North Georgia Congressman Doug Collins and six congressional colleagues have demanded a more detailed explanation from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on planned fee increases for dock and facility permits on several Southeastern U.S. lakes.
The Corps announced a new fee structure on June 6, 2019, indicating increased fees for dock and land-based facility permits along the shorelines of Federal reservoirs and waterways in the South Atlantic Division. Lake Lanier in North Georgia is among the lakes that would be impacted by the fee hikes. Under the revised fee schedule, new dock or facility permits will increase from $400 to $835 and re-issue permits will increase from $175 to $835. The new fee structure is set to go in place in January 2020.
Collins, a Republican from Gainesville, signed a June 14, 2019 letter, which asked for an explanation of the fee increases. The letter was also signed by Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.), Jody Hice (R-Ga.), Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.), Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), Rick Allen (R-Ga.) and Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.)
A press statement from Collins indicated the Corps responded to the original letter, but the answers they sent did not offer the details the congressional representatives wanted to see.
As a result, Collins and his colleagues sent a follow-up letter requesting further clarification on the Corps' reasoning behind the fee hikes. Among the clarifications requested:
- Explain why an assessment by the staffs at the Corps reservoirs within SAD of administrative fees to cover administrative expenses was initiated in 2006 but no decision on a revised fee schedule was made for thirteen years;
- The Corps left the fee schedule unchanged for more than a decade and then decided to increase the amount exponentially. Explain why a more gradual phase-in to increase fees was not implemented;
- Explain why the Corps did not follow required notice and comment procedures under 5 U.S.C. 553;
- Explain how your office implemented a public information campaign to explain the revised real estate administrative fee schedule and why it is necessary; and
- Provide evidence to justify the fee amount of $835 for all of these services. Please be specific showing the study that the USACE did to arrive at this number, including evidence that the administrative burden for new permits, modifying permits, and renewing permits is the exact same.
The representatives said they want to hear from the Corps by Sept. 9, 2109.
Full text of the letter can be viewed here and below.
