South Carolina General Assembly
117th Session, 2007-2008

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Bill 3373

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter


(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ADOPTED

May 24, 2007

H. 3373

Introduced by Reps. M.A. Pitts and Duncan

S. Printed 5/24/07--S.    [SEC 5/25/07 1:33 PM]

Read the first time April 3, 2007.

            

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 44-55-825 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IF A PERMIT IS ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL TO INSTALL AN INDIVIDUAL WASTE TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL SYSTEM THE DEPARTMENT IS ONLY REQUIRED TO CONDUCT RANDOM FINAL INSPECTIONS ON THREE PERCENT OF THESE INSTALLED SYSTEMS.

Amend Title To Conform

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    Article 9, Chapter 55, Title 44 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 44-55-822.    (A)(1)    The Department of Health and Environmental Control may issue a preliminary tract evaluation for tracts of land that may be developed in the future. For purposes of this section, a tract of land is any tract of land that is not yet divided into individual lots for the immediate or future purpose of building development. A preliminary tract evaluation will determine whether a tract of land is conceptually appropriate for the use of onsite wastewater systems. If the proposed subdivision is found to be suitable for onsite waste treatment systems, the department shall issue a preliminary subdivision approval letter.

(2)    When conducting a preliminary tract evaluation, the department shall consider a variety of factors including, but not limited to, soil maps, boundary plat, and distance to the nearest sewer line. The department may determine what documents and other supporting materials must be submitted with an application for a preliminary tract evaluation. When making a determination on a preliminary tract evaluation, the department may receive and consider information and data on soil from registered soil classifiers and other site conditions from engineers.

(B)(1)    The Department of Health and Environmental Control may issue a preliminary subdivision approval letter for subdivisions where the use of onsite wastewater systems is proposed as the method of sewage treatment and disposal. For purposes of this section, a subdivision is any tract of land divided into five or more lots for the immediate or future purpose of building development where onsite wastewater systems are to be considered except where all of the lots are five acres or larger, regardless of the number of lots.

(2)    The department must not issue a final subdivision approval letter for a residential subdivision for which it has approval responsibility without first conducting a soil suitability test on each lot in the proposed subdivision. The suitability test must determine if the soil conditions on each lot meet the requirements of regulation to support the use of an onsite wastewater system. The department shall issue permits on each approved lot within the subdivision if all of the conditions for permitting have been met pursuant to regulation. Following the completion of the soil suitability test for each lot as submitted by the developer, the department shall issue a final subdivision approval letter indicating the approval or disapproval for each lot in the proposed subdivision.

(3)    The department shall provide space on its 'Application for Subdivision of Real Estate', or another applicable form in use, for the developer of the proposed subdivision to indicate the typical setback on the lots and the typical size house that is anticipated to be built in the proposed subdivision. Changes in the house size, addition of landscaping features, addition of structures, addition of impervious materials or other site alterations could jeopardize permitting a septic tank system for a proposed lot. If the septic permit application is denied for any reason, the department shall inform the subdivision lot owner if any corrective measures could be taken to remedy the problem and lead to the issuance of a septic tank permit.

Section 44-55-825.    (A)    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, after the department has conducted soil suitability testing and has issued a permit for the installation of an onsite wastewater system, the department is required to conduct random final inspections and approvals of no less than three percent annually of the total number of installed systems during the preceding fiscal year.

(B)    Any installed system not inspected within a specified time period designated by the department is deemed approved by the department. The department shall establish documentation and record requirements.

(C)    Onsite wastewater systems must be installed pursuant to construction and operation permits issued by the department pursuant to regulation. Deviation from the installation design and conditions in onsite wastewater permits may be considered by the department to be a violation. Violation of an onsite wastewater system permit installation must be enforced in accordance with the following:

(1)    First offense violations may be enforced under Section 44-1-150 or by suspension of the installer's license by a period not to exceed one year.

(2)    Second offense violations may be enforced under Section 44-1-150 or by suspension of the installer's license by a period not to exceed three years.

(3)    Third offense violations may be enforced under Section 44-1-150 or by permanent revocation of the installer's license.

Section 44-55-827.    (A)    The department shall promulgate regulations for the licensure of persons who contract or advertise to offer or provide services for installation, repair, modification, or final inspection and approval of onsite wastewater systems. These regulations must include:

(1)    eligibility criteria to be licensed as an Onsite Wastewater Systems Contractor;

(2)    a tiered licensing program defining various levels of competency and skill, including licenses that allow different combinations of installation, repair, modification, and final inspection and approval of onsite wastewater systems;

(3)    a system for the department to monitor the quality of contractor installation, repair, modification, and final inspection and approval of onsite wastewater systems;

(4)    minimum standards for training and continuing education for Onsite Wastewater Systems Contractors;

(5)    bonding and insurance requirements for Onsite Wastewater Systems Contractors;

(6)    the establishment and collection of administrative and licensing fees to cover the costs of this program; and

(7)    enforcement guidelines and penalties for violations of the provisions of these regulations.

(B)    The department shall promulgate regulations pursuant to the requirements for licensure of an Onsite Wastewater Systems Contractor, as provided for in subsection (A), items (1) through (7).

(C)    Nothing in this chapter or regulations promulgated pursuant to this chapter affect the department's authority, under Section 44-1-140 and regulation, to issue permits for the installation and construction of individual onsite wastewater systems."

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect on January 1, 2008.

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