Pay your 10th AD Task Force membership dues.Earns Bipartisan Support as it Moves Forward
The bill authored by Assemblymember Alyson Huber to address proposed state septic tank regulations was approved with bipartisan support in its first committee hearing today.
AB 580 seeks to encourage the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to develop septic standards that can be adapted to different regions and work to allow for minimal impact and cost on rural homeowners and businesses, and aid the SWRCB in drafting standards by amending the current statute, should it be necessary.
“The public concern we have seen over the current proposed septic tank regulations is well warranted,” said Assemblymember Huber. “A statewide, one-size-fits-all approach is not the answer and would negatively impact rural homeowners and businesses. We need regional flexibility in these regulations to deal with the realties of a large and geographically diverse state.”
The Assembly Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials voted unanimously to pass AB 580 after hearing testimony from representatives from the Regional Council of Rural Counties, the American Council of Engineering Companies of Califonrnia and the counties of Placer, Yuba, Fresno and Humbolt. The bill also earned the bipartisan support of Assemblymember Ted Gaines (R-Roseville), Assemblymember Dan Logue (R-Linda) and Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro (D-Arcata) who have agreed to be co-authors.
AB 885 (Jackson), as approved by the Legislature and Governor in 2000, allowed the SWRCB to adopt regulations on septic tanks for the purpose of protecting the state’s ground water supply. In October of 2008, the SWRCB produced draft regulations in accordance with AB 885.
The proposed regulations put forth last fall by the SWRCB would apply uniformly throughout the state, providing no flexibility to take into account the diverse geographical, hydro-geological, demographic, and other physical and social characteristics that exist across California. As written, the proposed regulations would have severe adverse affects on rural areas throughout California.
California’s rural areas account for over 80% of the State’s water supply and measures may be necessary to ensure a high quality of surface and groundwater supply. However, the inflexible approach taken by the initial SWRCB regulatory proposal will cost Californians an estimated $1.4 billion, with much of this burden being placed on homeowners and businesses in rural counties.
Filed under: Legislation | Tagged: Alyson Huber, environment, regulations, septic
Dear Government: I have lived in the same house since 1974 with no issues with my septic. Stay out of my business and stop trying to take more fees and expenses from homeowners who are just trying to exist. If you want to address the problem make it when people sell their homes.
Dear Ken Jardine: This bill, AB580, actually gives control over septic system regulations to local entities and takes much of the regulation away from the state government.
Unfortunately, AB 580 failed to get a hearing in the State Senate and died for lack of a vote. This after passing the Assembly 74-0.