As Passed by the House

128th General Assembly
Regular Session
2009-2010
Am. Sub. S. B. No. 110


Senator Niehaus 

Cosponsors: Senators Cafaro, Fedor, Harris, Kearney, Sawyer, Schaffer, Schiavoni, Seitz, Turner, Miller, D., Strahorn, Smith, Miller, R., Morano 

Representatives Bubp, Chandler, DeBose, Domenick, Garland, Hagan, Harwood, Letson, Luckie, Mallory, Reece, Uecker, Walter, Weddington, Williams, B., Winburn, Yuko 



A BILL
To amend sections 711.05, 711.10, 3718.01, 3718.02, 1
3718.03, 3718.04, 3718.05, 3718.06, 3718.09, and 2
6117.51 and to enact sections 3718.011, 3718.012, 3
3718.023, 3718.024, 3718.025, 3718.041, and 4
3718.11 of the Revised Code to revise the 5
Household Sewage and Small Flow On-Site Sewage 6
Treatment Systems Law, and to amend Section 3 of 7
Am. H.B. 416 of the 127th General Assembly to 8
extend the date by which the report of the Great 9
Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources 10
Compact Advisory Board is due.11


BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

       Section 1.  That sections 711.05, 711.10, 3718.01, 3718.02, 12
3718.03, 3718.04, 3718.05, 3718.06, 3718.09, and 6117.51 be 13
amended and sections 3718.011, 3718.012, 3718.023, 3718.024, 14
3718.025, 3718.041, and 3718.11 of the Revised Code be enacted to 15
read as follows:16

       Sec. 711.05.  (A) Upon the submission of a plat for approval, 17
in accordance with section 711.041 of the Revised Code, the board 18
of county commissioners shall certify on it the date of the 19
submission. Within five days of submission of the plat, the board 20
shall schedule a meeting to consider the plat and send a written 21
notice by regular mail to the fiscal officer of the board of 22
township trustees of the township in which the plat is located and 23
the board of health of the health district in which the plat is 24
located. The notice shall inform the trustees and the board of 25
health of the submission of the plat and of the date, time, and 26
location of any meeting at which the board of county commissioners 27
will consider or act upon the proposed plat. The meeting shall 28
take place within thirty days of submission of the plat, and no 29
meeting shall be held until at least seven days have passed from 30
the date the notice was sent by the board of county commissioners. 31
The approval of the board required by section 711.041 of the 32
Revised Code or the refusal to approve shall take place within 33
thirty days from the date of submission or such further time as 34
the applying party may agree to in writing; otherwise, the plat is 35
deemed approved and may be recorded as if bearing such approval.36

       (B) The board may adopt general rules governing plats and 37
subdivisions of land falling within its jurisdiction, to secure 38
and provide for the coordination of the streets within the 39
subdivision with existing streets and roads or with existing 40
county highways, for the proper amount of open spaces for traffic, 41
circulation, and utilities, and for the avoidance of future 42
congestion of population detrimental to the public health, safety, 43
or welfare, but shall not impose a greater minimum lot area than 44
forty-eight hundred square feet. Before the board may amend or 45
adopt rules, it shall notify all the townships in the county of 46
the proposed amendments or rules by regular mail at least thirty 47
days before the public meeting at which the proposed amendments or 48
rules are to be considered.49

       The rules may require the board of health to review and 50
comment on a plat before the board of county commissioners acts 51
upon it and may also require proof of compliance with any 52
applicable zoning resolutions, and with household sewage treatment 53
rules adopted under section 3718.02 of the Revised Code, as a 54
basis for approval of a plat. Where under section 711.101 of the 55
Revised Code the board of county commissioners has set up 56
standards and specifications for the construction of streets, 57
utilities, and other improvements for common use, the general 58
rules may require the submission of appropriate plans and 59
specifications for approval. The board shall not require the 60
person submitting the plat to alter the plat or any part of it as 61
a condition for approval, as long as the plat is in accordance 62
with general rules governing plats and subdivisions of land, 63
adopted by the board as provided in this section, in effect at the 64
time the plat was submitted and the plat is in accordance with any 65
standards and specifications set up under section 711.101 of the 66
Revised Code, in effect at the time the plat was submitted.67

       (C) The ground of refusal to approve any plat, submitted in 68
accordance with section 711.041 of the Revised Code, shall be 69
stated upon the record of the board, and, within sixty days 70
thereafter, the person submitting any plat that the board refuses 71
to approve may file a petition in the court of common pleas of the 72
county in which the land described in the plat is situated to 73
review the action of the board. A board of township trustees is 74
not entitled to appeal a decision of the board of county 75
commissioners under this section.76

       Sec. 711.10. (A) Whenever a county planning commission or a 77
regional planning commission adopts a plan for the major streets 78
or highways of the county or region, no plat of a subdivision of 79
land within the county or region, other than land within a 80
municipal corporation or land within three miles of a city or one 81
and one-half miles of a village as provided in section 711.09 of 82
the Revised Code, shall be recorded until it is approved by the 83
county or regional planning commission under division (C) of this 84
section and the approval is endorsed in writing on the plat.85

       (B) A county or regional planning commission may require the 86
submission of a preliminary plan for each plat sought to be 87
recorded. If the commission requires this submission, it shall 88
provide for a review process for the preliminary plan. Under this 89
review process, the planning commission shall give its approval, 90
its approval with conditions, or its disapproval of each 91
preliminary plan. The commission's decision shall be in writing, 92
shall be under the signature of the secretary of the commission, 93
and shall be issued within thirty-five business days after the 94
submission of the preliminary plan to the commission. The 95
disapproval of a preliminary plan shall state the reasons for the 96
disapproval. A decision of the commission under this division is 97
preliminary to and separate from the commission's decision to 98
approve, conditionally approve, or refuse to approve a plat under 99
division (C) of this section.100

        (C) Within five calendar days after the submission of a plat 101
for approval under this division, the county or regional planning 102
commission shall schedule a meeting to consider the plat and send 103
a notice by regular mail or by electronic mail to the fiscal 104
officer of the board of township trustees of the township in which 105
the plat is located and the board of health of the health district 106
in which the plat is located. The notice shall inform the 107
trustees and the board of health of the submission of the plat and 108
of the date, time, and location of any meeting at which the county 109
or regional planning commission will consider or act upon the 110
plat. The meeting shall take place within thirty calendar days 111
after submission of the plat, and no meeting shall be held until 112
at least seven calendar days have passed from the date the 113
planning commission sent the notice.114

       The approval of the county or regional planning commission, 115
the commission's conditional approval as described in this 116
division, or the refusal of the commission to approve shall be 117
endorsed on the plat within thirty calendar days after the 118
submission of the plat for approval under this division or within 119
such further time as the applying party may agree to in writing; 120
otherwise that plat is deemed approved, and the certificate of the 121
commission as to the date of the submission of the plat for 122
approval under this division and the failure to take action on it 123
within that time shall be sufficient in lieu of the written 124
endorsement or evidence of approval required by this division.125

       A county or regional planning commission may grant 126
conditional approval under this division to a plat by requiring a 127
person submitting the plat to alter the plat or any part of it, 128
within a specified period after the end of the thirty calendar 129
days, as a condition for final approval under this division. Once 130
all the conditions have been met within the specified period, the 131
commission shall cause its final approval under this division to 132
be endorsed on the plat. No plat shall be recorded until it is 133
endorsed with the commission's final or unconditional approval 134
under this division.135

       The ground of refusal of approval of any plat submitted under 136
this division, including citation of or reference to the rule 137
violated by the plat, shall be stated upon the record of the 138
county or regional planning commission. Within sixty calendar days 139
after the refusal under this division, the person submitting any 140
plat that the commission refuses to approve under this division 141
may file a petition in the court of common pleas of the proper 142
county, and the proceedings on the petition shall be governed by 143
section 711.09 of the Revised Code as in the case of the refusal 144
of a planning authority to approve a plat. A board of township 145
trustees is not entitled to appeal a decision of the commission 146
under this division.147

       A county or regional planning commission shall adopt general 148
rules, of uniform application, governing plats and subdivisions of 149
land falling within its jurisdiction, to secure and provide for 150
the proper arrangement of streets or other highways in relation to 151
existing or planned streets or highways or to the county or 152
regional plan, for adequate and convenient open spaces for 153
traffic, utilities, access of firefighting apparatus, recreation, 154
light, and air, and for the avoidance of congestion of population. 155
The rules may provide for their modification by the commission in 156
specific cases where unusual topographical and other exceptional 157
conditions require the modification. The rules may require the 158
board of health to review and comment on a plat before the 159
commission acts upon it and also may require proof of compliance 160
with any applicable zoning resolutions, and with household sewage 161
treatment rules adopted under section 3718.02 of the Revised Code, 162
as a basis for approval of a plat.163

       Before adoption of its rules or amendment of its rules, the 164
commission shall hold a public hearing on the adoption or 165
amendment. Notice of the public hearing shall be sent to all 166
townships in the county or region by regular mail or electronic 167
mail at least thirty business days before the hearing. No county 168
or regional planning commission shall adopt any rules requiring 169
actual construction of streets or other improvements or facilities 170
or assurance of that construction as a condition precedent to the 171
approval of a plat of a subdivision unless the requirements have 172
first been adopted by the board of county commissioners after a 173
public hearing. A copy of the rules shall be certified by the 174
planning commission to the county recorders of the appropriate 175
counties.176

       After a county or regional street or highway plan has been 177
adopted as provided in this section, the approval of plats and 178
subdivisions provided for in this section shall be in lieu of any 179
approvals provided for in other sections of the Revised Code, 180
insofar as the territory within the approving jurisdiction of the 181
county or regional planning commission, as provided in this 182
section, is concerned. Approval of a plat shall not be an 183
acceptance by the public of the dedication of any street, highway, 184
or other way or open space shown upon the plat.185

       No county or regional planning commission shall require a 186
person submitting a plat to alter the plat or any part of it as 187
long as the plat is in accordance with the general rules governing 188
plats and subdivisions of land, adopted by the commission as 189
provided in this section, in effect at the time the plat is 190
submitted.191

       A county or regional planning commission and a city or 192
village planning commission, or platting commissioner or 193
legislative authority of a village, with subdivision regulation 194
jurisdiction over unincorporated territory within the county or 195
region may cooperate and agree by written agreement that the 196
approval of a plat by the city or village planning commission, or 197
platting commissioner or legislative authority of a village, as 198
provided in section 711.09 of the Revised Code, shall be 199
conditioned upon receiving advice from or approval by the county 200
or regional planning commission.201

       (D) As used in this section, "business day" means a day of 202
the week excluding Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday as defined 203
in section 1.14 of the Revised Code.204

       Sec. 3718.01. As used in this chapter:205

       (A) "Alter" means to change by making substantive 206
replacements of, additions to, or deletions in the design or 207
materials or to change the location of an existing sewage 208
treatment system.209

        (B) "Bedrock" means hard stratum that underlies 210
unconsolidated surface materials or soil.211

       (C) "Board of health" means the board of health of a city or 212
general health district or the authority having the duties of a 213
board of health in any city as authorized by section 3709.05 of 214
the Revised Code.215

       (C)(D) "Domestic septage" means the liquid or solid material 216
removed from a sewage treatment system, portable toilet, or type 217
III marine sanitation device as defined in 33 C.F.R. 159.3. 218
"Domestic septage" does not include grease removed from a grease 219
trap.220

       (D)(E) "Gray water recycling systems" means systems that 221
treat and reuse wastewater discharged from lavatories, bathtubs, 222
showers, clothes washers, and laundry sinks that does not contain 223
food wastes or bodily wastes.224

       (F) "Household sewage treatment system" means any sewage 225
treatment system, or part of such a system, that receives sewage 226
from a single-family, two-family, or three-family dwelling.227

       (E)(G) "Infiltrative surface" means the point or area of 228
application of treated or partially treated sewage to the soil or 229
sand fill for purposes of treatment, dispersal, or both.230

       (H) "Inspection" means the on-site evaluation or analysis of 231
the functioningdesign, installation, and operation of a sewage 232
treatment system.233

       (F)(I) "Installer" means any person who engages in the 234
business of installing or altering or who, as an employee of 235
another, installs or alters any sewage treatment system.236

       (G)(J) "Limiting condition" means a restrictive soil layer, 237
bedrock, a water table, or ground water that limits or precludes 238
the treatment or dispersal of sewage in the soil of a property 239
where a household sewage treatment system is located.240

       (K) "Manufacturer" means any person that manufactures sewage 241
treatment systems or components of systems.242

       (H)(L) "Person" has the same meaning as in section 1.59 of 243
the Revised Code and also includes any state, any political 244
subdivision of a state, and any department, division, board, 245
commission, agency, or instrumentality of a state or political 246
subdivision.247

       (I)(M) "Sanitary sewerage system" means pipelines or 248
conduits, pumping stations, force mains, and all other 249
constructions, devices, appurtenances, and facilities that convey 250
sewage to a central sewage treatment plant and that are required 251
to obtain a permit under Chapter 6111. of the Revised Code.252

       (J)(N) "Septage hauler" means any person who engages in the 253
collection, transportation, disposal, and land application of 254
domestic septage.255

       (K)(O) "Service provider" means any person who services, but 256
does not install or alter, sewage treatment systems.257

       (L)(P) "Sewage" means liquid waste containing animal or 258
vegetable matter in suspension or solution that originates from 259
humans and human activities. "Sewage" includes liquids containing 260
household chemicals in solution commonly discharged from a 261
residence or from commercial, institutional, or other similar 262
facilities.263

       (M)(Q) "Sewage treatment system" means a household sewage 264
treatment system, a small flow on-site sewage treatment system, or 265
both, as applicable.266

       (N)(R) "Small flow on-site sewage treatment system" means a 267
system, other than a household sewage treatment system, that 268
treats not more than one thousand gallons of sewage per day and 269
that does not require a national pollutant discharge elimination 270
system permit issued under section 6111.03 of the Revised Code or 271
an injection well drilling or operating permit issued under 272
section 6111.043 of the Revised Code. 273

       (S) "Soil" means the naturally occurring pedogenically 274
developed and undeveloped regolith overlying bedrock.275

       (T) "Vertical separation distance" means the distance of the 276
infiltrative surface of the distribution system of a soil 277
absorption system, or component thereof, to a limiting condition 278
in the soil.279

       (U) "Water table" means the surface of the saturated zone 280
below which all interconnected voids are filled with water and at 281
which the pressure is atmospheric.282

       Sec. 3718.011. (A) For purposes of this chapter, a sewage 283
treatment system is causing a public health nuisance if any of the 284
following situations occurs and, after notice by a board of health 285
to the applicable property owner, timely repairs are not made to 286
that system to eliminate the situation:287

       (1) The sewage treatment system is not operating properly due 288
to a missing component, incorrect settings, or a mechanical or 289
electrical failure.290

        (2) There is a blockage in a known sewage treatment system 291
component or pipe that causes a backup of sewage or effluent 292
affecting the treatment process or inhibiting proper plumbing 293
drainage.294

       (3) An inspection conducted by, or under the supervision of, 295
the environmental protection agency or a sanitarian registered 296
under Chapter 4736. of the Revised Code documents that there is 297
ponding of liquid or bleeding of liquid onto the surface of the 298
ground or into surface water and the liquid has a distinct sewage 299
odor, a black or gray coloration, or the presence of organic 300
matter and any of the following:301

       (a) The presence of sewage effluent identified through a dye 302
test;303

       (b) The presence of fecal coliform at a level that is equal 304
to or greater than five thousand colonies per one hundred 305
milliliters of liquid as determined in two or more samples of the 306
liquid when five or fewer samples are collected or in more than 307
twenty per cent of the samples when more than five samples of the 308
liquid are collected;309

       (c) Water samples that exceed one thousand thirty e. coli 310
counts per one hundred milliliters in two or more samples when 311
five or fewer samples are collected or in more than twenty per 312
cent of the samples when more than five samples are collected.313

       (4) With respect to a discharging system for which an NPDES 314
permit has been issued under Chapter 6111. of the Revised Code and 315
rules adopted under it, the system routinely exceeds the effluent 316
discharge limitations specified in the permit.317

       (B) With respect to divisions (A)(1) and (2) of this section, 318
a property owner may request a test to be conducted by a board of 319
health to verify that the sewage treatment system is causing a 320
public health nuisance. The property owner is responsible for the 321
costs of the test.322

       Sec. 3718.012.  A sewage treatment system that was in 323
operation prior to the effective date of this section shall not be 324
required to be replaced with a new sewage treatment system under 325
this chapter or rules adopted under it and shall be deemed 326
approved if the system does not cause a public health nuisance or, 327
if the system is causing a public health nuisance as provided in 328
section 3718.011 of the Revised Code, repairs are made to the 329
system that eliminate the public health nuisance as determined by 330
the applicable board of health.331

       Sec. 3718.02. (A) Not later than one year after the effective 332
date of this section, theThe public health council, in accordance 333
with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, shall adopt, and 334
subsequently may amend and rescind, rules of general application 335
throughout the state to administer this chapter. Rules adopted 336
under division (A) of this section shall do at least all of the 337
following:338

       (1) Require that the appropriate board of health approve or 339
disapprove the useinstallation, operation, and alteration of a 340
sewage treatment system if it is not connected to a sanitary 341
sewerage system;342

        (2) Require that a board of health, or other person as 343
established by rule, to conduct a site evaluation for any proposed 344
installation of a sewage treatment system;345

        (3) Prescribe standards for the siting, design, installation, 346
operation, monitoring, maintenance, and abandonment of household347
sewage treatment systems that may be used in this state and for 348
the progressive or incremental alteration or repair of an existing 349
sewage treatment system or the progressive or incremental 350
installation of a new system to replace an existing sewage 351
treatment system. The rules shall be adopted so as to establish a 352
preference for the repair of an existing sewage treatment system, 353
when technically and economically feasible, rather than its 354
replacement with a new system. The standards shall include at a 355
minimum all of the following:356

        (a) Soil absorption specifications;and vertical separation 357
distances.358

       (i) Soil absorption specifications established in rules shall 359
include standards regarding the sizing of sewage treatment systems 360
in use in the state.361

       (ii) In establishing soil absorption specifications and 362
vertical separation distances, the rules shall identify those soil 363
conditions that present a low or moderate risk of inadequate 364
treatment or dispersal of sewage from sewage treatment systems. 365
For low and moderate risk conditions, the required vertical 366
separation distance shall not exceed eighteen inches except as 367
authorized pursuant to rules adopted under divisions 368
(A)(3)(a)(iii) and (iv) of this section.369

       In addition, the rules shall identify those soil conditions 370
that present a high risk of inadequate treatment or dispersal of 371
sewage. For such high risk conditions, the vertical separation 372
distance shall be set at a depth from twenty-four to thirty-six 373
inches and shall not be lowered unless a reduction of vertical 374
separation is granted in accordance with rules adopted under 375
division (A)(3)(a)(iii) of this section.376

       (iii) The rules shall establish options to be utilized by a 377
board of health when approving the reductions of or compliance 378
with vertical separation distances that are established in rules 379
adopted under division (A)(3)(a)(ii) of this section. The options 380
for a board of health in providing such approval shall include, 381
but not be limited to: the use where deemed appropriate for a 382
particular site of subsurface interceptor drains, perimeter 383
drains, or engineered drainage; pretreatment of sewage; or soil 384
elevation.385

       (iv) The rules shall provide that a board of health may 386
petition the director to increase the vertical separation 387
distances required for sewage treatment systems in the applicable 388
health district or a portion of the district when conditions 389
present a high risk of inadequate treatment or dispersal of 390
sewage. The rules also shall provide that the director may approve 391
such a request upon a demonstration by the board of health that 392
unusual or unique local conditions relating to terrain, bedrock, 393
water table, soil fragments, or soil textures require the 394
establishment of greater vertical separation distances within the 395
jurisdiction of the board of health or a portion thereof. If, 396
under the rules, the director of health approves a greater 397
vertical separation distance, a board of health still may approve 398
a reduction of that vertical separation distance for an individual 399
sewage treatment system pursuant to rules adopted under division 400
(A)(3)(a)(iii) of this section. Further, if, under the rules, the 401
director approves a greater vertical separation distance, a person 402
who is denied permission by a board of health to install or 403
replace a sewage treatment system as a result of the director's 404
approval may request a hearing in accordance with section 3718.11 405
of the Revised Code.406

        (b) Specifications for discharging systems that do not 407
conflict with provisions related tothe quality of treated sewage 408
effluent from household sewage treatment systems that is applied 409
to soil on the property where a household sewage treatment system 410
is located. The specifications established in the rules for the 411
quality of effluent from discharging systems shall comply with 412
discharge requirements imposed by the national pollutant discharge 413
elimination system permit program established inunder section 414
6111.03 of the Revised Code and rules adopted under it;.415

       (c) Requirements for the reasonable maintenance of a system 416
according to the manufacturer's instructions, if available;417

       (d) Requirements and procedures under which a person may 418
demonstrate the required maintenance of a system in lieu of having 419
an inspection conducted when an inspection otherwise is required.420

       The rules also shall require that a system that has been or 421
is sited or installed prior to or on the effective date of the 422
rules and that is operating on that date shall be deemed approved 423
unless the system is declared to be a public health nuisance by a 424
board of healthmaintenance requirements approved by the director 425
of health as recommended by the sewage treatment system technical 426
advisory committee or according to accepted standards and 427
practices established in rules, as applicable. The requirements 428
may include standards for service contracts or other arrangements 429
that assure regular maintenance and upkeep of the system. In 430
determining the reasonableness of a maintenance requirement, the 431
director shall consider a manufacturer's maintenance requirements 432
as well as all other maintenance alternatives.433

       (4) Prescribe procedures for notification to boards of health 434
of the approval of a sewage treatment system or components of a 435
system by the director of health under section 3718.04 of the 436
Revised Code;437

       (5) Prescribe criteria and procedures under which boards of 438
health shall issue installation andpermits, operation permits, 439
and alteration permits for sewage treatment systems. The rules 440
shall require as a condition of an installation permit that the 441
installer of a system must warrant that the system was installed 442
in accordance with all applicable rules and design requirements. 443
In addition, the rules shall require a board of health, not later 444
than sixty days after the issuance of an installation, operation, 445
or alteration permit, to certify tonotify the director on a form 446
provided by the director that the permit was issued. The rules 447
shall require the notification to be in a format prescribed by the 448
director and to include information related to the issuance of the 449
permit. With the assistance of the department of health, a board 450
of health, to the extent practicable, shall computerize the 451
process of the issuance of permits for sewage treatment systems.452

       (6) Require a board of health to inspect a sewage treatment 453
system not later than eighteentwelve months after its 454
installation to ensure that the system is operating properly. The 455
rules shall require a board of health, not later than sixty days 456
after the inspection, to certify to the director on a form 457
provided by the director that the inspection was performed.458

        (7) Require each board of health to develop a program for the 459
administration of maintenance requirements established in rules 460
adopted under division (A)(3)(c) of this section. The rules shall 461
include requirements and procedures under which a person may 462
demonstrate the required maintenance of a system in lieu of having 463
an inspection conducted when an inspection otherwise is required. 464
The rules shall require a board of health to provide written 465
notice to a person that is demonstrating maintenance of a system 466
in lieu of an inspection that if proof of the required maintenance 467
of the system is not provided as required by rules, the system is 468
subject to inspection by the board and the reasonable cost of the 469
inspection must be paid by the person. The rules shall authorize a 470
board of health to inspect any sewage treatment system if there is 471
a good-faith complaint regarding the system, there is probable 472
cause for the inspection, or proof of the required maintenance of 473
the system has not been provided as required by rules. In 474
addition, the rules shall authorize a board of health to inspect a 475
sewage treatment system without prior notice in any instance in 476
which the board has probable cause to believe that the system is 477
endangering or threatening to endanger public health. The rules 478
shall require that the reasonable costs for sewage effluent 479
testing or evaluation be paid by the owner of a sewage treatment 480
system that is being investigated. Further, the rules shall 481
establish a methodology for determining the reasonable costs of an 482
inspection in accordance with section 3709.09 of the Revised Code. 483
The rules shall allow, but shall not require, a board of health to 484
continue an inspection program that was established by the board 485
prior to the effective date of the rules, provided that the 486
program authorizes a person to demonstrate the required 487
maintenance of a system in lieu of an inspection.488

       (8) Require a board of health to register installers, service 489
providers, and septage haulers that perform work within the health 490
district; prescribe criteria and procedures for the registration; 491
and prescribe criteria for a demonstration of competency as a part 492
of the registration;. The rules shall establish uniform statewide 493
bonding requirements or other financial security requirements for 494
installers, service providers, and septage haulers as a condition 495
of registration within any health district. The rules shall 496
establish a methodology by which the required amount of a bond or 497
other security may be calculated for each installer, service 498
provider, and septage hauler. The methodology, at a minimum, shall 499
consider the number of systems installed or serviced and the type 500
of system installed or serviced by an installer, service provider, 501
or septage hauler on an annual basis. The rules shall provide that 502
no board of health shall require an additional or different bond 503
or security requirement as a condition of registration beyond the 504
bonding and security requirements established in the rules adopted 505
under division (A)(8) of this section.506

       The rules shall establish a cost methodology for determining 507
the fee for the registration of an installer, service provider, or 508
septage hauler in any health district.509

       (8)(9) Prescribe requirements for the collection, 510
transportation, disposal, and land application of domestic septage 511
in this state from a sewage treatment system;512

       (9)(10) Require boards of health to maintain records that are 513
determined necessary to ascertain compliance with this chapter and 514
the rules adopted under it;515

       (10)(11) Require a board of health and the manufacturer of a 516
sewage treatment system, when possible,that is authorized for use 517
in this state in rules adopted under this section or that is 518
approved for use in this state under section 3718.04 of the 519
Revised Code to provide instructions for the operation and 520
maintenance of the system. The rules shall authorize the 521
instructions to be posted on the department of health's web site 522
and the manufacturer's web siteprovide that a board of health 523
may require a copy of a manufacturer's instructions for the 524
operation and maintenance of a system to be filed with the board 525
prior to the installation and use of the system in the health 526
district in which the board has jurisdiction. In addition, the 527
rules shall require a board of health and a manufacturer to 528
provide a copy of the operation and maintenance instructions, if 529
available, when a board of health or a manufacturer receives a 530
written request for instructions.531

       (11)(12) Prescribe criteria for the provision of written 532
evidence of compliance with rules pertaining to household sewage 533
treatment for purposes of sections 711.05 and 711.10 of the 534
Revised Code;535

       (12)(13) Pursuant to divisions (A)(1) and (3) of this 536
section, prescribe standards for the siting, design, installation, 537
operation, monitoring, maintenance, and abandonment of small flow 538
on-site sewage treatment systems that may be used in this state;539

       (14) Prescribe minimum criteria and procedures under which 540
boards of health may establish household sewage treatment district 541
management programs for the purpose of providing a responsive 542
approach toward preventing or solving sewage treatment problems 543
resulting from household sewage treatment systems within the 544
districts established under the program. For purposes of division 545
(A)(12)(14) of this section, a board of health may enter into a 546
contract with any entity to administer a household sewage 547
treatment district management program.548

       (13) Prescribe standards for the siting, design, 549
installation, operation, monitoring, maintenance, and abandonment 550
of small flow on-site sewage treatment systems that may be used in 551
this state.552

       (15) Prescribe standards for the use of subsurface 553
interceptor drains, perimeter drains, and engineered drainage to 554
remove or divert any subsurface water from an area to be used for 555
soil absorption of sewage in the soil of a sewage treatment 556
system;557

       (16) Authorize a board of health to require a property owner 558
whose property is serviced by a sewage treatment system to connect 559
to an available central sewer system under any of the following 560
circumstances and conditions:561

       (a) The central sewer system is located not more than three 562
hundred feet from the structure owned by the property owner 563
measured from the foundation of the structure to the right-of-way 564
where the central sewer system is located.565

       (b) There is an administrative or judicial order requiring 566
connection to a central sewer system.567

       (c) The property is the subject of a sewer assessment process 568
initiated by a county, municipal corporation, or other political 569
subdivision.570

        The rules shall provide that after a property owner is 571
required to connect to a central sewer system, the property owner 572
is prohibited from installing, replacing, or continuing to use a 573
sewage treatment system. The rules shall establish exceptions for 574
extenuating circumstances that allow a property owner to continue 575
to use a sewage treatment system.576

       The rules shall provide that if a property owner is required 577
to connect to a central sewer system, a board of health shall 578
afford the property owner a period of time not to exceed three 579
years to install the connection to the central sewer system. The 580
rules shall authorize a board of health to require connection to a 581
central sewer system within an expedited time frame if a sewage 582
treatment system owned by a property owner is causing a public 583
health nuisance and the cost of connection to a central sewer 584
system is not excessive.585

       Governmental entities constructing central sewer systems 586
shall construct the central sewer systems in a manner that 587
minimizes the distance between the foundations of the structures 588
to be serviced by the central sewer system and the connecting 589
point of the central sewer system.590

       A board of health shall not require the connection to a 591
central sewer system under rules adopted under division (A)(16) of 592
this section if a board of county commissioners has adopted a 593
resolution requiring connection under section 6117.51 of the 594
Revised Code.595

       (17) Prescribe standards for the inspection of septage 596
hauling truck tanks by boards of health, including, but not 597
limited to, tank seal safety specifications;598

       (18) Establish standards and testing methods to ensure that 599
all septic tanks, other disposal component tanks, dosing tanks, 600
pump vaults, household sewage treatment disposal system holding 601
tanks and privy vaults, or other applicable sewage disposal system 602
components manufactured after the effective date of this section 603
and used in this state are watertight and structurally sound;604

       (19) Require a board of health to give notice and an 605
opportunity for a hearing, pursuant to section 3718.11 of the 606
Revised Code, to an affected property owner regarding any of the 607
following:608

       (a) The denial of an installation, operation, or alteration 609
permit for a sewage treatment system;610

       (b) The imposition of a condition on the installation of a 611
sewage treatment system;612

       (c) The required replacement of a sewage treatment system;613

       (d) Any other final order or decision of a board of health 614
that is made under this chapter concerning which a property owner 615
is claiming to be aggrieved or adversely affected.616

       The rules also shall establish procedures for giving such 617
notice and for conducting the hearing required in rules adopted 618
under division (A)(19) of this section.619

       (20) Prescribe standards for the regulation of gray water 620
recycling systems;621

       (21) Prohibit a sewage treatment system from causing a public 622
health nuisance;623

       (22) Define economic impact for purposes of division (B) of 624
this section and section 3718.022 of the Revised Code.625

        The council may adopt other rules under division (A) of this 626
section that it determines are necessary to implement this chapter 627
and to protect the public health and welfare.628

        At least sixty days prior to adopting a rule under division 629
(A) of this section, the council shall provide boards of health 630
and any other interested parties an opportunity to comment on the 631
rule.632

        (B)(1) In accordance with section 3709.20 or 3709.21 of the 633
Revised Code, as applicable, and subject to review by and approval 634
of the director under division (C) of section 3718.05 of the 635
Revised Code, a board of health may adopt rules necessary for the 636
public health providing for more stringent standards governing 637
household sewage treatment systems, installers, service providers, 638
or septage haulers than those established in rules of the public 639
health council adopted under division (A) of this section. AIn 640
proposing or adopting the rules, a board of health shall consider 641
and document the economic impact of the rules on property owners 642
within the applicable health district.643

       (2) A board that intends to adopt such rules shall notify the 644
department of health of the proposed rules and submit a copy of 645
the proposed rules and the documentation of the economic impact of 646
the rules at least ninety days prior to the proposed date of 647
adoption. The director shall approve or disapprove any such 648
proposed rule within ninety days after receiving notice of it 649
under this divisiona copy of the proposed rule from the board of 650
health. If the director fails to approve or disapprove a proposed 651
rule within ninety days after receiving notice of it, the proposed 652
rule shall be deemed approved.653

       (3) In reviewing a proposed rule, the director shall approve 654
the rule if all of the following apply:655

       (a) The proposed rule is not in conflict with this chapter or 656
rules adopted under it.657

       (b) The proposed rule is authorized by division (B) of this 658
section.659

       (c) The proposed rule is no less stringent than rules adopted 660
by the public health council.661

       (d) Unless otherwise authorized by this chapter or rules 662
adopted under it, the proposed rule does not require design 663
changes to a sewage treatment system, or component thereof, that 664
differ from a design authorized in rules adopted under division 665
(A) of this section, including rules adopted under division (A)(1) 666
or (A)(3)(a)(iii) or (iv) of this section, or approved by the 667
director under section 3718.04 of the Revised Code.668

       (e) The proposed rule does not require operation or 669
maintenance procedures for a sewage treatment system that conflict 670
with operation or maintenance procedures authorized in rules 671
adopted under division (A) of this section, including rules 672
adopted under division (A)(1) or (A)(3)(a)(iii) or (iv) of this 673
section, or approved by the director under section 3718.04 of the 674
Revised Code.675

       (4) If a board of health fails to submit a proposed rule to 676
the director or fails to demonstrate that the board has considered 677
the economic impact of the proposed rule, the rule shall have no 678
force or effect and is not enforceable.679

       Sec. 3718.023.  (A) In accordance with rules adopted under 680
division (A) of section 3718.02 of the Revised Code, a board of 681
health shall approve or deny the installation, operation, or 682
alteration of sewage treatment systems the use of which has been 683
authorized in those rules or that have been approved for use in 684
this state by the director of health under section 3718.04 of the 685
Revised Code. The board shall approve an installation, operation, 686
or alteration only in the health district in which the board has 687
jurisdiction. A board shall approve the installation, operation, 688
or alteration of a sewage treatment system through the issuance of 689
a permit in accordance with rules adopted under section 3718.02 of 690
the Revised Code. A board shall not approve the installation, 691
operation, or alteration of a sewage treatment system if the 692
installation, operation, or alteration is not appropriate for the 693
site at which the use of the system is or is proposed to be 694
located. In determining whether to approve or disapprove the 695
installation, operation, or alteration of a sewage treatment 696
system, including the progressive or incremental installation or 697
alteration of a system, a board shall consider the economic impact 698
on the property owner, the state of available technology, and the 699
nature and economics of various alternatives. A board shall 700
provide written documentation of such economic impact if requested 701
by the property owner. In addition, the board shall ensure that a 702
system, when installed and maintained properly, will not create a 703
public health nuisance and shall require a system to comply with 704
the requirements established in division (B) of this section and 705
other applicable requirements of this chapter.706

       The board shall permit a property owner to select a sewage 707
treatment system for use by the property owner from those systems 708
that have been approved for use in the state, from the least 709
expensive system to the most expensive system, and a property 710
owner may select any such system regardless of its cost, provided 711
that the system selected will comply with all applicable 712
requirements and standards established under this chapter and 713
rules adopted under it.714

       (B) A board of health shall ensure that the design and 715
installation of a soil absorption system prevents public health 716
nuisances. In addition, a board of health shall ensure that a 717
sewage treatment system that is installed after the effective date 718
of this section shall not discharge into a ditch, stream, pond, 719
lake, natural or artificial waterway, drain tile, or other surface 720
water or onto the surface of the ground unless authorized by a 721
national pollutant discharge elimination system permit issued 722
under Chapter 6111. of the Revised Code and rules adopted under 723
it. In addition, a board shall ensure that a sewage treatment 724
system shall not discharge into an abandoned well, a drainage 725
well, a dry well, a cesspool, a sinkhole, or another connection to 726
ground water. If a household sewage treatment system serving a 727
two- or three-family dwelling or a small flow on-site sewage 728
treatment system is classified as a class V injection well, a 729
board of health shall ensure that the system complies with rules 730
adopted under section 6111.043 of the Revised Code and with 731
Chapter 3745-34 of the Administrative Code.732

       (C) For purposes of the approval or denial of the 733
installation, operation, or alteration of a sewage treatment 734
system under this section, "economic impact" means all of the 735
following, as applicable:736

       (1) The cost to the property owner for the installation of 737
the proposed sewage treatment system, including the cost of 738
progressive or incremental installation of the system;739

       (2) The cost of an alternative system, including the cost of 740
progressive or incremental installation of the system, that, when 741
installed and maintained properly, will not create a public health 742
nuisance compared to the proposed sewage treatment system;743

       (3) The costs of repairing the sewage treatment system, 744
including the cost of progressive or incremental repairs, as 745
opposed to replacing the system with a new system.746

       (D) An application for an installation permit that is 747
accepted by a board of health prior to January 1, 2012, shall be 748
valid for three years from the date of the submission of the 749
complete application and the accompanying application fee.750

       (E) An installation permit issued by a board of health prior 751
to January 1, 2012, shall be valid until January 1, 2013, unless 752
extended by a board of health for not more than an additional six 753
months.754

       Sec. 3718.024.  The director of health in cooperation with a 755
board of health shall assess the familiarity of the board's staff 756
with best management practices in the use of sewage treatment 757
systems, as necessary, and conduct appropriate training to educate 758
the board's staff in those best management practices and in the 759
use of any new sewage treatment system technology that is 760
recommended for use by the sewage treatment system technical 761
advisory committee created in section 3718.03 of the Revised Code.762

       Sec. 3718.025.  The environmental protection agency shall not 763
require a board of health to enter into a memorandum of 764
understanding or any other agreement with the agency regarding the 765
issuance of national pollutant discharge elimination system 766
permits for off-lot household sewage treatment systems. Rather, a 767
representative of a board of health may meet with a person who 768
intends to install such a system to determine the feasibility of 769
the system and refer the person to the agency to secure a national 770
pollutant discharge elimination system permit for the system if 771
needed. The environmental protection agency shall make revisions 772
to any applicable general national pollutant discharge elimination 773
system permits, issued pursuant to the federal Water Pollution 774
Control Act as defined in section 6111.01 of the Revised Code, so 775
that such a memorandum of understanding is not required. A board 776
of health voluntarily may enter into a memorandum of understanding 777
with the environmental protection agency to implement a general 778
national pollutant discharge elimination system permit. The agency 779
shall work with boards of health to facilitate securing national 780
pollutant discharge elimination system permits on behalf of 781
property owners in counties without a memorandum of understanding.782

       Sec. 3718.03. (A) There is hereby created the sewage 783
treatment system technical advisory committee consisting of the 784
director of health or the director's designee and tenthirteen785
members who are knowledgeable about sewage treatment systems and 786
technologies. The director or the director's designee shall serve 787
as committee secretary and may vote on actions taken by the 788
committee. Of the tenthirteen members, fourfive shall be 789
appointed by the governor, threefour shall be appointed by the 790
president of the senate, and threefour shall be appointed by the 791
speaker of the house of representatives.792

       (1) Of the members appointed by the governor, one shall 793
represent academia and shall be active in teaching or research in 794
the area of on-site wastewater treatment, one shall be a 795
representative of the public who is not employed by the state or 796
any of its political subdivisions and who does not have a 797
pecuniary interest in household sewage treatment systems, one 798
shall be ana registered professional engineer fromemployed by799
the environmental protection agency, and one shall be selected 800
from among soil scientists in the division of soil and water 801
resources in the department of natural resources, and one shall be 802
a representative of a statewide organization representing 803
townships.804

       (2) Of the members appointed by the president of the senate, 805
one shall be a health commissioner who is a member of and 806
recommended by the association of Ohio health commissioners, one 807
shall represent the interests of manufacturers of household sewage 808
treatment systems, and one shall represent installers and service 809
providers, and one shall be a person with demonstrated experience 810
in the design of sewage treatment systems.811

       (3) Of the members appointed by the speaker of the house of 812
representatives, one shall be a health commissioner who is a 813
member of and recommended by the association of Ohio health 814
commissioners, one shall represent the interests of manufacturers 815
of household sewage treatment systems, and one shall be a 816
sanitarian who is registered under Chapter 4736. of the Revised 817
Code and who is a member of the Ohio environmental health 818
association, and one shall be a registered professional engineer 819
with experience in sewage treatment systems.820

       (B) Terms of members appointed to the committee shall be for 821
three years, with each term ending on the same day of the same 822
month as did the term that it succeeds. Each member shall serve 823
from the date of appointment until the end of the term for which 824
the member was appointed.825

       Members may be reappointed. Vacancies shall be filled in the 826
same manner as provided for original appointments. Any member 827
appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration date 828
of the term for which the member was appointed shall hold office 829
for the remainder of that term. A member shall continue to serve 830
after the expiration date of the member's term until the member's 831
successor is appointed or until a period of sixty days has 832
elapsed, whichever occurs first. The applicable appointing 833
authority may remove a member from the committee for failure to 834
attend two consecutive meetings without showing good cause for the 835
absences.836

       (C) The technical advisory committee annually shall select 837
from among its members a chairperson and a vice-chairperson and a. 838
The secretary toshall keep a record of its proceedings. A 839
majority vote of the members of the full committee is necessary to 840
take action on any matter. The committee may adopt bylaws 841
governing its operation, including bylaws that establish the 842
frequency of meetings.843

        (D) Serving as a member of the sewage treatment system 844
technical advisory committee does not constitute holding a public 845
office or position of employment under the laws of this state and 846
does not constitute grounds for removal of public officers or 847
employees from their offices or positions of employment. Members 848
of the committee shall serve without compensation for attending 849
committee meetings.850

        (E) A member of the committee shall not have a conflict of 851
interest with the position. For the purposes of this division, 852
"conflict of interest" means the taking of any action that 853
violates any provision of Chapter 102. or 2921. of the Revised 854
Code.855

        (F) The sewage treatment system technical advisory committee 856
shall do all of the following:857

        (1) Develop with the department of health standards and,858
guidelines, and protocols for approving or disapproving a sewage 859
treatment system or components of a system under section 3718.04 860
of the Revised Code;. Any guideline requiring the submission of 861
scientific information or testing data shall specify, in writing, 862
the protocol and format to be used in submitting the information 863
or data.864

        (2) Develop with the department an application form to be 865
submitted to the director by an applicant for approval or 866
disapproval of a sewage treatment system or components of a system 867
and specify the information that must be included with an 868
application form;869

        (3) AdviseMake recommendations to the director onregarding870
the approval or disapproval of an application sent to the director 871
under section 3718.04 of the Revised Code requesting approval of a 872
sewage treatment system or components of a system;873

       (4) Pursue and recruit in an active manner the research, 874
development, introduction, and timely approval of innovative and 875
cost-effective household sewage treatment systems and components 876
of a system for use in this state, which shall include conducting 877
pilot projects to assess the effectiveness of a system or 878
components of a system;879

       (5) By January 1, 2008, provide the household sewage and 880
small flow on-site sewage treatment system study commission 881
created by Am. Sub. H.B. 119 of the 127th general assembly with a 882
list of available alternative systems and the estimated cost of 883
each system.884

        (G) The chairperson of the committee shall prepare and submit 885
an annual report concerning the activities of the committee to the 886
general assembly not later than ninety days after the end of the 887
calendar year. The report shall discuss the number of applications 888
submitted under section 3718.04 of the Revised Code for the 889
approval of a new sewage treatment system or a component of a 890
system, the number of such systems and components that were 891
approved, any information that the committee considers beneficial 892
to the general assembly, and any other information that the 893
chairperson determines is beneficial to the general assembly. If 894
other members of the committee determine that certain information 895
should be included in the report, they shall submit the 896
information to the chairperson not later than thirty days after 897
the end of the calendar year.898

       (H) The department shall provide meeting space for the 899
committee. The committee shall be assisted in its duties by the 900
staff of the department.901

        (I) Sections 101.82 to 101.87 of the Revised Code do not 902
apply to the sewage treatment system technical advisory committee.903

       Sec. 3718.04.  (A) A manufacturer seeking approval for the 904
installation and use of a sewage treatment system or a component 905
of a system in this state that differs in design or function from 906
systems or components of systems the use of which is authorized in 907
rules adopted under section 3718.02 of the Revised Code shall 908
request an application form from the department of health. The 909
applicant shall complete the form and include with it all of the 910
information that is required by the department and the sewage 911
treatment system technical advisory committee. The applicant shall 912
submit a completed application and all required information to the 913
director of health.914

       (B) Upon receipt of an application, the director shall 915
examine the application and all accompanying information to 916
determine if the application is complete. If the director 917
determines that the application is not complete, the director 918
shall notify the applicant not later than fourteensixty days 919
after determiningsubmission of the application that the 920
application is not complete, provide a description of the 921
information that is missing from the application, and return the 922
application and all accompanying information to the applicant. The 923
applicant may resubmit the application to the director if the 924
application includes the information that was identified by the 925
director. Not later than fourteenthirty days after receipt of a 926
complete application, the director shall notify the committee of 927
the complete application and send a copy of the complete 928
application and all accompanying information to the committee 929
together with a request that the committee adviserecommend that930
the director on the approvalapprove or disapproval ofdisapprove931
the system.932

       Not later than ninety days after receipt of a complete 933
application, the committee shall recommend approval or disapproval 934
of the application and submit its recommendation in writing to the 935
director. The director shall approve or disapprove the application 936
not later than sixty days after the committee submits its 937
recommendation to the director or, if the committee fails to 938
recommend approval or disapproval within the required time, not 939
later than one hundred twenty days after the submission of a 940
complete application. If the director fails to approve or 941
disapprove an application within the required time, the 942
application shall be deemed approved.943

       (C) In approving or disapproving an application, the director 944
shall use the standards and, guidelines, and protocols that the 945
committee developed with the department for that purpose. The 946
director shall not approve an application that fails to comply 947
with those standards and, guidelines, and protocols. If the 948
committee advisesrecommends approval or disapproval of an 949
application, the director concerning the application, the director950
shall consider the advicecommittee's recommendation before 951
approving or disapproving the application. However, ifIf the 952
committee fails to provide advice or if the committee fails to 953
provide advice within a reasonable period of time before the 954
director is required to approve or disapprove the application955
recommend approval or disapproval of the application within the 956
required time, the director may approve or disapprove the 957
application without considering the advice of the committee. Not 958
later than ninety days after receipt of a complete application, 959
the director shall approve or disapprove the application in 960
writing. If the director fails to approve or disapprove the 961
application within that ninety-day period, the application shall 962
be deemed approvedThe director shall establish and include any 963
appropriate terms and conditions with the approval of a sewage 964
treatment system or component of a system for use in this state. 965
For purposes of establishing soil absorption specifications for a 966
sewage treatment system, the terms and conditions shall include 967
standards regarding the sizing of the system.968

        (D) If the director approves an application under this 969
section, the director shall notify the applicant in writing. The 970
director also shall notify boards of health in accordance with the 971
procedures established in rules adopted under section 3718.02 of 972
the Revised Code that the sewage treatment system or component of 973
a system that is the subject of the application is approved for 974
statewide use. If the director disapproves an application under 975
this section, the director shall notify the applicant in writing 976
and provide a brief explanation for the disapproval.977

       (E) Decisions of the director approving or disapproving 978
applications under this section may be appealed in accordance with 979
Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.980

       (F) No approval shall be required under this section with 981
respect to a sewage treatment system or component of a system that 982
has been approved by the director prior to the effective date of 983
this amendment unless the manufacturer of the system or component 984
changes the design or seeks modifications to any terms and 985
conditions of the prior approval.986

       (G) The director may revoke the approval of a sewage 987
treatment system or component of a system if the director finds, 988
based on substantial evidence, that the system or component fails 989
to comply with applicable standards for the system or component. 990
The revocation of an approval under this division may be appealed 991
in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.992

       Sec. 3718.041. An installer or manufacturer of a sewage 993
treatment system or component of a system the use of which has 994
been authorized in rules adopted under section 3718.02 of the 995
Revised Code may request from the director of health a written 996
statement acknowledging that the system or component of a system 997
is approved for use in this state and that the approval is 998
equivalent in all respects to the approval of a system or 999
component of a system under section 3718.04 of the Revised Code. 1000
The director may approve or deny such a request as the director 1001
determines appropriate.1002

       Sec. 3718.05. The director of health shall do all of the 1003
following:1004

        (A) Administer and enforce this chapter and the rules of the 1005
public health council adopted under it;1006

        (B) Examine records of boards of health, in accordance with 1007
rules adopted by the council, that are determined necessary to 1008
ascertain compliance with this chapter and rules adopted under it;1009

        (C) Review and approve or disapprove rules proposed by boards 1010
of health under division (B) of section 3718.02 of the Revised 1011
Code. The director shall not disapprove a proposed rule unless the 1012
director determines that the proposed rule conflicts with this 1013
chapter or rules adopted under section 3718.02 of the Revised Code 1014
by the public health council or fails to promote public health or 1015
environmental protection. If the director disapproves a proposed 1016
rule, the director shall provide a written explanation of the 1017
director's disapproval to the board of health that proposed the 1018
rule.1019

        (D) Survey boards of health as required by section 3718.07 of 1020
the Revised Code;1021

        (E) Develop with the sewage treatment system technical 1022
advisory committee standards and, guidelines, and protocols for 1023
use by the director in approving or disapproving a sewage 1024
treatment system under section 3718.04 of the Revised Code and an 1025
application form for use by applicants for that approval, 1026
including identification of the information that must be included 1027
with the form;1028

       (F) Provide instructions on the operation and maintenance of 1029
a sewage treatment system. The director shall provide the 1030
operation and maintenance instructions on the department of 1031
health's web site. In addition, the director shall provide a copy 1032
of the operation and maintenance instructions when the director 1033
receives a written request for the instructions.1034

       (G) Develop educational programs, in conjunction with boards 1035
of health, to educate owners of sewage treatment systems regarding 1036
the proper operation and maintenance of those systems.1037

       Sec. 3718.06. (A)(1) A board of health shall establish fees 1038
in accordance with section 3709.09 of the Revised Code for the 1039
purpose of carrying out its duties under this chapter and rules 1040
adopted under it, including a feefees for an installation permit1041
permits, operation permits, and alteration permits issued by the 1042
board. All fees so established and collected by the board shall be 1043
deposited in a special fund of the district to be used exclusively 1044
by the board in carrying out those duties.1045

        (2) In accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, the 1046
public health council may establish by rule a fee to be collected 1047
from applicants for installation permits and alteration permits 1048
issued under rules adopted under this chapter. The director of 1049
health shall use not more than seventy-five per cent of the 1050
proceeds from that fee for administering and enforcing this 1051
chapter and the rules adopted under it by the council. The 1052
director shall use not less than twenty-five per cent of the 1053
proceeds from that fee to establish a program in cooperation with 1054
boards of health to fund installation and evaluation of sewage 1055
treatment system new technology pilot projects through grants or 1056
other agreements. In the selection of pilot projects, the director 1057
shall consult with the sewage treatment system technical advisory 1058
committee. A board of health shall collect and transmit the fee.1059
to the director pursuant to section 3709.092 of the Revised Code. 1060
The director shall use the money so credited solely for the 1061
administration and enforcement of this chapter and the rules 1062
adopted under it by the public health council.1063

        (B) The director may submit recommendations to the public 1064
health council regarding the amount of the fee collected under 1065
division (A)(2) of this section for installation and alteration1066
permits. When making the recommendations, the director shall 1067
submit a report stating the current and projected expenses of 1068
administering and enforcing this chapter and the rules adopted 1069
under it by the counciland of the sewage treatment system new 1070
technology pilot projects program established under this section1071
and the total of all money that has been deposited to the credit 1072
of the general operations fund under division (A)(2) of this 1073
section. The director may include in the report any 1074
recommendations for modifying the requirements established under 1075
this chapter and the rules adopted under it by the council.1076

       Sec. 3718.09. (A) A board of health may issue, modify, 1077
suspend, or revoke enforcement orders to a registration or permit 1078
holder or other person directing the holder or person to abate a 1079
violation of this chapter, any rule adopted or order issued under 1080
it, or a condition of a registration or permit issued under it 1081
within a specified, reasonable time. If an order issued under this 1082
division is neglected or disregarded, the applicable board of 1083
health may proceed in accordance with section 3707.02 of the 1084
Revised Code.1085

        (B) The health commissioner or the commissioner's designated 1086
representative, without prior notice or hearing and in accordance 1087
with the rules of the public health council, may issue an 1088
emergency order requiring any action necessary to meet a public 1089
health emergency or to prevent or abate an imminent and 1090
substantial threat to surface water or ground water regarding 1091
domestic septage management or regarding a sewage treatment system 1092
that is being operated in a manner that does not comply with this 1093
chapter or rules adopted under it. A person to whom such an 1094
emergency order is issued immediately shall comply with the order. 1095
A person so ordered may apply to the issuer of the order for a 1096
hearing, which shall be held as soon as possible, but not later 1097
than twenty days after the issuer's receipt of the application for 1098
a hearing.1099

       Sec. 3718.11. (A) A property owner may request a hearing with 1100
the board of health for any reason described in division (A)(19) 1101
of section 3718.02 of the Revised Code. A property owner may 1102
appeal the results of the hearing to either of the following:1103

        (1) The court of common pleas of the county in which the 1104
property owner's land is located;1105

        (2) A sewage treatment system appeals board that is 1106
established in accordance with this section.1107

        (B) A property owner that wishes to appeal to a sewage 1108
treatment system appeals board shall file the appeal with the 1109
board of health within whose jurisdiction the property owner's 1110
land is located. Upon receipt of a filing, the board of health 1111
shall send the filing of the appeal to the chairperson of the 1112
sewage treatment system appeals board for the county in which the 1113
board of health has jurisdiction.1114

       (C)(1) Not later than ninety days after the effective date of 1115
this section, a sewage treatment system appeals board shall be 1116
appointed for each county as follows:1117

        (a) One member shall be appointed by the health commissioner 1118
of the general health district having jurisdiction in the county.1119

        (b) One member shall be appointed by the judge of the probate 1120
court of the county having the longest continuous service as a 1121
judge of the probate court.1122

        (c) One member shall be appointed by the director of health.1123

        (2) Terms of appointment to a sewage treatment system appeals 1124
board shall be for two years. Members may be reappointed. 1125
Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as provided for 1126
original appointments. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy 1127
occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which the member 1128
was appointed shall hold office for the remainder of that term.1129

       (3) The person appointed by the judge of the probate court 1130
shall serve as chairperson of the board. A majority vote of the 1131
members of the board is necessary to take action on any matter. 1132
The chairperson of the board shall designate the time and location 1133
for a hearing before the board. Members of the board shall serve 1134
without compensation.1135

        (4) A board of health shall send an appeal that has been 1136
filed with the board of health under division (B) of this section 1137
to the sewage treatment system appeals board immediately after the 1138
appeal has been filed. Not later than forty-five days after a 1139
hearing before a sewage treatment system appeals board, the board 1140
shall issue a written decision concerning an appeal before the 1141
board.1142

       (5) The judge of the probate court who made an appointment to 1143
the board under this section shall establish due process 1144
procedures to be used by the applicable sewage treatment system 1145
appeals board appointed under this section for the purpose of 1146
hearing appeals regarding orders and decisions of a board of 1147
health. All appeals before the applicable sewage treatment system 1148
appeals board shall be conducted in accordance with those 1149
procedures. The procedures may include filing fees applicable to 1150
appeals conducted by the sewage treatment system appeals board.1151

       (D) An appeal before a sewage treatment system appeals board 1152
is final, and no further appeal may be taken.1153

       Sec. 6117.51.  If the board of health of the health district 1154
within which a new public sewer construction project is proposed 1155
or located passes a resolution stating that the reason for the 1156
project is to reduce or eliminate an existing health problem or a 1157
hazard of water pollution, the board of county commissioners of 1158
the county, by resolution, may order the owner of any premises 1159
located in a sewer district in the county, the owner's agent, 1160
lessee, or tenant, or any other occupant of the premises to 1161
connect the premises to the sewer for the purpose of discharging 1162
sewage or other waste that the board determines is originating on 1163
the premises, to make use of the connection, and to cease the 1164
discharge of the sewage or other waste into a cesspool, ditch, 1165
private sewer, privy, septic tank, semipublic disposal system as 1166
defined in division (B)(1)(a) of section 3709.085 of the Revised 1167
Code, or other outlet if the board finds that the sewer is 1168
available for use and is accessible to the premises following a 1169
determination and certification to the board by a registered 1170
professional engineer designated by it as to the availability and 1171
accessibility of the sewer. This section does not apply to any of 1172
the following:1173

       (A) Any discharge authorized by a permit issued under 1174
division (J) of section 6111.03 of the Revised Code other than a 1175
discharge to or from a semipublic disposal system as defined in 1176
division (B)(1)(a) of section 3709.085 of the Revised Code;1177

       (B) Wastes resulting from the keeping of animals;1178

       (C) Any premises that are not served by a common sewage 1179
collection system when the foundation wall of the structure from 1180
which sewage or other waste originates is more than twothree1181
hundred feet from the nearest boundary of the right-of-way within 1182
which the sewer is located;1183

       (D) Any premises that are served by a common sewage 1184
collection system when both the foundation wall of the structure 1185
from which the sewage or other waste originates and the common 1186
sewage collection system are more than twothree hundred feet from 1187
the nearest boundary of the right-of-way within which the public 1188
sewer is located;1189

       (E) Any dwelling house located on property that is listed on 1190
the county's agricultural land tax list as being valued for tax 1191
purposes as land devoted exclusively to agricultural use under 1192
section 5713.31 of the Revised Code, when the foundation wall of 1193
the dwelling house is twothree hundred feet or less from the 1194
nearest boundary of the right-of-way within which the sewer is 1195
located, if both of the following also apply:1196

       (1) The sewer right-of-way for the property on which the 1197
dwelling house is located was obtained by appropriation due to a 1198
public exigency pursuant to division (B) of section 307.08, 1199
6101.181, 6115.211, 6117.39, or 6119.11 of the Revised Code.1200

       (2) The local health department has certified that the 1201
household sewage disposal system is functioning properly.1202

       The board shall not direct an order under this section to a 1203
resident tenant unless it determines that the terms of the tenancy 1204
are such that the owner lacks sufficient rights of access to 1205
permit the owner to comply with the terms of the order.1206

       An owner, agent, lessee, tenant, or occupant shall comply 1207
with the order of the board within ninety days after the 1208
completion of service of the order upon that person as provided in 1209
this section. The board, upon written application filed prior to 1210
the expiration of the ninety-day period, may waive compliance with 1211
any order either temporarily or permanently and conditionally or 1212
unconditionally.1213

       In its resolution, the board shall direct its clerk, or the 1214
clerk's designee, to serve its order upon the owner, agent, 1215
lessee, tenant, or occupant. Service of the order shall be made 1216
personally, by leaving the order at the usual place of residence 1217
with a person of suitable age and discretion then residing 1218
therein, or by certified mail addressed to the owner, agent, 1219
lessee, tenant, or occupant at that person's last known address or 1220
to the address to which tax bills are sent. If it appears by the 1221
return of service or the return of the order forwarded by 1222
certified mail that the owner, agent, lessee, tenant, or occupant 1223
cannot be found, that person shall be served by publication of the 1224
order once in a newspaper of general circulation within the 1225
county, or if that person refuses service, that person shall be 1226
served by ordinary mail addressed to that person's last known 1227
address or to the address to which tax bills are sent. The return 1228
of the person serving the order or a certified copy of the return, 1229
or a returned receipt for the order forwarded by certified mail 1230
accepted by the addressee or anyone purporting to act for the 1231
addressee, is prima-facie evidence of the service of the order 1232
under this section. The return of the person attempting to serve 1233
the order, or the return to the sender of the order forwarded by 1234
certified mail with an indication on the return of the refusal of 1235
the addressee to accept delivery, is prima-facie evidence of the 1236
refusal of service.1237

       No owner, agent, lessee, tenant, or occupant shall violate an 1238
order issued under this section. Upon request of the board, the 1239
prosecuting attorney shall prosecute in a court of competent 1240
jurisdiction any owner, agent, lessee, tenant, or occupant who 1241
violates an order issued under this section. Each day that a 1242
violation continues after conviction for the violation of an order 1243
issued under this section and the final determination thereof is a 1244
separate offense. The court, for good cause shown, may grant a 1245
reasonable additional period of time for compliance after 1246
conviction.1247

       Any owner, agent, lessee, tenant, or occupant violating an 1248
order issued under this section also may be enjoined from 1249
continuing in violation. Upon request of the board, the 1250
prosecuting attorney shall bring an action in a court of competent 1251
jurisdiction for an injunction against the owner, agent, lessee, 1252
tenant, or occupant violating an order.1253

       The Ohio water development authority created under section 1254
6121.02 of the Revised Code, in addition to its other powers, has 1255
the same power and shall be governed by the same procedures in a 1256
waste water facilities service area, or in any area adjacent to a 1257
public sewer operated by the authority, as a board of county 1258
commissioners in a county sewer district under this section, 1259
except that the authority shall act by order, and the attorney 1260
general, upon request of the authority, shall prosecute any person 1261
who violates an order of the authority issued under this section.1262

       Section 2.  That existing sections 711.05, 711.10, 3718.01, 1263
3718.02, 3718.03, 3718.04, 3718.05, 3718.06, 3718.09, and 6117.51 1264
of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.1265

       Section 3.  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the 1266
contrary, Chapter 3701-29 of the Ohio Administrative Code adopted 1267
pursuant to Section 120.02 of Am. Sub. H.B. 119 of the 127th 1268
General Assembly, as amended by Am. Sub. H.B. 1 and Sub. H.B. 363 1269
of the 128th General Assembly, shall remain in effect as it exists 1270
on the effective date of this act until it is superseded by the 1271
rules that are required to be adopted under section 3718.02 of the 1272
Revised Code as amended by this act. The rules that are required 1273
to be adopted under that section as amended by this act shall not 1274
take effect prior to January 1, 2012.1275

       Section 4. Not later than thirty days after the effective 1276
date of this section, the Governor, President of the Senate, and 1277
Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint the new 1278
members to the Sewage Treatment System Technical Advisory 1279
Committee that are required to be appointed under section 3718.03 1280
of the Revised Code as amended by this act.1281

       The Governor shall appoint the person representing a 1282
statewide organization representing townships for an initial term 1283
of one year. Thereafter, the person appointed to that position 1284
shall be appointed to a three-year term as required by section 1285
3718.03 of the Revised Code.1286

       The President of the Senate shall appoint the person who is 1287
required to have demonstrated experience in the design of 1288
household sewage treatment systems for an initial term of two 1289
years. Thereafter, the person appointed to that position shall be 1290
appointed to a three-year term as required by section 3718.03 of 1291
the Revised Code.1292

       The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint the 1293
person that is required to be a registered professional engineer 1294
with experience in sewage treatment systems for an initial term of 1295
three years. Thereafter, the person appointed to that position 1296
shall be appointed to a three-year term as required by section 1297
3718.03 of the Revised Code.1298

       Section 5. That Section 3 of Am. H.B. 416 of the 127th 1299
General Assembly be amended to read as follows:1300

       Sec. 3. (A) Not later than three months after the effective 1301
date of this section, the Director of Natural Resources shall 1302
convene an advisory board consisting of the following persons with 1303
an interest in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water 1304
Resources Compact:1305

       (1) The Director of Natural Resources or the Director's 1306
designee, who shall serve as chairperson of the advisory board;1307

       (2) The Director of Environmental Protection or the 1308
Director's designee;1309

       (3) The Director of Development or the Director's designee;1310

       (4) The following members appointed by the Governor:1311

       (a) One water quality expert from the faculty or staff of an 1312
Ohio college or university;1313

       (b) One representative of a statewide environmental advocacy 1314
organization;1315

       (c) One representative of a local environmental advocacy 1316
organization in the Lake Erie Basin;1317

       (d) One representative of a sustainable economic development 1318
organization in the Lake Erie Basin;1319

       (e) One representative of the travel and tourism industry;1320

       (f) One representative of the electric utility industry;1321

       (g) One representative of a county government in the Lake 1322
Erie Basin.1323

       (5) The following members appointed by the President of the 1324
Senate:1325

       (a) Two members of the Senate who shall not be members of the 1326
same political party;1327

       (b) One representative of the bottled water industry;1328

       (c) One representative of a statewide land conservation 1329
advocacy organization;1330

       (d) One representative of agricultural interests in the Lake 1331
Erie Basin;1332

       (e) One representative of the aggregates industry;1333

       (f) One representative of the pulp and paper industry;1334

       (g) One representative of a large manufacturer with a 1335
facility located within the Lake Erie Basin;1336

       (h) One member of the public.1337

       (6) The following members appointed by the Speaker of the 1338
House of Representatives:1339

       (a) Two members of the House of Representatives who shall not 1340
be members of the same political party;1341

       (b) One representative of a municipal government in the Lake 1342
Erie Basin;1343

       (c) One expert in hydrogeology from the faculty or staff of 1344
an Ohio college or university;1345

       (d) One representative of a locally based organization in the 1346
Lake Erie Basin that assists in the development and implementation 1347
of a plan for the protection and management of surface and ground 1348
water resources in a watershed;1349

       (e) One representative of a fish and wildlife advocacy 1350
organization;1351

       (f) One representative of residential developers;1352

       (g) One representative of the chemical industry;1353

       (h) One representative of the petroleum industry with a 1354
facility located within the Lake Erie Basin.1355

       All appointments shall be made to the advisory board not 1356
later than thirty days after the effective date of this section. 1357
The advisory board shall meet on a regular basis. Vacancies on the 1358
advisory board shall be filled in the manner provided for original 1359
appointments. Members of the advisory board shall receive no 1360
compensation for serving on the board. The Department of Natural 1361
Resources shall provide technical support to the advisory board.1362

       (B) The advisory board shall be convened for the purpose of 1363
developing recommendations for legislation that is necessary to 1364
implement and effectuate the requirements and purposes of the 1365
Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact. The 1366
recommendations shall address, but not be limited to, the 1367
following:1368

       (1) The evaluation and recommendation of the threshold levels 1369
to be included in the implementing legislation for regulating new 1370
or increased water withdrawals in the state, considering at least 1371
all of the following:1372

       (a) The number of withdrawals that will be regulated;1373

       (b) The relative impact of those withdrawals;1374

       (c) The practicality of regulating those withdrawals;1375

       (d) The alternatives that are available in the establishment 1376
of a permitting program in order to meet the water management 1377
objectives of this state.1378

       (2) The establishment of requirements regarding the review of 1379
lists of existing water users in the portion of the Great 1380
Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin that is in this state;1381

       (3) The establishment of a process for use by persons that 1382
wish to appeal their inclusion in the list of existing water 1383
users;1384

       (4) The establishment of conservation objectives with respect 1385
to the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources 1386
Compact and the development of the state's water conservation and 1387
efficiency programs; 1388

       (5) The method for determining the capacity of existing 1389
facilities as required in Section 4.12.2 of the Great Lakes-St. 1390
Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact.1391

       (C) The advisory board shall present its final 1392
recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly not later 1393
than eighteen months after the effective date of this section1394
December 15, 2010. It is the intent of the General Assembly that 1395
the recommendations of the advisory board will represent a 1396
consensus of the board's members regarding the issues presented to 1397
and discussed by the board. However, if a consensus cannot be 1398
reached on any or all of the issues before the board, one or more 1399
minority opinions may accompany the recommendations of the board.1400

       (D) Upon submission of its recommendations under division (C) 1401
of this section, the advisory board shall cease to exist.1402

       Section 6. That existing Section 3 of Am. H.B. 416 of the 1403
127th General Assembly is hereby repealed.1404