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Septic bill pits businesses and homeowners against public-health officials and environmentalists
Summary
House Bill 658 would set statewide septic standards, require written directives from boards of health, and grandfather functioning systems. Proponents said it would bring consistency; numerous county sanitarians, public-health officials and environmental groups warned it would undercut local protections for drinking water and streams, citing Seeley Lake nitrate contamination.
Representative Jedidiah Hinkle (House District 67) opened the hearing on House Bill 658, a sweeping measure proposing statewide septic standards, stronger transparency requirements for local boards of health, and grandfathering of existing systems that are not failing. Supporters — including homeowners, realtors and engineers — described long permitting delays, shifting local requirements and high costs for businesses and residents who said local health departments had required repeated redesigns.
Michael Mulder described a two-year permitting saga in Gallatin County that he said cost nearly $100,000 and involved shifting…
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