Mandatory Florida Inspections May Only Apply To Some Counties

Florida’s Senate Environmental Preservation Committee approved a measure that would limit mandatory onsite inspections to counties with first-magnitude springs. The bill (SB 820) is an alternative to an all-out repeal of a 2010 law requiring septic tank inspections every five years.

A House committee unanimously accepted a proposal by the state Department of Environmental Protection to bypass stricter federal water pollution rules and apply state standards. The proposal still must be approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and withstand a legal challenge from a statewide environmental advocacy group.

 

Minnesota

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued a shorter, more concise onsite inspection form that became effective in February, as did regulations requiring service providers, advanced inspectors and advanced designers to be licensed, and onsite professionals to use only registered treatment and distribution products. The rules are at www.pca.state.mn.us.

 

Missouri

Officials said rural and urban residents of Linn County were not following regulations requiring inspections of onsite systems for the sale of property. County sanitarian John Maloney stated that new people have moved in, but his office was never called for an inspection. The county commission proposed sending a second mailing to real estate agents and brokers about the legislation.

 

Wisconsin

Beginning in January 2013, Wisconsin septage haulers must file annual land application reports electronically with the Department of Natural Resources. Contractors must complete the Switchboard Registration form at http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/switchboard. The site has a registration tutorial and detailed summary of the process.

 

Idaho

The Department of Environmental Quality is considering new guidance on the use of evapotranspiration/infiltration systems. The proposed regulations are available on the agency website. “The guidance describes the site and design considerations for these types of systems to account for wastewater discharge into the surrounding soils,” according to a public notice.

 

Maryland

Gov. Martin O’Malley’s legislative plan for 2012 includes a new bill dealing with septic system restrictions, replacing a similar proposal that failed in 2011. The new version prompted negative reaction concerning its complexity and the amount of power it would give state government to control residential subdivisions.

After last year’s bill failed, O’Malley formed a task force to study the use of septic systems in the state. According to a news release, the Sustainable Growth and Agricultural Preservation Act would include “a four-tiered comprehensive plan to guide growth on central sewer and septic systems and ensure the land use and pollution impact of future Marylanders is minimized.” The bill discourages septic systems in favor of centralized sewer systems, according to opponents.

 

California

The California State Water Resources Control Board issued the final draft policy designed to institute AB 885 in March. The law was passed in 2000, but the regulatory changes, originally due by 2004, have been delayed several times. The agency says the rules will affect about 2 percent of existing onsite septic systems. After a public comment period that ends May 4, final adoption is scheduled for June 19. Go to www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/owts/.



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