Title
Environmental Management Department recommending the following pertaining to Assembly Bill 885 (AB 885):
(1) Authorize Chairman to sign letter for submittal to the State Water Resources Control Board by February 9, 2009 regarding AB 885 onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) proposed regulations and Draft Environmental Impact Report, citing issues as described in the analysis of the impacts;
(2) Direct Environmental Management staff to continue to work with Regional Council of Rural Counties (RCRC), California State Association of Counties (CSAC), California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health (CCDEH) and State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) with the goal of developing a reasonable set of minimum standards for onsite wastewater treatment systems that provide public health and water quality protection;
(3) Direct the Environmental Management staff to provide periodic updates to the Board as this issue is addressed;
(4) Authorize other actions that the Board deems appropriate, possibly including the presence of interested members of the Board of Supervisors or designees who may wish to appear February 9, 2009 at the SWRCB to speak on behalf of the entire Board of Supervisors on this issue.
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Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost: NA
Summary: The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) has proposed regulations that will establish new statewide requirements for the siting, permitting, construction, permitting, maintenance and performance monitoring of all new and existing onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) including septic tank systems with leach fields. Implementation of the regulations as proposed will negatively impact all existing and future property owners with OWTS and will potentially restrict future development within El Dorado County.
Based on case studies for Merced and Los Angeles County, the SWRCB estimates that implementation of the proposed regulations will cost California homeowners and businesses...
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