Public Participation

Open Meeting Procedures

The Susquehanna River Basin Compact (Compact) requires that all meetings of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (Commission) be open to the public. (Compact, Section 15.4(a)). The Commission also promulgated regulations at 18 CFR§ 808.1 to govern its public hearings. These provisions dictate which hearings are mandatory and which are optional and prescribe the process by which hearings should be conducted. As an independent compact agency, the Commission is not subject to any of its member jurisdictions’ laws regarding open meetings. However, the Commission is committed to maintaining open meeting practices that provide similar public access to its processes and transparency with respect to its actions.

Commission Meeting Structure

The Commission employs a bifurcated structure for its quarterly business meetings. Business meetings are generally held in March, June, September and December. Associated public hearings are held approximately one month prior to the business meetings. A schedule of the public hearings and business meetings can be found on the Commission’s website. This process allows for effective public access to the items noticed and for extended time for the Commission to consider any comments received.

Public Hearings

Public hearings are noticed in the Federal Register at least twenty (20) days prior to the date of the hearing. A list of items proposed for consideration is provided with the notice and also posted on the Commission’s website. Public comment is accepted at the hearings in the form of in-person or telephonic testimony. For the sake of convenience and efficiency, the Commission requests that interested parties register to provide public comment in advance of the hearing. Written comments are accepted up to ten (10) days after the date of the hearing.

 Please click here to register to provide public comment

Business Meetings

Business Meetings are noticed in the Federal Register and are the forum for official Commission actions. The public is welcome to attend the Business Meetings, but the opportunity for formal comment is not typically provided. In rare instances, an item may be added to the agenda after notice has been posted. To allow the public to address such items and any other relevant issues, at the discretion of the Commission chair and as time allows, the Commission typically provides time for an informal discussion after the adjournment of the business meeting.