas Under provisions of Act 81 of 1957, Arkansas requires that no person construct or own a dam to impound water exceeding a certain size on any stream until he obtains a permit from the Arkansas Soil and Water Conservation Commission. The act further requires that an annual fee of 2 cents per acre foot be charged for the water stored. The money derived from these fees goes into the Arkansas Water Development Fund which is administered by the Commission. The Commission may use the funds to participate in water development projects through loans, grants- in- aid, and joint ventures. Hawaii The Department of Land and Natural Resources leases out water rights from state lands by public auction. The revenues are deposited in the state's general fund. Michigan The Michigan Water Resources Commission administers a water quality surveillance fee program. Originally authorized by the State Legislature in 1970, surveillance fees generate approximately $ 1 million annually. The fees are graduated from $ 50 to $ 9,000. They are charged to commercial and industrial facilities which discharge wastewater to the surface or groundwaters of the state. Proceeds are used to reimburse the state for costs incurred in monitoring the discharges. Nevada Colorado River water users are charged $ 0.05 to $ 0.55 per acre foot surcharge on top of $ 0.50 per acre foot paid the Bureau of Reclamation for diverted water. These funds are used to cover administrative expenses of the Division of Colorado River Resources, the agency that has responsibility for administering the power resources allocated to Nevada from the Colorado River Storage Project. All contracts executed after 1963 for power generated on the river system provide for a charge of .03 mills per kwh to be deposited into the Division's Research and Development fund. This income ( approximately $ 5,000 annually) is available for water development, and is in addition to income from a 0.1 mill per kwh administrative " surcharge." New Jersey Surface water diversion fees, which currently range from $ 1.00 to $ 10.00 per million gallons as flows are decreased below minimum levels to zero, were established by statute in 1907. In part, the fees were to provide economic incentive against streamflow depletion; however, the charges are not high enough to meet this objective in today's economic environment. Current annual revenue of approximately $ 250,000 is returned to the state treasury. New York Four hydropower developments utilizing waters in which the state has a propriatory right must pay annual license fees into the state general fund. The first of these licenses was granted in 1896 for perpetuity at a flat rate of $ 200 per year. The three other licenses, granted in the mid 1920s for terms ranging from 30 to 50 years, pertain to surplus waters of the state canal system. Flat rates charged for these three licenses annually amount to $ 12,000, $ 18,000, and $ 40,000. Sixty applications for hydropower licenses were received by the state prior to 1930. Some never came to fruition; others expired and were not renewed. No new applications have been submitted since 1930. Oregon The state requires hydroelectric power plants to pay annual fees of 20 cents per theoretical horsepower per year and obtains approximately one- half million dollars per year revenue. The proceeds go into a state general fund. These annual fees have been in effect for several decades, and currently are imposed on 80 private companies and municipalities. According to a state water official, the fees were initially imposed along with limited term licenses on hydropower to constrain the development of monopolies. Hydropower was considered a profitable enterprise, and many different interests were competing to tie up available power sites. The fee was viewed strictly as a tax. Wisconsin The Department of Natural Resources administers a monitoring fee on waste discharges. Dischargers of industrial wastes, toxic, and hazardous substances are required to pay a $ 50 annual monitoring fee plus an additional fee based upon the concentration and quantity of pollutants discharged. See Appendix A for fee schedule. 4 |