(a) The Department, conservation districts, counties or municipalities are authorized to receive from federal, state, or other public or private sources financial, technical or other assistance for use in accomplishing the purposes of this chapter. The Department may allocate, as necessary or desirable, any funds received to conservation districts, counties or municipalities for the purpose of effectuating this chapter.

(b) The conservation districts, counties and municipalities shall have authority to adopt a fee system to help fund program implementation. That fee system shall be implemented by the designated plan approval agency to fund overall program management, plan review, construction review, enforcement needs and maintenance responsibilities. In those situations where the Department becomes the designated plan approval agency, the Department may assess a plan review and inspection fee. That fee shall not exceed $80 per disturbed acre per project. There shall be no duplication of fees by the various implementing agencies for an individual land disturbing activity and the fee schedule shall be based upon the costs to the Department, conservation districts, counties or municipalities to implement and administer the program. In addition, the Department of Transportation is authorized to act as the designated plan approval agency in those situations where a public utility engages in land-disturbing activity for which a permit is required because of a project initiated by the Department of Transportation, subject to the following provisions:

(1) If the land-disturbing activity takes place on an existing right-of-way of the Department of Transportation, that Department is permitted to assess and collect a fee for this purpose which shall not exceed $125 per acre, with a $250 minimum.

(2) If the land-disturbing activity takes place adjacent to but not upon an existing right-of-way of the Department of Transportation, the fee contemplated by paragraph (b)(1) of this section is waived.

(c) Authority is also granted to the Department, conservation districts, counties or municipalities to establish a stormwater utility as an alternative to total funding under the fee system. The stormwater utility shall be developed for the designated watersheds and may fund such activities as long range watershed master planning, watershed retrofitting, and facility maintenance. This fee system shall be reasonable and equitable so that each contributor of runoff to the system, including state agencies, shall pay to the extent to which runoff is contributed. Criteria for the implementation of the stormwater utility shall be established in regulations promulgated under this chapter. The implementation of a stormwater utility will necessitate the development of a local utility ordinance prior to its implementation.

61 Del. Laws, c. 522, § 1; 67 Del. Laws, c. 234, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 177, § 1.