NATION
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s final “Guidelines Establishing Test Procedures for the Analysis of Pollutants; Analytical Methods for Biological Pollutants in Wastewater and Sewage Sludge” establishes approved bacterial testing procedures for analysis and sampling pollutants. These changes include approval for new methods for monitoring microbial pollutants in wastewater and sewage sludge, including EPA methods, vendor-developed methods, methods developed by voluntary consensus bodies and updated versions of currently approved methods. The regulation became effective April 25. The document is at www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-WATER/ 2007/March/Day-26/w1455.htm.
CALIFORNIA
The state’s newest penal code prevents grease waste haulers from transporting material removed from grease traps or grease interceptors in the same vehicles used to transport yellow and cooking grease, recyclable cooking oil, septic waste, or car wash fluids. The law defines grease waste haulers as transporters of inedible kitchen grease who must be registered under the Food and Agricultural Code.
The regulation permits grease waste haulers to insert decanted liquid, provided owners or operators of grease traps and interceptors or local sewer authorities have no objections. Sewer authorities may enforce local discharge limits for fats, oil, and grease, and other best management or operating practices.
The law also states that it is illegal for grease waste haulers to discharge into grease traps and interceptors, manholes, cleanouts, or other sanitary sewer appurtenances, or into any state waters.
FLORIDA
The state’s mandatory onsite inspection bill, in the Senate as of April, requires owners of residential onsite systems to have them inspected every five years. It charges the Florida Department of Health with specifying the parameters of the inspections. Inspection reports must be filed with the department and a copy given to the homeowner.
According to the legislation, before selling a home, written notice that the property has an onsite system must be given to the buyer along with a copy of the latest inspection report. The bill also authorizes an inspection fee to be set by the agency, $18 of which is earmarked for the impoverished, research, and education.
FLORIDA
A bill (HB 357) introduced in the House would provide financial assistance to low-income property owners in the Wekiva Study Area or the Wekiva River Protection Area. The grant, limited to $10,000 a year and in the form of a rebate, would subsidize the construction, repair, or modification of new or existing onsite systems.
Central utility companies have talked about amending the bill and using the grant money to help alleviate the cost of connecting to a central sewage line. The amendment also would indicate that the state’s first preference is to use central sewage systems in Florida’s spring areas. The Florida Onsite Wastewater Association is working to ensure that the amendment is not attached to the bill.
MAINE
In January, the Town of Brunswick filed a complaint in Superior Court seeking annulment of the Community Land and Health Care Ordinance adopted by a narrow margin during the town’s November 2006 elections. The ordinance was the latest against applying Class A biosolids compost as fertilizer to town-owned sports fields and other properties.
An independent scientific review commissioned by the town council found that biosolids compost presented no significant risk. Nonetheless, a local group named Katahdin Center created the petitioned ordinance and mounted a vigorous campaign against biosolids compost. After the ordinance narrowly passed, the town placed a moratorium on enforcement, pending evaluation by the Superior Court.
Katahdin Center responded by filing an injunction against the town’s suit and an anti-SLAPP (Strategic Litigation Against Public Participa-tion) suit. In late March, the group agreed to drop its injunction and anti-SLAPP suit in exchange for the town allowing the moratorium to expire March 27, before the court’s ruling, which was expected by June 1.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
The House passed two biosolids-related bills despite intensive lobbying against them. One establishes a legislative commission to study methods and costs of sewage, sludge, and septage disposal. The other allows continued land-application of biosolids and short paper fiber to particular farmlands near designated rivers.
One bill that was defeated by a vote of 295 to 55 would have prohibited municipalities from refusing to accept sewage from towns that ban or severely restrict land-application of biosolids.
VIRGINIA
Gov. Tim Kaine and the State Legislature reached agreements on two biosolids bills. One shifts primary regulatory responsibility for biosolids management to the Department of Environmental Quality and increases restrictions, monitoring by the state and permit fees. The other allows for local review and restrictions regarding biosolids storage sites. Both bills are likely to become effective this year.
WISCONSIN
The Eau Claire City-County Health Department is proposing assessing rural residents $9 a year for a postcard reminder to have onsite systems inspected. However, the reminder would be mailed every three years.
“That raises the fee to $27,” says county board supervisor Howard Ludwigson. The supervisors voted unanimously to delay a vote on the fee after receiving written objections from the towns of Fairchild, Lincoln, Union, and Bridge Creek. A state law passed last year requires counties to send reminders to all onsite owners to make sure they follow state septic regulations.
As proposed, the new annual fee would pay for health department staffing, recordkeeping, and the postcards. Onsite inspections must be done by licensed inspectors at the property owner’s expense.
