HARRISBURG – Legislation amending Act 537, the PA Sewage Facilities Act, to allow for the expanded use of alternate on-lot sewage systems for planning purposes throughout the Commonwealth passed the full House of Representatives Thursday, 136-66, according to prime sponsor Sen. Gene Yaw (R-23).
Senate Bill 1030 streamlines the process by which innovative, effective and better treatment technologies are used and made available to Pennsylvania residents and businesses. Alternative systems are currently utilized in other states and are academically tested pursuant to 25 PA Code Section 73.71.
“Allowing for alternative on-lot systems in the planning process would widen the area to which development can take place and save valuable acreage that could otherwise be used for agriculture,” Sen Yaw said. “This bill will improve water quality in streams and rivers by using systems that have a proven performance record, and, in many cases, are superior to some conventional systems.”
“My firm has been qualifying soil for, and designing, alternate sewage systems in PA for two decades,” said Laurel F. Mueller, Certified Professional Soil Scientist and President of Soil Services Company, Inc. based in Forksville, Sullivan County. “Alternate systems are needed to adapt to steep landscapes, poorer drainage, and space restrictions. SB 1030 is to enable DEP to treat alternate technology systems as equal to conventional sewage systems when proposing land development. It is my hope that this bill cures the absurdity of requiring minor 2-lot subdivisions to file the same expensive level of planning module documents as required of 100-lot subdivisions and commercial land development.”
Senate Bill 1030 is supported by the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS), Pennsylvania Builders Association (PBA), Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors, Pennsylvania Septage Management Association and the Pennsylvania State Grange.
The legislation now moves to the Governor for his consideration.
For more state-related news and information, visit Senator Yaw’s website at www.SenatorGeneYaw.com or on Facebook and Twitter @SenatorGeneYaw.
CONTACT:
Nick Troutman
(717) 787-3280