Barnwell 'fee'

[Les Slaback <lester.slaback@nist.gov>]

We just got our fee notice for access to Barnwell.  For those in the 75-999 c.f. category (i.e., 10-130 barrels) it is $27000.  Obviously this is just another way to cover their operating costs/profits in the face of lower volumes (i.e., an alternative to the recent options proposal).  A few questions:
1.  Why did they not chose simply to increase the per cu.ft charge so the cost were proportioned to use?  They need the money up front?
2.  Can those of us that are not very large users ship every other year to avoid one of they annual fees, i.e., amoratize the fee over a larger number of barrels?
3.  Are there any indications of how high these will go, presuming the state will keep the site open?  It is tough to plan when one gets surprise bills like this in our last fiscal quarter.  On the other have the $200,000 bill for those in the >999 cf category would be even more distressing.


Disclaimer:  the above are the personal musings of the author, and do not represent any past, present, or future position of NIST, the U.S. government, or anyone else who might think that they are in a position of authority.
Lester Slaback, Jr.  [Lester.Slaback@NIST.GOV]
NBSR Health Physics
Center for Neutron Research
NIST
Gaithersburg, MD  20899
301 975-5810