Amador County – The Amador County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved comments on new draft sewer regulations by the Environmental Health Officer Michael Israel, to be signed by the chairman.

Supervisors discussed the latest draft of Assembly Bill 885, which would “create new requirements for property owners and local government as well as state agencies regarding statewide on-site sewage disposal systems.” Comments must be received by the California Water Resources Control Board by Nov. 14.

Supervisor Chairman John Plasse agreed with a comment by Israel that the state appeared to be steering away from conducting a new environmental document, though the draft has not been out for comment, and there is no project on which to comment.

Israel said the new AB-885 updates the 2008 version, which was widely criticized as making a one-size fits all attempt at legislation based on coastal areas. The new draft has five tiers of regulation based on impact, from Tier Zero to Tier Four, but there are “gaps in the guidelines,” such as not defining how many gallons of sewage that a bedroom in a home generates.

He said there is a difference in trench dimensions for sewer systems, though the county has consistently been allowed to have wider and shallower trenches due to soil makeup. New regulations have slope limits that make some areas unable to comply in Amador County. Supervisor Richard Forster said because of slope and seepage pit limits, the letter should note that the bill is “taking away the ability to develop property.” Israel said the letter will note that “engineered fills should be allowed” and “AB-885 appears to preclude that practice.”

Israel said the Tier Two allows a certain amount of leeway to “write our own programs,” but drain limits and leech-field reductions are arbitrary and he has “no idea what the rationale is.” He said “if they want us to write our own program” they should let us and “not tie our hands.”

He said there are 8,000 square foot lots in the county that can’t develop without seepage pits. Forster said they should tell the Control Board that if it is disallowed, you should be providing areas with grants to improve their community leech fields. He said Camanche sewer by example faces $1 million to $2 million in estimated repair.

Supervisors Louis Boitano said “here we are 12 years later,” the economy is a disaster and “they are still pushing forward with this.” Israel said “virtually every recommendation” for remedies in the new draft AB-885 exceeds $2,000, and “there is not word-one on financial assistance.”

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.