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News Release
RI Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908
(401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
For Release: September 7, 2007
Contact: Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402
Stephanie Powell 222-4700 ext. 4418

DEM ANNOUNCES SEPTEMBER 21 PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO INDIVIDUAL SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM REGULATIONS
Workshop to be Held in Advance of the Hearing

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management will hold an open workshop and public hearing on proposed amendments to individual sewage disposal system regulations on Friday, September 21.

The workshop will be held at 1 p.m., followed at 3 p.m. by the hearing. Both will take place in Room 300 at DEM's Headquarters in the Foundry Building at 235 Promenade Street in Providence. DEM conducted three workshops on a similar, earlier draft of the rule this past June.

The proposed amendments will update technical standards for the siting and design of septic systems, improve treatment for environmental protection and public health, increase protection of water resources, streamline the permitting process, and reformat the rules to follow the sequence of actions taken in permitting a septic system in Rhode Island.

Among the proposed technical changes are revisions to design standards to ensure optimal treatment in soil dispersal trenches, higher performance standards for septic systems in salt pond watersheds and on small lots with drinking water wells, and increased setbacks between large systems and drinking water wells. Under the proposed rules, the term septic system, or "individual sewage disposal system" (ISDS) will be replaced with the term "onsite wastewater treatment system" (OWTS) to better emphasize the importance of treatment in system function and environmental protection.

Copies of the proposed rules can be found on DEM's website, www.dem.ri.gov, by clicking on "Septic System Rules" under "What's Happening" on the home page. They are also available from DEM's Office of Water Resources by contacting Jon Zwarg at 222-4700 ext. 7205 or by e-mail at Jonathan.Zwarg@dem.ri.gov.

DEM encourages the submission of written comments prior to the hearing date, but will keep the public record open until Friday, September 28. Comments should be sent to Jon Zwarg at DEM's Office of Water Resources, 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908 or submitted electronically at jonathan.zwarg@dem.ri.gov.

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rev. 11/21/07