04/12/2006: "County To Develop Sewage Management Plan"

The State has required twelve Puget Sound counties to develop a Local Management Plan that will guide the operation and maintenance of on-site septic systems. Environmental Health Manager Mark Tompkins came to the County Council to ask, which of five recommend management models that have been prepared by the Environmental Protection Agency, would they choose to guide San Juan County as it develops it's plan.

After a review of the information, the Council went along with Mr. Tompkins' recommendation that a "Homeowners Awareness Model" be used as a prototype for the County. Tompkins told the Council that the CD&PD (Community Development and Planning Department) has been made aware of the requirement, since they are taking the lead on updating the Critical Areas Ordinance, and the Sewage Management Plan will be a part of the updates.

A letter has been sent out to solicit participation from "a variety of stakeholders", including on-site professional designers, Realtors, environmental groups and the shellfish industry, to name a few. The first meeting is expected to take place in May, and Tompkins estimates it will take a year to develop a plan.