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).
Contents
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
The five members of the Commission include the four state governors of the member states and the Division Engineer, North Atlantic Division, Corps of Engineers, who serves as the ex officio U.S. member on the DRBC. As of July 31, 2012, the federal member of the Commission is Brigadier General Kent D. Savre of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, North Atlantic Division.
Colonel Savre also serves on the Susquehanna River Basin Commission.