Conservation commission approves negative determination for septic upgrade at 156 Romer Street

The Taunton Conservation Commission on March 3 approved a negative determination of applicability for a septic system repair and upgrade at 156 Romer Street, a filing submitted by Marie Imbert.

Commission staff summarized the proposal and the site assessment: the existing failed septic system will be replaced in roughly the same location with a new 1,500-gallon septic tank, a 1,000-gallon pump chamber and an approximately 20-by-30-foot soil absorption system. Brook Monroe delineated the wetland flags, and the report said the proposed work will be outside the 50-foot buffer; grading will come no closer than 53 feet to the flagged resource, with the SAS (soil absorption system) located about 80 feet from the wetland.

The applicant obtained a variance from the Board of Health to lower the system by 1 foot to avoid runoff toward the house, and staff said erosion-control measures including silt sacks and catch-basin protection will be used. Staff also recommended installation of an impervious liner around the SAS to limit contamination risk in a system failure.

Michelle, the commission staff member who presented the report, recommended issuing a negative determination with the stated special conditions. Commissioners moved to issue the negative determination; the motion carried by voice vote with no public comment recorded at the hearing.

The commission directed staff to record the determination and noted the required decommissioning of the existing system under Board of Health rules. No formal roll-call tally was taken on the record; the chair declared the motion carried and closed the hearing.