#613 Planning Basics Chapter 6: Component 3s

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1 CHAPTER OBJECTIVES: After completing this chapter, you will be able to... Describe what a small fl ow treatment facility is. Explain when a proposal is eligible for a Component 3s planning module. Explain the local agency SEO s role in the site testing for a Component 3s module. Explain the local agency SEO s role in the residual tract facilities inspection for a Component 3s module. Explain the local agency SEO s role in reviewing a Component 3s planning module submission. The workbook and self-study guide were designed to be viewed together. Within these two documents, you will be given directions on when to move back and forth between the two books. The self-study guide presents the course content, and the workbook contains activities and exercises to complete and also provides a place to take notes. The course was designed so that you print out the workbook and needed resources. That way you can take notes and complete activities and exercises in the hard copy of the workbook as you view the self-study guide on the computer. To begin each chapter, review the opening pages in the workbook. The first two pages of each workbook chapter contain the chapter objectives, checklists to help you organize your work, an estimated time for completing the chapter, and a list of the resources needed to successfully complete the course work for each chapter

2 Component 3s Title 25, Section 71.1 In the last two chapters, you reviewed the two most common planning module components that a local agency SEO will become involved with Components 1 and 2. The third component that an SEO may occasionally see is a Component 3s. This component is used when a small fl ow treatment facility is proposed either for a repair or for new land development. A small flow treatment facility is an individual or community sewerage system designed to adequately treat sewage flows not greater than 2,000 gallons per day (gpd) for final disposal using stream discharge or another disposal method approved by the department (i.e., land application and discharge to a dry stream channel). Go to the Chapter 6 Resources to print the Component 3s Planning Module Form and the Component 3s Planning Module Instructions. These documents will be referenced in the chapter. The instructions form also includes more information than is provided in this chapter

3 Component 3s WHEN MAY A SMALL FLOW TREATMENT FACILITY BE USED? A small fl ow treatment facility may be used when yes is answered to the three questions in Section A.3. of the Component 3s module form. Review the questions in Section A.3. of the Component 3s Planning Module Form. The exception to all the questions being answered with a yes would be if the proposal is for a repair and will discharge to a high-quality or exceptional value stream. Small fl ow treatment facilities are generally not permitted in these types of streams. However, the discharge may be approved by DEP if the following circumstances exist: Where it can be shown that the discharge will not change the long-term average water quality of the receiving high-quality stream. When there is necessary social and economic justifi cation for the discharge, such as to correct an existing public health, pollution, or nuisance problem. Note: In either case, evidence supporting the contention that the facility will not change water quality or the position that it will correct a public health hazard to the satisfaction of DEP must be included in the module submission

4 Component 3s WHY IS PLANNING REQUIRED FOR A SMALL FLOW TREATMENT FACILITY? Title 25, Section In addition to the other planning triggers discussed in previous chapters, planning is required because the department, not the local agency SEO, issues the permit for a small fl ow treatment facility. A department-issued permit is one of the triggers for planning. Title 25, Section of the regulations describes the planning requirements for a small fl ow treatment facility. Planning must be completed in the case of new development and to make repairs. SEOs do not have the authority to issue a permit for this type of system. The local agency SEO is responsible for completing or verifying the site testing on the lot, inspecting any onlot system on a residual tact, and completing Section N of the Component 3s module form. The local agency SEO should, if possible, notify DEP 10 days prior to the testing date. A sewage facilities planning specialist from DEP may want to observe the soil testing

5 Component 3s STARTING THE PLANNING PROCESS An applicant going through the planning process for a small fl ow treatment facility must send in the Sewage Facilities Planning Module Application Mailer to DEP. DEP will send the applicant the correct module forms. The applicant is then responsible for fi lling out the module or having it completed by a competent consultant, engineer, or surveyor who is familiar with the municipality s offi cial plan. The applicant or his or her consultant must fi ll out Sections A through M, O, P, and R, and the municipality fi lls out Section Q. If you would like to learn more about the requirements for these sections, refer to the instructions for the Component 3s planning module. The instructions provide detailed information for each section of the module. If the module is being used for a repair, the person fi lling out the form can request an exemption from the planning module review fee and does not have to fi ll out Section I. The person may have to fi ll out Sections K through M and O depending on the classifi cation of the receiving waters or project specifi cs

6 Responsibility of the Local Agency SEO in Component 3s The local agency SEO s responsibility in a Component 3s is similar to his or her role in the Component 1 or 2. The SEO is responsible for the following: 1) completing or verifying the site testing on the lot 2) inspecting any onlot sewage system on a residual tract 3) completing Section N of the Component 3s module form 1) SITE SUITABILITY TESTING An individual residential spray irrigation system (IRSIS) is an individual sewage system that serves a single dwelling and treats and disposes of sewage using a system of piping, treatment tanks, and soil renovation through spray irrigation. (Title 25, PA Code Section 73.1) The local agency SEO must conduct or verify site testing to determine whether the soil on the lot is suitable or unsuitable for onlot disposal. With a Component 1 or 2, the soil must be generally suitable for planning to be approved. With the small fl ow treatment facility, the SEO must confirm that the site is unsuitable for any conventional onlot sewage system, except for an individual residential irrigation system (IRSIS). In the case of a repair situation located in a high-quality watershed, the local agency SEO must confirm that the site is unsuitable for any onlot sewage system. The SEO confirms site suitability in Section N

7 Responsibility of the Local Agency SEO in Component 3s 2) RESIDUAL TRACT FACILITIES INSPECTION If an onlot sewage system already exists on the residual tract of a proposed subdivision, then the local agency SEO must inspect the existing system. This inspection of the existing onlot sewage system must verify whether the system meets the long-term disposal needs of the site and the buildings currently served. The SEO must also verify that no violations of the Sewage Facilities Act were apparent during the inspection. Finally, an optional description and sketch of the existing onlot system may be attached. The SEO verifi es information about the residual tract facilities in Section N.2. If the local agency SEO finds that the onlot sewage system on the residual tract is malfunctioning, then the malfunction must be resolved prior to completing the planning process

8 Responsibility of the Local Agency SEO in Component 3s 3) MODULE REVIEW: SECTION N After the site testing and residual tract inspection have been completed, the local agency SEO is responsible for fi lling out Section N of the module form. There are two parts to this section: Site testing must be completed to determine site suitability. Part N.1.: Deals with site suitability Part N.2.: Deals with residual tract facilities

9 3) MODULE REVIEW: SECTION N Section N.1. Site Suitability The local agency SEO must review the site investigation and percolation test report forms included in the module submission to determine whether or not the site is suitable for onlot disposal. If insuffi cient testing occurred, then the SEO should note this in section N.1. A plot plan showing the soil profi le and percolation test locations must also be included in the module form for the SEO to review. Suffi cient testing must have been completed to eliminate all available areas. Note: In determining non-suitability, depending on the proposal, the SEO must determine if the site is unsuitable for a conventional onlot sewage system, except IRSIS, or in the case of a repair in a high-quality watershed, if the site is unsuitable for all onlot sewage systems. Section N.2. Residual Tract Facilities In this section, the local agency SEO must confirm with a site inspection whether or not the residual tract facilities meet the long-term disposal needs of the site and that the Sewage Facilities Act was not violated

10 Component 3s Module Review Go to Chapter 6 Workbook to complete the following exercise: EXERCISE 6-1: Component 3s Review Component 3s Summary Typically, a local agency SEO deals more with Components 1 and 2 than a 3s. However, for all three modules, the local agency SEO is responsible for determining site suitability. More specifi cally, the SEO s responsibilities under a Component 3s are to conduct or verify site testing to determine whether or not the site is suitable for onlot sewage disposal, to inspect any existing onlot system located on the residual tract, and to fi ll in Section N of the planning module. Beyond these responsibilities, some SEOs do provide additional services to municipalities with regard to planning modules. These services must be included in the local agency fee schedule

11 KEY POINTS Component 3s planning modules are used when a small fl ow treatment facility is proposed for either new land development or a repair. For a small fl ow treatment facility in a new land development that is not in a high-quality or exceptional value watershed, the SEO is required to either perform or verify site testing that confi rms the proposed site is unsuitable for any conventional onlot sewage system, except for IRSIS. Generally, a small fl ow treatment facility may not be used for new land development in a high-quality or exceptional value watershed. For a small fl ow treatment facility in a repair situation that is not in a high-quality or exceptional value watershed, the local agency SEO is required to either perform or verify site testing to confi rm that the proposed site is unsuitable for any conventional onlot sewage system, except for IRSIS. For a small fl ow treatment facility in a repair situation that is located in a high-quality or exceptional value watershed, the local agency SEO is required to either perform or verify site testing to confi rm that the proposed site is unsuitable for any type of onlot sewage system. The local agency SEO should if possible notify DEP at least 10 days prior to any site testing

12 KEY POINTS (continued) In a repair situation, a small fl ow treatment facility may only be used in a high-quality exceptional value watershed if the lot is unsuitable for all onlot sewage systems and the module submission can show to DEP s satisfaction that the discharge will not change the long-term average water quality of the stream or that there is a social and economic justifi cation for the discharge. In the latter case, the proposal must show that the repair is necessary to resolve an existing public health, pollution, or nuisance problem. In a small fl ow treatment facility subdivision proposal, the local agency SEO is required to inspect an existing onlot sewage system on the residual tract to determine if the system can meet the long-term disposal needs of the site and the building served and to determine if there are any violations against the act or the regulations. The local agency SEO must fi ll out Section N of the Component 3s module form regarding site suitability and residual tract facilities