To the Editor:
I hope this letter will expand on some important points made in the media related to pending onsite legislation in Ohio. The outcome of this is critically important to the onsite industry in our state and potentially nationwide.
The new legislation recently introduced in the General Assembly requires the Public Health Council to redraft rules regulating sewage treatment systems. The bill, SB 110 sponsored by Sen. Tom Niehaus, amends current law by providing greater flexibility to consumers in sewage system choice. It also establishes uniform statewide soil absorption standards that balance system costs with environmental health protection, and centralizes the sewage treatment system regulations.
The legislation is the result of a year-and-a-half initiative coordinated by the Sewage Treatment Study Commission, in cooperation with treatment system manufacturers, local health districts, the state Department of Health, installer organizations, real estate organizations, manufactured housing organizations, local government groups, home builder organizations and environmental advocates.
The bill was crafted in response to growing concerns and fears that rules adopted by the Public Health Council effective Jan. 1, 2007, would cause a substantial increase in system cost for rural homeowners while limiting consumer choice. These rules, adopted by the Public Health Council were placed on a two-year moratorium but will go back into effect July 1 if the current legislation does not pass.
If passed, this legislation will rescind the 2007 rules and will require the Department of Health and the Public Health Council to create new rules that are more favorable to rural homeowners and that will offer greater environmental protection and regulatory consistency throughout the state.
Sincerely,
Brock Wanless
Ohio Onsite Industry Representative
