IN RE:



Application of Virgin Islands Waste Management

Authority for Approval of Environmental User Fee

And Wastewater User Fee



GOVERNMENT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS

OF THE UNITED STATES



Public Services Commission



Docket No. 554

Order No. 30/2012



a a a i a



ORDER



WHEREAS, in 2007 the Public Services Commission conducted a rate investigation and

hearings on the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority’s Application for Approval of the

Environmental User Fee and Wastewater User Fee; and



WHEREAS, the Public Services Commission (“Commission”) rejected the Waste Management

Authority (“WMA”) request for the Environmental User Fee as proposed; and



WHEREAS, the Commission conditionally approved the Wastewater User Fee in Commission

Order No. 20/2008; and



WHEREAS, in Order No. 20/2008 there were nine specific conditions imposed on Waste

Management, with the requirement to submit supplemental information within 18 months.

Those conditions were:



2.



The Authority’s application for the WUF is granted, on a temporary basis, for period of

eighteen (18) months commencing January 1, 2008. As a condition for renewal of the

WUF beyond June 30, 2009, WMA is required to submit the PSC the following by

January I, 2009:



a.



b.



The design of an industrial pre-treatment program, including a listing of the

customers to which the program will apply, and a timetable for implementation;



A report of the steps taken by WMA to validate the Equivalent Residential Units

(“ERUs”) utilized for non-residential customers, including an evaluation of the

flow and strength of wastewater discharged from non-residential property types,

as well as an assessment of the unit cost of conveying and treating wastewater

with various strength characteristics so that the ERUs utilized for non-residential

customers can be cost justified, as well as an explanation of the steps taken to

refine the basis for the equivalent units;



An application for “miscellaneous service” fees (impact fees, industrial pre-

treatment program fees, high strength surcharge fees, septic fees, etc.) with a

justification for the cost, and reflecting an off-set of the WUF revenue

requirements or the General Fund appropriation;



An audit of the WMA with respect to the WUF which includes the amount of

WUE collected and the cost of operation of the wastewater system, prepared by an

independent certified public accountant;