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DES seeks statutory cleanup to streamline industrial pretreatment and sewer‑connection rules
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Summary
DES wastewater engineering bureau described SB443 as a modernization bill to remove outdated language, eliminate small pretreatment fees and clarify rulemaking authority; committee voted ought‑to‑pass (15–0).
Tracy Wood of the Department of Environmental Services told the committee SB443 is a targeted cleanup to remove confusing statutory language, eliminate a small industrial pretreatment fee that DES characterized as a nuisance, and clarify DES authority over industrial discharges and sewer connections.
Why it matters: DES said clearer statute allows consistent program administration, reduces confusion for municipalities and industry, and aligns fee removal with prior HB2 actions. Staff estimated current pretreatment fee revenue was negligible (under $2,000 in recent years) and that rulemaking authority should be clarified to enable modernized oversight.
Committee action: After brief technical questions about review timing and the modest revenue effect, the committee voted ought‑to‑pass in executive session (15–0).
