HOLLISTER
The State Water Resources Control Board is looking at potentially revising proposed legislation to tighten restrictions on septic tanks after receiving more than 2,500 e-mail comments, hundreds of letters and hours of oral comments from California residents at 12 different workshops. It’s an issue that stirred up debate in San Benito County, as many local residents criticized the rules and supervisors formally opposed them.
Supervisor Margie Barrios made the announcement at Tuesday’s board meeting and said she supports clean water and a clean coast but she doesn’t support the way these regulations were being handed out.
“We should not have been expected to support legislation that would have such a negative effect on rural counties.”
The legislation, AB 885, was introduced in 1999 to address coastal on-site sewage treatment systems in the Malibu Beach area. According to County Environmental Health Specialist Bob Shingai, the measure passed in Malibu in 2000, but the state water board has decided to pursue implementing them statewide – which would happen in January 2010.
The previously proposed regulations would put rules on septic-system placement, monitoring requirements and exemptions and requirements for major repairs. All of the related repairs would be property owners’ responsibility. Costs could easily near $1,000 for inspection and maintenance, local officials contend.
In February, the county board approved a resolution and sent it to the governor and the state water board taking a negative stance against the legislation.
Barrios said most rural counties and the Regional Council of Rural Counties supported changing the proposal.
“It gives us an opportunity to send in different wording,” she said.
According to a release from the state water board, staff will be recommending substantial changes based on all of the input from the public and will look to have a new regulatory proposal within three to five months. Once the new proposal is written, there will be another public comment period. Dates will be available on the state water board’s Web site.
The e-mail, letter and oral comments will also be available for public viewing at some point in April.
The State Water Resources Control Board’s Web site is http://www.waterboards.ca.gov.
