N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 6 § 617.13

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 43, October 23, 2024

Section 617.13 - Fees and costs

(a) When an action subject to this Part involves an applicant, the lead agency may charge a fee to the applicant in order to recover the actual costs of either preparing or reviewing the draft or final EIS. The fee may include a chargeback to recover a proportion of the lead agency's actual costs expended for the preparation of a generic EIS prepared pursuant to section 617.10 of this Part for the geographic area where the applicant's project is located. The chargeback may be based on the percentage of the remaining developable land or the percentage of road frontage to be used by the project, or any other reasonable methods. The fee must not exceed the amounts allowed under subdivisions (b) through (d) of this section. If the lead agency charges for preparation of a draft or final EIS, it may not also charge for review of the draft or final EIS; if it charges for review of a draft or final EIS, it may not also charge for preparation of the EISs. Scoping will be considered part of the draft EIS for purposes of determining a SEQR fee; no fee may be charged for preparation of an EAF or determination of significance.

(b) For residential projects, the total project value will be calculated on the actual purchase price of the land or the fair market value of the land (determined by assessed valuation divided by equalization rate) whichever is higher, plus the cost of all required site improvements, not including the cost of buildings and structures, as determined with reference to a current cost data publication in common use. In the case of such projects, the fee charged by an agency may not exceed two percent of the total project value.

(c) For nonresidential construction projects, the total project value will be calculated on the actual purchase price of the land or the fair market value of the land (determined by the assessed valuation divided by equalization rate) whichever is higher, plus the cost of supplying utility service to the project, the cost of site preparation and the cost of labor and material as determined with reference to a current cost data publication in common use. In the case of such projects the fee charged may not exceed one half of one percent of the total project value.

(d) For projects involving the extraction of minerals, the total project value will be calculated on the cost of site preparation for mining. Site preparation cost means the cost of clearing and grubbing and removal of over-burden for the entire area to be mined plus the cost of utility services and construction of access roads. Such costs are determined with reference to a current cost data publication in common use. The fee charged by the agency may not exceed one half of one percent of the total project value. For those costs to be incurred for phases occurring three or more years after issuance of a permit, the total project value will be determined using a present value calculation.

(e) The lead agency will provide the applicant, upon request, with an estimate of the costs for preparing or reviewing the draft EIS calculated on the total value of the project for which funding or approval is sought. The applicant is also entitled to, upon request, copies of invoices or statements for work prepared by a consultant that are submitted to the lead agency in connection with any services rendered in preparing or reviewing an EIS.

(f) Appeals procedure. When a dispute arises concerning fees charged to an applicant by a lead agency, the applicant may make a written request to the agency setting forth reasons why it is felt that such fees are inequitable. Upon receipt of a request, the chief fiscal officer of the agency or his designee will examine the agency record and prepare a written response to the applicant setting forth reasons why the applicant's claims are valid or invalid. Such appeal procedure must not interfere with or cause delay in the EIS process or prohibit an action from being undertaken.

(g) The technical services of the department may be made available to other agencies on a fee basis, reflecting the costs thereof, and the fee charged to any applicant pursuant to this section may reflect such costs.

N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 6 § 617.13

Amended New York State Register July 18, 2018/Volume XL, Issue 29, eff.1/1/2019