Delaware River Basin Commission

The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) is a United States government agency created in 1961 by an interstate compact, signed into law by President John F. Kennedy, between four states (Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, and New York).

Purpose and activities

The purpose of the Commission is to bring the Delaware River under collective and balanced control, and to ensure fair usage by the states. To this end, the Commission conducts programs related to water quality protection, water supply allocation and water conservation, regulatory review and permitting, watershed planning, drought management, flood mitigation and loss reduction, and recreational activities (such as fishing).

The DRBC was one of the first government agencies in the United States to address the problem of water pollution. The agency predates the EPA and the Clean Water Act.

Membership

Members of the Commission include the four state governors of the member states, and a federal representative appointed by the President of the United States. As of April 17, 2009, the fifth member of the Commission is Colonel Peter A. (Duke) DeLuca of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, North Atlantic Division.

DeLuca also serves on the Susquehanna River Basin Commission.

External links

• Homepage of the Delaware River Basin Commission
• Brief history of the Commission from the Delaware State Archives
• Proposed and finalized federal regulations from the Delaware River Basin Commission