ADVISORY: Decree Party Public Listening Sessions on the Flexible Flow Management Program (FFMP)

AGENDA | PROCEDURES | ONLINE REGISTRATION

The Parties to the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court Decree entered in the Delaware River Case (Decree posted at http://water.usgs.gov/osw/odrm/decree.html) are interested in, and invite you to share your comments on the Flexible Flow Management Program (FFMP), an adaptive framework for managing diversions and reservoir releases in the Delaware River Basin.

The Decree Parties—The State of Delaware, the State of New Jersey, the State of New York, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the City of New York—are pleased to announce two upcoming FFMP Listening Sessions that are intended to solicit feedback on the FFMP from a broad cross section of interested parties. Feedback accepted will be limited to FFMP-related issues only; comments on other topics or programs will not be accepted at these sessions. Specifically, the Decree Parties invite input on the following topics addressed by the FFMP:

Flood Mitigation under the FFMP
Aquatic Life and Ecosystems under the FFMP
Water Supply Obligations and Reliability
Recreational Use
Other Topics addressed by the FFMP.

The Listening Sessions will be held at two locations (see below) in the Delaware River Basin. The program at each location will consist of a brief overview of the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court Decree, and the roles and responsibilities of the Decree Party Principals, the Delaware River Master, and the Delaware River Basin Commission. Each session will be 80 minutes in length. The venues for the Listening Sessions are as follows:

Upper Basin Loch Sheldrake, NY Tuesday October 1, 2013	Middle Basin Easton, PA Wednesday October 2, 2013
3 p.m.—5 p.m. and 6 p.m.—8 p.m. Sullivan County Community College (SUNY Sullivan) Seelig Theater 112 College Road Loch Sheldrake, NY 12759	3 p.m.—5 p.m. and 6 p.m.—8 p.m. The Nurture Nature Center 518 Northampton Street Easton, Pennsylvania 18042
*There will be a total of four listening sessions -- two at each meeting location. At each location, one session will be in the afternoon and one will be in the early evening.

Individuals who have registered in advance of the Listening Sessions will speak first, in the order of their registration receipt. Individuals or their representatives who wish to speak must do so in person. Written comments may be submitted in person during the Listening Sessions. Additional information on Listening Session format and procedures is posted on the River Master's web site at http://water.usgs.gov/osw/odrm/index.html

Individuals who wish to speak can register by completing the online form posted on the Delaware River Master's web site at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Lrn7yAkG1dkeqmoxq22tUunjE2At5jD26_JBQAHwXTw/viewform

Individuals without internet access can register in advance of the Listening Sessions by returning a completed registration form (see below) to the Delaware River Master's office. On-site registration will also be available at the time of the Listening Sessions.

Accommodations for special needs—Individuals in need of an accommodation as provided for in the Americans with Disabilities Act who wish to attend the Listening Sessions should contact the Delaware River Master's office directly at 570-296-7213 to discuss how your needs can be accommodated.

Registration Form

Name:

Affiliation:

FFMP Comment Topic(s):

Send completed form to:

Office of the Delaware River Master
Milford Professional Park
Building 3, Suite 304
10 Buist Road
Milford, PA 18337

Agenda for the Delaware River Decree Party Principals Listening Sessions

Overview—The roles of the Supreme Court Decree, Delaware River Master, and the Delaware River Basin Commission - 20 minutes (Mason¹/Collier²)

Public Comment Period - 80 minutes

(Remarks will focus only on the topic then under consideration in that part of the session. Individual speaker time limits will depend on the number of commenters who have registered for each session.)

Consists of 4 sequential sessions for a total of 80 minutes:

: Part 1 - Flood Mitigation under the FFMP
Part 2 - Aquatic Life and Ecosystems under the FFMP
Part 3 - Water Supply Obligations and Reliability
Part 4 - Recreational Use

Closing Remarks (DRM, Decree Party Principals)

¹ Robert Mason, Acting Delaware River Master
² Carol Collier, Director, Delaware River Commission

Format and Procedures

The Decree Party Principals and the Delaware River Master appreciate the public's participation in this listening session. The listening session will provide a brief overview of the roles of the 1954 United States Supreme Court decree, the Decree Party Principals, the Delaware River Master, and the Delaware River Basin Commission, followed by four 20-minute public comment sessions related to: Flood Mitigation under the FFMP; Aquatic Life and Ecosystems under the FFMP; Water Supply Obligations and Reliability; and Recreational Uses.

The procedures set forth below are intended to facilitate an orderly consideration of topics of concern to the public while allowing as many people as possible to be heard. The Delaware River Master may modify or supplement these rules as necessary to facilitate the orderly progress of the meeting.

Registration. Please arrive at least 30 minutes in advance of the meeting start time in order to allow time for registration and a prompt start of the meeting. Each individual who wishes to speak must "register" by completing and submitting to the Office of the Delaware River Master a "registration" card legibly stating his or her name and affiliation and the public session topic on which he/she wishes speak. Registration will remain open throughout the listening session.
Speaker Sequence. Speakers who have registered in advance of the start of the meeting (either by contacting the Delaware River Master beforehand or registering at meeting) will be called first. For session topics on which a large number of speakers are expected, registration cards will be numbered and individuals called in the corresponding sequence. The Delaware River Master may make exceptions to this sequence if he finds a different sequence would be helpful. For example, the Delaware River Master may invite government officials or other persons with specialized knowledge or expertise to speak first.
Time Constraints. Delaware River Master will establish time limitations for speakers based upon the number of individuals who wish to be heard and the time available. In general, speakers are advised to prepare a version of their remarks that will not exceed a limit of two or three minutes. When a speaker's time has expired, the speaker must yield the floor, and if a microphone is in use, leave the microphone area. Speakers may not cede any portion of their time to another speaker.
Questions. As a general rule, neither the Decree Party Principals, nor the Delaware River Master, nor their staffs will respond to speaker comments during the session. However, the Decree Party Principals can ask clarifying questions or request additional information as needed.
No Comment by Audio/Video. Public comment will not be accepted via phone, cell phone, video or audio recording. Individuals or their representatives who wish to speak must do so in person.
Public Record. An audio recording of the meeting will be preserved as a public record.
Speaker and Audience Conduct. Please remain quiet while others are speaking. Interrupting the speaking of another with loud objections, demonstrations, or other disruptions is prohibited. Heckling is likewise prohibited, as is abusive language and threatening behavior. Loud support for a speaker should also not be given. Individuals who ignore these procedures or those established by the Delaware River Master, including refusal to cease speaking when the allotted time has expired, will be asked to leave, and if necessary, will be removed by security or law enforcement personnel.
Signs, Placards, Banners & Other Display Media. Signs, placards, banners and other display media are permitted in the meeting room as long as they do not interfere with other people's ability to see and hear and do not otherwise disrupt the proceedings. At the request of the Delaware River Master, signs, placards, banners and other display media must be lowered or removed from the meeting room. Additional host venue requirements and restrictions will be strictly enforced.
Written Comments. Written comments may be submitted in person during the listening sessions.
Video and Audio Recording. Video and audio equipment larger than a cell phone - whether it is handheld or fixed on a tripod - may be used only in designated areas. Users of such equipment must identify themselves to the Delaware River Master staff when they arrive and will be directed to the appropriate area. Cell phone video and audio recording will be permitted in the meeting room as long as its use does not interfere with other people's ability to see and hear and does not otherwise disrupt the proceedings.
News Media. Members of the news media are requested to identify themselves at the registration desk.
Meeting Room Access. All rules, regulations, and access restrictions established by the host venue will be adhered to, including occupancy limits, prohibitions of food and drink, emergency and handicapped access and parking regulations such as fire lanes and no parking zones. All individuals in the meeting room must have a seat or be in a designated area. While attendees may come and go as they please without being disruptive, sitting or standing in aisles and sharing seats are not allowed.
Additional Procedures. The Delaware River Master retains the authority to terminate the listening session for any reason including safety concerns, or if the meeting cannot be continued in a productive manner due to failure to adhere to the ground rules set forth above.