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 trustees | 107 |
and the board of health of the submission of the plat and of the | 108 |
date, time, and location of any meeting at which the county or | 109 |
regional planning commission will consider or act upon the plat. | 110 |
The meeting shall take place within thirty calendar days after | 111 |
submission of the plat, and no meeting shall be held until at | 112 |
least seven calendar days have passed from the date the planning | 113 |
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 |
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 |
(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 |
(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 |
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 |
(3) Prescribe standards for the siting, design, installation, | 346 |
operation, monitoring, maintenance, and abandonment of household | 347 |
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 |
(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 |
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 |
(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 |
(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 |
(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 |
(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 |
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. The rules shall provide that a | 590 |
property owner that is required under rules to connect to a | 591 |
municipal central sewer system not be required to submit to | 592 |
annexation by the municipal corporation as a condition of | 593 |
connecting to the municipal central sewer system. However, if, on | 594 |
or before July 1, 2010, a municipal corporation has entered into a | 595 |
sewer service agreement with a sewer service provider and the | 596 |
agreement requires annexation as a condition for allowing | 597 |
connection to a municipal central sewer system, a property owner | 598 |
may be required to submit to annexation by the municipal | 599 |
corporation as a condition for connecting to the municipal central | 600 |
sewer system. | 601 |
(18) Establish standards and testing methods to ensure that | 610 |
all septic tanks, other disposal component tanks, dosing tanks, | 611 |
pump vaults, household sewage treatment disposal system holding | 612 |
tanks and privy vaults, or other applicable sewage disposal system | 613 |
components manufactured after the effective date of this section | 614 |
and used in this state are watertight and structurally sound; | 615 |
(B)(1) In accordance with section 3709.20 or 3709.21 of the | 644 |
Revised Code, as applicable, and subject to review by and approval | 645 |
of the director under division (C) of section 3718.05 of the | 646 |
Revised Code, a board of health may adopt rules necessary for the | 647 |
public health providing for more stringent standards governing | 648 |
household sewage treatment systems, installers, service providers, | 649 |
or septage haulers than those established in rules of the public | 650 |
health council adopted under division (A) of this section. AIn | 651 |
proposing or adopting the rules, a board of health shall consider | 652 |
and document the economic impact of the rules on property owners | 653 |
within the applicable health district. | 654 |
(2) A board that intends to adopt such rules shall notify the | 655 |
department of health of the proposed rules and submit a copy of | 656 |
the proposed rules and the documentation of the economic impact of | 657 |
the rules at least ninety days prior to the proposed date of | 658 |
adoption. The director shall approve or disapprove any such | 659 |
proposed rule within ninety days after receiving
notice of it | 660 |
under this divisiona copy of the proposed rule from the board of | 661 |
health. If the director fails to approve or disapprove a proposed | 662 |
rule within ninety days after receiving notice of it, the proposed | 663 |
rule shall be deemed approved. | 664 |
(d) Unless otherwise authorized by this chapter or rules | 673 |
adopted under it, the proposed rule does not require design | 674 |
changes to a sewage treatment system, or component thereof, that | 675 |
differ from a design authorized in rules adopted under division | 676 |
(A) of this section, including rules adopted under division (A)(1) | 677 |
or (A)(3)(a)(iii) or (iv) of this section, or approved by the | 678 |
director under section 3718.04 of the Revised Code. | 679 |
Sec. 3718.023. (A) In accordance with rules adopted under | 691 |
division (A) of section 3718.02 of the Revised Code, a board of | 692 |
health shall approve or deny the installation, operation, or | 693 |
alteration of sewage treatment systems the use of which has been | 694 |
authorized in those rules or that have been approved for use in | 695 |
this state by the director of health under section 3718.04 of the | 696 |
Revised Code. The board shall approve an installation, operation, | 697 |
or alteration only in the health district in which the board has | 698 |
jurisdiction. A board shall approve the installation, operation, | 699 |
or alteration of a sewage treatment system through the issuance of | 700 |
a permit in accordance with rules adopted under section 3718.02 of | 701 |
the Revised Code. A board shall not approve the installation, | 702 |
operation, or alteration of a sewage treatment system if the | 703 |
installation, operation, or alteration is not appropriate for the | 704 |
site at which the use of the system is or is proposed to be | 705 |
located. In determining whether to approve or disapprove the | 706 |
installation, operation, or alteration of a sewage treatment | 707 |
system, including the progressive or incremental installation or | 708 |
alteration of a system, a board shall consider the economic impact | 709 |
on the property owner, the state of available technology, and the | 710 |
nature and economics of various alternatives. A board shall | 711 |
provide written documentation of such economic impact if requested | 712 |
by the property owner. In addition, the board shall ensure that a | 713 |
system, when installed and maintained properly, will not create a | 714 |
public health nuisance and shall require a system to comply with | 715 |
the requirements established in division (B) of this section and | 716 |
other applicable requirements of this chapter. | 717 |
The board shall permit a property owner to select a sewage | 718 |
treatment system for use by the property owner from those systems | 719 |
that have been approved for use in the state, from the least | 720 |
expensive system to the most expensive system, and a property | 721 |
owner may select any such system regardless of its cost, provided | 722 |
that the system selected will comply with all applicable | 723 |
requirements and standards established under this chapter and | 724 |
rules adopted under it. | 725 |
(B) A board of health shall ensure that the design and | 726 |
installation of a soil absorption system prevents public health | 727 |
nuisances. In addition, a board of health shall ensure that a | 728 |
sewage treatment system that is installed after the effective date | 729 |
of this section shall not discharge into a ditch, stream, pond, | 730 |
lake, natural or artificial waterway, drain tile, or other surface | 731 |
water or onto the surface of the ground unless authorized by a | 732 |
national pollutant discharge elimination system permit issued | 733 |
under Chapter 6111. of the Revised Code and rules adopted under | 734 |
it. In addition, a board shall ensure that a sewage treatment | 735 |
system shall not discharge into an abandoned well, a drainage | 736 |
well, a dry well, a cesspool, a sinkhole, or another connection to | 737 |
ground water. If a household sewage treatment system serving a | 738 |
two- or three-family dwelling or a small flow on-site sewage | 739 |
treatment system is classified as a class V injection well, a | 740 |
board of health shall ensure that the system complies with rules | 741 |
adopted under section 6111.043 of the Revised Code and with | 742 |
Chapter 3745-34 of the Administrative Code. | 743 |
Sec. 3718.024. The director of health in cooperation with a | 766 |
board of health shall assess the familiarity of the board's staff | 767 |
with best management practices in the use of sewage treatment | 768 |
systems, as necessary, and conduct appropriate training to educate | 769 |
the board's staff in those best management practices and in the | 770 |
use of any new sewage treatment system technology that is | 771 |
recommended for use by the sewage treatment system technical | 772 |
advisory committee created in section 3718.03 of the Revised Code. | 773 |
Sec. 3718.025. The environmental protection agency shall not | 774 |
require a board of health to enter into a memorandum of | 775 |
understanding or any other agreement with the agency regarding the | 776 |
issuance of national pollutant discharge elimination system | 777 |
permits for off-lot household sewage treatment systems. Rather, a | 778 |
representative of a board of health may meet with a person who | 779 |
intends to install such a system to determine the feasibility of | 780 |
the system and refer the person to the agency to secure a national | 781 |
pollutant discharge elimination system permit for the system if | 782 |
needed. The environmental protection agency shall make revisions | 783 |
to any applicable general national pollutant discharge elimination | 784 |
system permits, issued pursuant to the federal Water Pollution | 785 |
Control Act as defined in section 6111.01 of the Revised Code, so | 786 |
that such a memorandum of understanding is not required. A board | 787 |
of health voluntarily may enter into a memorandum of understanding | 788 |
with the environmental protection agency to implement a general | 789 |
national pollutant discharge elimination system permit. The agency | 790 |
shall work with boards of health to facilitate securing national | 791 |
pollutant discharge elimination system permits on behalf of | 792 |
property owners in counties without a memorandum of understanding. | 793 |
Sec. 3718.03. (A) There is hereby created the sewage | 794 |
treatment system technical advisory committee consisting of the | 795 |
director of health or the director's designee and tenthirteen | 796 |
members who are knowledgeable about sewage treatment systems and | 797 |
technologies.
The director or the director's designee shall serve | 798 |
as committee secretary and may vote on actions taken by the | 799 |
committee. Of the tenthirteen members, fourfive shall be | 800 |
appointed by the governor,
threefour shall be appointed by the | 801 |
president of the senate, and
threefour shall be appointed by the | 802 |
speaker of the house of representatives. | 803 |
(1) Of the members appointed by the governor, one shall | 804 |
represent academia and shall be active in teaching or research in | 805 |
the area of on-site wastewater treatment, one shall be a | 806 |
representative of the public who is not employed by the state or | 807 |
any of its political subdivisions and who does not have a | 808 |
pecuniary interest in
household sewage treatment systems, one | 809 |
shall be ana registered professional engineer fromemployed by | 810 |
the environmental protection agency, and one shall be selected | 811 |
from among soil scientists in the division of soil and water | 812 |
resources in the department of natural resources, and one shall be | 813 |
a representative of a statewide organization representing | 814 |
townships. | 815 |
(2) Of the members appointed by the president of the senate, | 816 |
one shall be a health commissioner who is a member of and | 817 |
recommended by the association of Ohio health commissioners, one | 818 |
shall represent the interests of manufacturers of household sewage | 819 |
treatment systems, and one shall represent installers and service | 820 |
providers, and one shall be a person with demonstrated experience | 821 |
in the design of sewage treatment systems. | 822 |
(3) Of the members appointed by the speaker of the house of | 823 |
representatives, one shall be a health commissioner who is a | 824 |
member of and recommended by the association of Ohio health | 825 |
commissioners, one shall represent the interests of manufacturers | 826 |
of household sewage treatment systems, and one shall be a | 827 |
sanitarian who is registered under Chapter 4736. of the Revised | 828 |
Code and who is a member of the Ohio environmental health | 829 |
association, and one shall be a registered professional engineer | 830 |
with experience in sewage treatment systems. | 831 |
Members may be reappointed. Vacancies shall be filled in the | 837 |
same manner as provided for original appointments. Any member | 838 |
appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration date | 839 |
of the term for which the member was appointed shall hold office | 840 |
for the remainder of that term. A member shall continue to serve | 841 |
after the expiration date of the member's term until the member's | 842 |
successor is appointed or until a period of sixty days has | 843 |
elapsed, whichever occurs first. The applicable appointing | 844 |
authority may remove a member from the committee for failure to | 845 |
attend two consecutive meetings without showing good cause for the | 846 |
absences. | 847 |
(G) The chairperson of the committee shall prepare and submit | 896 |
an annual report concerning the activities of the committee to the | 897 |
general assembly not later than ninety days after the end of the | 898 |
calendar year. The report shall discuss the number of applications | 899 |
submitted under section 3718.04 of the Revised Code for the | 900 |
approval of a new sewage treatment system or a component of a | 901 |
system, the number of such systems and components that were | 902 |
approved, any information that the committee considers beneficial | 903 |
to the general assembly, and any other information that the | 904 |
chairperson determines is beneficial to the general assembly. If | 905 |
other members of the committee determine that certain information | 906 |
should be included in the report, they shall submit the | 907 |
information to the chairperson not later than thirty days after | 908 |
the end of the calendar year. | 909 |
Sec. 3718.04. (A) A manufacturer seeking approval for the | 915 |
installation and use of a sewage treatment system or a component | 916 |
of a system in this state that differs in design or function from | 917 |
systems or components of systems the use of which is authorized in | 918 |
rules adopted under section 3718.02 of the Revised Code shall | 919 |
request an application form from the department of health. The | 920 |
applicant shall complete the form and include with it all of the | 921 |
information that is required by the department and the sewage | 922 |
treatment system technical advisory committee. The applicant shall | 923 |
submit a completed application and all required information to the | 924 |
director of health. | 925 |
(B) Upon receipt of an application, the director shall | 926 |
examine the application and all accompanying information to | 927 |
determine if the application is complete. If the director | 928 |
determines that the application is not complete, the director | 929 |
shall notify the applicant not later than fourteensixty days | 930 |
after determiningsubmission of the application that the | 931 |
application is not complete, provide a description of the | 932 |
information that is missing from the application, and return the | 933 |
application and all accompanying information to the applicant. The | 934 |
applicant may resubmit the application to the director if the | 935 |
application includes the information that was identified by the | 936 |
director. Not later than fourteenthirty days after receipt of a | 937 |
complete application, the director shall notify the committee of | 938 |
the complete application and send a copy of the complete | 939 |
application and all accompanying information to the committee | 940 |
together with a request that the committee adviserecommend that | 941 |
the director on the approvalapprove or disapproval ofdisapprove | 942 |
the system. | 943 |
Not later than ninety days after receipt of a complete | 944 |
application, the committee shall recommend approval or disapproval | 945 |
of the application and submit its recommendation in writing to the | 946 |
director. The director shall approve or disapprove the application | 947 |
not later than sixty days after the committee submits its | 948 |
recommendation to the director or, if the committee fails to | 949 |
recommend approval or disapproval within the required time, not | 950 |
later than one hundred twenty days after the submission of a | 951 |
complete application. If the director fails to approve or | 952 |
disapprove an application within the required time, the | 953 |
application shall be deemed approved. | 954 |
(C) In approving or disapproving an application, the director | 955 |
shall use the standards and, guidelines, and protocols that the | 956 |
committee developed with the department for that purpose. The | 957 |
director shall not approve an application that fails to comply | 958 |
with those standards and, guidelines, and protocols. If the | 959 |
committee advisesrecommends approval or disapproval of an | 960 |
application, the director concerning the application, the director | 961 |
shall consider the advicecommittee's recommendation before | 962 |
approving or disapproving the application. However, ifIf the | 963 |
committee fails to provide advice or if the committee fails to | 964 |
provide advice within a reasonable period of time before the | 965 |
director is required to approve or disapprove the application | 966 |
recommend approval or disapproval of the application within the | 967 |
required time, the director may approve or disapprove the | 968 |
application without considering the advice of the committee. Not | 969 |
later than ninety days after receipt of a complete application, | 970 |
the director shall approve or disapprove the application in | 971 |
writing. If the director fails to approve or disapprove the | 972 |
application within that ninety-day period, the application shall | 973 |
be deemed approvedThe director shall establish and include any | 974 |
appropriate terms and conditions with the approval of a sewage | 975 |
treatment system or component of a system for use in this state. | 976 |
For purposes of establishing soil absorption specifications for a | 977 |
sewage treatment system, the terms and conditions shall include | 978 |
standards regarding the sizing of the system. | 979 |
(D) If the director approves an application under this | 980 |
section, the director shall notify the applicant in writing. The | 981 |
director also shall notify boards of health in accordance with the | 982 |
procedures established in rules adopted under section 3718.02 of | 983 |
the Revised Code that the sewage treatment system or component of | 984 |
a system that is the subject of the application is approved for | 985 |
statewide use. If the director disapproves an application under | 986 |
this section, the director shall notify the applicant in writing | 987 |
and provide a brief explanation for the disapproval. | 988 |
Sec. 3718.041. An installer or manufacturer of a sewage | 1004 |
treatment system or component of a system the use of which has | 1005 |
been authorized in rules adopted under section 3718.02 of the | 1006 |
Revised Code may request from the director of health a written | 1007 |
statement acknowledging that the system or component of a system | 1008 |
is approved for use in this state and that the approval is | 1009 |
equivalent in all respects to the approval of a system or | 1010 |
component of a system under section 3718.04 of the Revised Code. | 1011 |
The director may approve or deny such a request as the director | 1012 |
determines appropriate. | 1013 |
(C) Review and approve or disapprove rules proposed by boards | 1021 |
of health under division (B) of section 3718.02 of the Revised | 1022 |
Code. The director shall not disapprove a proposed rule unless the | 1023 |
director determines that the proposed rule conflicts with this | 1024 |
chapter or rules adopted under section 3718.02 of the Revised Code | 1025 |
by the public health council or fails to promote public health or | 1026 |
environmental protection. If the director disapproves a proposed | 1027 |
rule, the director shall provide a written explanation of the | 1028 |
director's disapproval to the board of health that proposed the | 1029 |
rule. | 1030 |
Sec. 3718.06. (A)(1) A board of health shall establish fees | 1049 |
in accordance with section 3709.09 of the Revised Code for the | 1050 |
purpose of carrying out its duties under this chapter and rules | 1051 |
adopted under it, including a feefees for an installation permit | 1052 |
permits, operation permits, and alteration permits issued by the | 1053 |
board. All fees so established and collected by the board shall be | 1054 |
deposited in a special fund of the district to be used exclusively | 1055 |
by the board in carrying out those duties. | 1056 |
(2) In accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, the | 1057 |
public health council may establish by rule a fee to be collected | 1058 |
from applicants for installation permits and alteration permits | 1059 |
issued under rules adopted under this chapter. The director of | 1060 |
health shall use not more than seventy-five per cent of the | 1061 |
proceeds from that fee for administering and enforcing this | 1062 |
chapter and the rules adopted under it by the council. The | 1063 |
director shall use not less than twenty-five per cent of the | 1064 |
proceeds from that fee to establish a program in cooperation with | 1065 |
boards of health to fund installation and evaluation of sewage | 1066 |
treatment system new technology pilot projects through grants or | 1067 |
other agreements. In the selection of pilot projects, the director | 1068 |
shall consult with the sewage treatment system technical advisory | 1069 |
committee. A board of health shall collect and transmit the fee. | 1070 |
to the director pursuant to section 3709.092 of the Revised Code. | 1071 |
The director shall use the money so credited solely for the | 1072 |
administration and enforcement of this chapter and the rules | 1073 |
adopted under it by the public health council. | 1074 |
(B) The director may submit recommendations to the public | 1075 |
health council regarding the amount of the fee collected under | 1076 |
division (A)(2) of this section for installation and alteration | 1077 |
permits. When making the recommendations, the director shall | 1078 |
submit a report stating the current and projected expenses of | 1079 |
administering and enforcing this chapter and the rules adopted | 1080 |
under it by the counciland of the sewage treatment system new | 1081 |
technology pilot projects program established under this section | 1082 |
and the total of all money that has been deposited to the credit | 1083 |
of the general operations fund under division (A)(2) of this | 1084 |
section. The director may include in the report any | 1085 |
recommendations for modifying the requirements established under | 1086 |
this chapter and the rules adopted under it by the council. | 1087 |
Sec. 3718.09. (A) A board of health may issue, modify, | 1088 |
suspend, or revoke enforcement orders to a registration or permit | 1089 |
holder or other person directing the holder or person to abate a | 1090 |
violation of this chapter, any rule adopted or order issued under | 1091 |
it, or a condition of a registration or permit issued under it | 1092 |
within a specified, reasonable time. If an order issued under this | 1093 |
division is neglected or disregarded, the applicable board of | 1094 |
health may proceed in accordance with section 3707.02 of the | 1095 |
Revised Code. | 1096 |
(B) The health commissioner or the commissioner's designated | 1097 |
representative, without prior notice or hearing and in accordance | 1098 |
with the rules of the public health council, may issue an | 1099 |
emergency order requiring any action necessary to meet a public | 1100 |
health emergency or to prevent or abate an imminent and | 1101 |
substantial threat to surface water or ground water regarding | 1102 |
domestic septage management or regarding a sewage treatment system | 1103 |
that is being operated in a manner that does not comply with this | 1104 |
chapter or rules adopted under it. A person to whom such an | 1105 |
emergency order is issued immediately shall comply with the order. | 1106 |
A person so ordered may apply to the issuer of the order for a | 1107 |
hearing, which shall be held as soon as possible, but not later | 1108 |
than twenty days after the issuer's receipt of the application for | 1109 |
a hearing. | 1110 |
(5) The judge of the probate court who made an appointment to | 1154 |
the board under this section shall establish due process | 1155 |
procedures to be used by the applicable sewage treatment system | 1156 |
appeals board appointed under this section for the purpose of | 1157 |
hearing appeals regarding orders and decisions of a board of | 1158 |
health. All appeals before the applicable sewage treatment system | 1159 |
appeals board shall be conducted in accordance with those | 1160 |
procedures. The procedures may include filing fees applicable to | 1161 |
appeals conducted by the sewage treatment system appeals board. | 1162 |
Sec. 6117.51. If the board of health of the health district | 1165 |
within which a new public sewer construction project is proposed | 1166 |
or located passes a resolution stating that the reason for the | 1167 |
project is to reduce or eliminate an existing health problem or a | 1168 |
hazard of water pollution, the board of county commissioners of | 1169 |
the county, by resolution, may order the owner of any premises | 1170 |
located in a sewer district in the county, the owner's agent, | 1171 |
lessee, or tenant, or any other occupant of the premises to | 1172 |
connect the premises to the sewer for the purpose of discharging | 1173 |
sewage or other waste that the board determines is originating on | 1174 |
the premises, to make use of the connection, and to cease the | 1175 |
discharge of the sewage or other waste into a cesspool, ditch, | 1176 |
private sewer, privy, septic tank, semipublic disposal system as | 1177 |
defined in division (B)(1)(a) of section 3709.085 of the Revised | 1178 |
Code, or other outlet if the board finds that the sewer is | 1179 |
available for use and is accessible to the premises following a | 1180 |
determination and certification to the board by a registered | 1181 |
professional engineer designated by it as to the availability and | 1182 |
accessibility of the sewer. This section does not apply to any of | 1183 |
the following: | 1184 |
(E) Any dwelling house located on property that is listed on | 1201 |
the county's agricultural land tax list as being valued for tax | 1202 |
purposes as land devoted exclusively to agricultural use under | 1203 |
section 5713.31 of the Revised Code, when the foundation wall of | 1204 |
the dwelling house is twothree hundred feet or less from the | 1205 |
nearest boundary of the right-of-way within which the sewer is | 1206 |
located, if both of the following also apply: | 1207 |
An owner, agent, lessee, tenant, or occupant shall comply | 1218 |
with the order of the board within ninety days after the | 1219 |
completion of service of the order upon that person as provided in | 1220 |
this section. The board, upon written application filed prior to | 1221 |
the expiration of the ninety-day period, may waive compliance with | 1222 |
any order either temporarily or permanently and conditionally or | 1223 |
unconditionally. | 1224 |
In its resolution, the board shall direct its clerk, or the | 1225 |
clerk's designee, to serve its order upon the owner, agent, | 1226 |
lessee, tenant, or occupant. Service of the order shall be made | 1227 |
personally, by leaving the order at the usual place of residence | 1228 |
with a person of suitable age and discretion then residing | 1229 |
therein, or by certified mail addressed to the owner, agent, | 1230 |
lessee, tenant, or occupant at that person's last known address or | 1231 |
to the address to which tax bills are sent. If it appears by the | 1232 |
return of service or the return of the order forwarded by | 1233 |
certified mail that the owner, agent, lessee, tenant, or occupant | 1234 |
cannot be found, that person shall be served by publication of the | 1235 |
order once in a newspaper of general circulation within the | 1236 |
county, or if that person refuses service, that person shall be | 1237 |
served by ordinary mail addressed to that person's last known | 1238 |
address or to the address to which tax bills are sent. The return | 1239 |
of the person serving the order or a certified copy of the return, | 1240 |
or a returned receipt for the order forwarded by certified mail | 1241 |
accepted by the addressee or anyone purporting to act for the | 1242 |
addressee, is prima-facie evidence of the service of the order | 1243 |
under this section. The return of the person attempting to serve | 1244 |
the order, or the return to the sender of the order forwarded by | 1245 |
certified mail with an indication on the return of the refusal of | 1246 |
the addressee to accept delivery, is prima-facie evidence of the | 1247 |
refusal of service. | 1248 |
No owner, agent, lessee, tenant, or occupant shall violate an | 1249 |
order issued under this section. Upon request of the board, the | 1250 |
prosecuting attorney shall prosecute in a court of competent | 1251 |
jurisdiction any owner, agent, lessee, tenant, or occupant who | 1252 |
violates an order issued under this section. Each day that a | 1253 |
violation continues after conviction for the violation of an order | 1254 |
issued under this section and the final determination thereof is a | 1255 |
separate offense. The court, for good cause shown, may grant a | 1256 |
reasonable additional period of time for compliance after | 1257 |
conviction. | 1258 |
Any owner, agent, lessee, tenant, or occupant violating an | 1259 |
order issued under this section also may be enjoined from | 1260 |
continuing in violation. Upon request of the board, the | 1261 |
prosecuting attorney shall bring an action in a court of competent | 1262 |
jurisdiction for an injunction against the owner, agent, lessee, | 1263 |
tenant, or occupant violating an order. | 1264 |
The Ohio water development authority created under section | 1265 |
6121.02 of the Revised Code, in addition to its other powers, has | 1266 |
the same power and shall be governed by the same procedures in a | 1267 |
waste water facilities service area, or in any area adjacent to a | 1268 |
public sewer operated by the authority, as a board of county | 1269 |
commissioners in a county sewer district under this section, | 1270 |
except that the authority shall act by order, and the attorney | 1271 |
general, upon request of the authority, shall prosecute any person | 1272 |
who violates an order of the authority issued under this section. | 1273 |
Section 3. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the | 1277 |
contrary, Chapter 3701-29 of the Ohio Administrative Code adopted | 1278 |
pursuant to Section 120.02 of Am. Sub. H.B. 119 of the 127th | 1279 |
General Assembly, as amended by Am. Sub. H.B. 1 and Sub. H.B. 363 | 1280 |
of the 128th General Assembly, shall remain in effect as it exists | 1281 |
on the effective date of this act until it is superseded by the | 1282 |
rules that are required to be adopted under section 3718.02 of the | 1283 |
Revised Code as amended by this act. The rules that are required | 1284 |
to be adopted under that section as amended by this act shall not | 1285 |
take effect prior to January 1, 2012. | 1286 |
(C) The advisory board shall present its final | 1403 |
recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly not later | 1404 |
than eighteen months after the effective date of this section | 1405 |
December 15, 2010. It is the intent of the General Assembly that | 1406 |
the recommendations of the advisory board will represent a | 1407 |
consensus of the board's members regarding the issues presented to | 1408 |
and discussed by the board. However, if a consensus cannot be | 1409 |
reached on any or all of the issues before the board, one or more | 1410 |
minority opinions may accompany the recommendations of the board. | 1411 |