Schedule of Fees rev 3-2010

The Fee Schedule is a supplement to the LSDC’s Rules and Regulations.  It is adjusted periodically by the Commission.  Where appropriate, the corresponding permit form is linked to the fee description.

The purpose of this Schedule of Fees is to establish the costs associated with services necessary to govern the use of public and private sewers, and all related apertures, related to the disposal of sewage, installation and connection of building sewers, and the discharge of waters and wastes into the Commission’s sewage collection system; and provide penalties for violations thereof. 

This schedule is not a substitute for the Rules and Regulations of the District but is rather supplement to them establishing fees for permits and use.  For clarification on any fee subject please refer to the LSDC’s Rules and Regulations.  The Commission reserves the right to amend or waive this Schedule of Fees in any manner and to establish more stringent fees or requirements as are deemed necessary or appropriate.

Under the authority of Chapter 831 (Section 12) of the 1967 Acts and Resolves of Massachusetts and G.L. c. 83, and in furtherance of the goals set forth therein, the Lancaster Sewer District Commission has established the following Schedule of Fees associated with the regulations governing the use of public and private sewers in the Lancaster Sewer District.

General Fees

Connection Fee             Varies
Any property, having access to an existing District sewer and not requiring a sewer extension, that is proposing a connection to said sewer which has not been previously assessed or paid a betterment for the privilege of connection shall be subject to a connection fee equal to the greatest betterment fee applied to adjacent properties and as agreed upon by the Commission.  This fee shall apply to all Approval Not Required lots subdivided after the initial assessment is imposed.  All other connections requiring an extension of the District’s sewer shall be subject to a sewer extension fee in lieu of this fee.  This fee does not apply to unmodified properties which have previously been assessed betterments.

Sewer Extension Fee    $15.15 per GPD, or at a rate of $5,000.00 per unit, whichever is greater
Any proposal for a new extension of the District’s sewer will be subject to a sewer extension fee.  Fees shall be charged on a per gallon-per-day (GPD) basis as reported in the flow section of the DEP sewer extension permit, at a rate of $15.15 per GPD, or at a rate of $5,000.00 per unit, whichever is greater.  Said fee may be paid in installments at a time and rate as determined by the Commissioners, but shall be due no later than the time of connection of each unit(s).

Change in Use Fee        $15.15 per GPD, or at a rate of $5,000.00 per unit, whichever is greater
Any facility connected to the Districts sewer that is proposing a change in use must report the change to the Commission for approval.  A change in use shall be considered any change in the characteristics or quantity of flow.  Any change in use shall be subject to a fee charged on a per gallon-per-day (GPD) basis equal to the difference of the proposed flow of the new use from the flow of the current use, at a rate of $15.15 per GPD, or, if applicable, at a rate of $ 5,000.00 per unit, whichever is greater.  For purposes of calculation Title 5 flow tables shall be used.  Said fee may be paid in installments at a time and rate as determined by the Commissioners, but shall be due no later than the time of change or connection of each unit(s).  Changes in use not reported to the District shall be subject to fines and will be required to pay a Change in Use Fee immediately upon discovery.  A $50.00 application fee shall be required.

Permit Fees

General Service Application Required for Building Sewer Connection         $150
Incorporated into LSDC Service Connection Application Multiform
A $150.00 application fee shall be required.
For residential and commercial services in full compliance with the standards of the Commission set forth in these regulations and as outlined in the sections for Materials and Methods of Construction and Building Sewers, Connections and Appurtenances or as otherwise noted.
(a) The owner shall complete and submit to the Commission a General Service Application prior to construction of a new building sewer, or reconstruction, repair, or modification of an existing building sewer which connects to a Commission sanitary sewer within the District.
(b) If determined to be required by the Superintendent, the application shall be supplemented by building site plans, which have been approved in advance by the Superintendent, and by such other permits, plans, specifications, and information as the Commission may require. Building site plans shall be prepared in accordance with the Commission’s Requirements for Site Plans. 

Special Service Application Required for Building Sewer Connection        $400 + $50/Inspection
Incorporated into LSDC Service Connection Application Multiform
A $400.00 application fee shall be required.
For residential and commercial services not meeting the standards of the Commission as set forth in these regulations and as outlined in the sections for Materials and Methods of Construction and Building Sewers, Connections and Appurtenances or as otherwise noted.  A special service application is not required when the proposed modification as described in the Rules and regulations may be approved by the superintendent as noted. 
(a) The owner shall complete and submit to the Commission a Special Service Application prior to construction of a new building sewer, or reconstruction, repair, or modification of an existing building sewer which connects to a Commission sanitary sewer within the District.
(b) The application shall be supplemented by building site plans, which have been approved in advance by the Superintendent, and by such other permits, plans, specifications, and information as the Commission may require. Building site plans shall be prepared in accordance with the Commission’s Requirements for Site Plans.

Inspection fees shall be $ 50.00 per number of visits required by the Commissions inspector and shall be paid prior to issuance of a connection permit.  The number of visits will be estimated by the contractor for purposes of calculating total inspection costs.  If the number of inspections varies from the estimate the fee will be adjusted prior to the issuance of a certificate of compliance.  Connections requiring manhole tests or sewer line pressure/flushing tests will be at a rate of $200.00 per test. If determined to be necessary, the Superintendent of Sewers reserves the right to require that inspections be performed by an Inspecting Engineer to be paid directly by the Applicant, at no cost to the Commission, in lieu of the standard inspection fees.

Industrial Service Application Required for Building Sewer Connection     Varies
Incorporated into LSDC Service Connection Application Multiform
For service to establishments producing industrial waste flow (see definitions) or any flow greater than 25;000 gallons per day in either case, the owner(s) or his agent shall make a permit application to the Superintendent on a special form provided by the District.  The permit application shall be supplemented by plans, specifications, or other information considered pertinent in the judgement of the superintendent.  Every user required to obtain a Sewer Use Discharge Permit for industrial discharge shall complete and file with both the Commission and the MWRA a permit application form which may be obtained from either the Commission or the MWRA.  Fee for filing said permit shall be determined on a Gallon Per Day rate and determined by the Commissioners on a case-by-case basis.

Special Permit Required for Flow Credit Transfer or Issuance                    $100 + $12/Gallon
Incorporated into LSDC Service Connection Application Multiform
A $100.00 application fee shall be required.
Any new connection not meeting the terms of ACO 630 or any modification which results in additional flows to a Commission sanitary sewer requires a transfer of flow credits prior to construction.  A transfer of flow credits may occur from the Commission’s sewer bank or from an infiltration and inflow study and removal project.
(a) Permits issued from the Sewer Bank shall require fees as previously  established by the Commission for the withdrawal and allocation of sewer capacity. Sewer Bank fees shall be charged on a per-gallon per-day basis at a rate of $9.00 per Gallon.
(b) The Commission may require that the applicant obtain flow credits by way of an infiltration and inflow study and removal project to be performed in the district.   There are no additional fees associated with performing I&I work.

Permit to Enter Commission Sewers                                                               $25
No person shall enter or install equipment into the Commission’s collection system without first obtaining from the Commission a Permit to Enter Commission Sewers. 
(a) A written description and/or specifications must accompany a letter request.  An initial fee of $ 25.00 must accompany all applications for permits to enter Commission sewers. 
(b) If determined to be necessary by the Superintendent, the permit to enter will constitute a permit-required confined space permit.  An entry permit must be acquired for each individual entry and will expire at the end of the day of issuance.  In such cases, the permit fee will only be required for the initial application.  All subsequent confined space entry permits associated with the initial application will not require fees. 
(c) Dependent on the nature of the work to be performed, the applicant may be required to pay additional fees and/or post a bond with the Commission in an amount and form as determined by the Commissioner’s. 

Contractor License and Bonding Fees

Issuance of Utilities Construction License                                                         $250
Utility Contractor License Application
Licenses to install common sewers will be issued to experienced and competent contractors.  An initial fee of $ 250.00 must accompany all applications for licenses.  Licenses must be renewed for each Fiscal year, starting July 1. 

Bonding and Insurance Requirements for Sewer Extensions                           Varies
(a) Before extending, replacing or relocating a public sewer the contractor shall be approved in writing by the Commission and post a bond with the Commission in an amount and form as determined by the Commissioners.  Generally, a bond in an amount no less than 100% of the estimated cost of construction will be required.
(b) Contractors doing work hereunder shall maintain minimum insurance coverage as determined by the Commissioners prior to license issuance.

Issuance of Drainlayers License                                                                            $100
Drainlayer License Application 
Licenses to install building sewers and make connections to the common sewer will be issued to experienced and competent contractors. An initial fee of $100.00 must accompany all applications for licenses. Licenses must be renewed for each Fiscal year, starting July 1st. 

Drainlayers Bonds and Insurance 
(a) Drainlayers shall post a bond in an amount no less than $ 5,000.00 as determined by the Commissioners.  Additional bonding may be required for connections being made by special permit.  Additional bonding will be in an amount and form as determined by the Commissioners at a meeting of the Commission. 
(b) Drainlayers doing work hereunder shall maintain minimum insurance coverage as determined by the Commissioners.  Drainlayers shall provide a Certificate of Casualty and Liability Insurance with $500,000/$1,000,000 limits and the Lancaster Sewer District named as an additional insured party.

Violations

Any person who is determined to be in violation of these regulations shall be fined an amount as determined by the Commission at a hearing.  Said hearing shall be held after proper posting and notice.  Drainlayers will be additionally subject to suspension of license.

Any person found to be violating and provisions of these Rules and Regulations, shall be served by the Board with written notice stating the nature of the violation and providing a reasonable time limit for the satisfactory correction thereof.  The offender shall, within the period of time stated in such notice, permanently cease all violations.

Each day that a violation continues shall be considered new violation.

Any person violating any provision of these Rules and Regulations shall be liable to the Lancaster Sewer District for any expense, loss or damage occasioned the Lancaster Sewer District by reason of such violation.