The Department of Natural Resources will propose a fee increase from $100 to $200 for the asbestos NESHAP notification fee at the January 17, 2018, Environmental Protection Commission (Commission) meeting. The proposal is available on the Commission’s website at or by going to www.iowadnr.gov, click on About DNR, Boards & Commissions, and then on the Environmental Protection Commission.
The asbestos notification fee was set in 2015 with the intent of increasing the number of staff in the program based on stakeholder recommendations. It was difficult to determine the number of initial notifications versus revised notifications because the data was tracked in an antiquated, EPA database prior to July 2014. This uncertainty resulted in the program revenue initially being based on receiving 4,000 initial notifications per year. It was unclear at the time how many revisions were included in that number (the fee rule does not apply to revisions to notifications). More accurate tracking shows that the number of initial notifications averages 2,000 per year. The fee is proposed to be increased from $100 to $200 per initial notification consistent with stakeholder recommendations. This increase would fund the asbestos notification program in accordance with the recommendations from both the 2014 and 2017 workgroups.
The Department will present a revised Fee Schedule to the Commission for approval when the Department requests final adoption of the rules following the public comment period. If approved by the Commission at the March 20, 2018 meeting, the fee change is anticipated to become effective on April 23, 2018.
Please contact Wendy Walker at wendy.walker@dnr.iowa.gov with any questions.