1. A. The Department shall assess and collect a flat rate fee for design review services for public water systems.
2. B. Design criteria for public water systems are specified in 18 A.A.C. 4 and 18 A.A.C. 5.
3. C. An applicant shall submit public water system design review fees with an application for an Approval to Construct, as specified in 18 A.A.C. 5, Article 5.

4. D. The flat rate fees for a design review service:

   1. 1. Are established in Table 1, adjusted annually under subsection (I), are assessed on a per-unit basis where applicable, and are cumulative unless otherwise specified in this Article;
   2. 2. Shall be paid by cash, check, cashier’s check, money order, or any other method acceptable to the Department; and
   3. 3. Shall be paid in full before the Department issues approval of an application.

5. E. The Department shall refund 50 percent of the application fee paid by an applicant if, during the administrative completeness review time-frame period, the applicant:

   1. 1. Fails to respond in a reasonably timely manner, as set forth in A.A.C. R18-1-507, to a notice of administrative deficiencies requesting additional information under A.A.C. R18-1-503, and the Department denies the application; or
   2. 2. Withdraws the application.
6. F. If an application is denied under A.A.C. R18-1-507 after the end of the administrative completeness review time-frame, the Department shall retain the flat fee paid by the applicant.
7. G. If an applicant requests priority review, the Department shall approve or deny the request. When determining whether to approve a priority review request, the Department shall consider the complexity of the project and the Department’s current work load. If priority review is approved by the Department, the applicant shall pay the priority review fee specified in Table 1, adjusted annually under subsection (I).
8. H. State agencies are exempt from all fees imposed under this Article pursuant to A.R.S. § 49-353(A)(2)(b).
9. I. The Director shall adjust the design review services fees listed in Table 1 every August 1, to the nearest $10, beginning August 4, 2023, by multiplying the design review services fee by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the most recent year, and then dividing by the CPI for the year 2023. The CPI for any year is the average of the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ, all items published by the United States Department of Labor, as of the close of the 12-month period ending on June 30 of that year.

Table 1. Design Review Service Fees

1 Fees are calculated on a per-unit basis; i.e., a separate fee is assessed for each separate storage tank, booster pump, disinfection device, or main line extension.

2 Fees for each application type are cumulative; an applicant must pay the total of all pertinent fees.

3 Extensions of time to construct are issued pursuant to A.A.C. R18-5-505(E); the Section states that an Approval to Construct becomes void if construction is not commenced or completed within a specified time period, unless the Department grants an extension of time.

4 Priority Review Projects require Department authorization prior to filing.

Historical Note

Table 1, Design Review Service Fees, made by final rulemaking at 14 A.A.R. 4102, effective December 6, 2008 (Supp. 08-4). Amended by final rulemaking at 29 A.A.R. 1869 (August 25, 2023), with an immediate effective date of August 4, 2023 (Supp. 23-3).

Historical Note

Section made by final rulemaking at 14 A.A.R. 4102, effective December 6, 2008 (Supp. 08-4). Amended by final rulemaking at 29 A.A.R. 1869 (August 25, 2023), with an immediate effective date of August 4, 2023 (Supp. 23-3).