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Committee backs bill centralizing on-site wastewater rules under DEQ; sets licensing, inspections and penalties
Summary
The Department of Environmental Quality would gain exclusive rulemaking authority for on-site wastewater systems, the bill would require public-health inspections within 24 hours and create a state licensing regime for installers with fee and enforcement provisions, the committee heard and advanced Senate Bill 22-67 as amended.
The House Energy and Natural Resources Committee recommended a due pass for Senate Bill 22-67 as amended, a bill that would centralize rulemaking for on-site wastewater (septic) systems at the Department of Environmental Quality and create a statewide licensing and enforcement framework for installers.
"The department has the exclusive authority to adopt rules," Dave Glott, director of the Department of Environmental Quality, told the committee while explaining the draft. The bill, as amended and presented by Glott, says the DEQ will adopt statewide rules, provide technical assistance, and expects that local plumbing boards would remove overlapping rules to avoid conflict.
Key operational changes included in the amended draft, as explained by Glott: public health units shall conduct inspections of on-site wastewater systems within 24 hours when requested; local public health units may enter memoranda of understanding with adjacent counties to provide…
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