California
State Legislature Assembly Bill (AB 885) was signed in to Law
in September 2000. The Staff of the The
California State Water Resources Control Board(State Water Board) has developed proposed statewide
regulations or standards for the permitting, operation and maintenance
of OWTS. (On-site Wastewater Treatment Systems) better
known as septic systems.
These proposed regulations will impact existing systems
by requiring inspections of septic tanks every five years and
if there is a well on the same parcel the well water must also
be tested every 5 years. These regulations will also impact the
sitting, design and sizing of new and replacement systems.
Notice of Public Workshops and Hearings
The State Water Resource Control Board will hold workshops and hearing regarding the proposed regulations and waiver for onsite wastewater treatment plans (OWTS) and the associated draft environmental impact report (EIR). Workshops are scheduled for:
Assemblyman Ted Gaines addressed an overflow crowd in the Board of Supervisors chambers during a scheduled town hall meeting last Wednesday evening, February 18, 2009, to address resident's concerns regarding proposed septic system regulations, commonly referred to as AB885.
Assembly Bill 885 was passed in 2000. The Bill directed state staff to develop minimum standards or regulations for the siting, construction, operation, maintenance and monitoring of septic systems. There are an estimated 1.2 million such systems statewide and over 35,000 systems in El Dorado County.
An estimated crowd of 300 concerned residents and business owners attended the town hall meeting, which was organized by District IV Supervisor Ron Briggs. Supervisors Ray Nutting and John Knight also attended.
Assemblyman Gaines shared with the audience that the Bill was originally introduced by a Southern California Assemblywomen, Hannah Beth-Jackson, to address problem areas in Malibu, but that the legislation was modified before passage to include all of California.
Residents expressed concern and frustration over the one size fits all approach, the application of the regulations to areas without known septic problems like Malibu, costs to homeowners for required septic tank testing and pumping every five years, and costs to test well water, as well as other issues. Assemblyman Gaines informed the crowd that he has introduced Assembly Bill 268 in an effort to repeal AB 885, however the successful passage of AB 268 is questionable.
Assemblyman Gaines and Supervisors Briggs and Nutting stressed the importance of individual input in the process and encouraged residents to write to Assemblyman Gaines, the Supervisors, or directly to the State Water Resources Control Board by the February 23, 2009,comment period deadline to voice concerns over the proposed regulations.
----------State
Water Resources Control Board
----------Division
of Water Quality
----------Attn: Todd
Thompson, P.E.
----------1001 I Street,
15th Floor,
----------P.O. Box
2231
----------Sacramento,
CA 95812
Letters to State Water Resources Control Board