THE LITTLE LITTLE April/May 2011 - Vol. 26, Issue 2 DIGGER DIGGER A bi-monthly publication by MN Septage Storage Forum Looks for Solutions; Survey Next On April 8, nearly one hundred people gathered at the MOWA sponsored Septage Storage Forum in St.Cloud. A majority of attendees were Maintainers, joined by county environmental department staff, and MPCA representatives. The event was facilitated by MOWA President Glen Schilling, and Sara Heger and David Gustafson from the University of Minnesota, Water Resource Center/Onsite Sewage Treatment Program. In this Little Digger: Septage Forum... Pg. 1 Combined Plumbing Bond... Pg. 1 Partnerships & Perspectives... Pg. 2 From the Executive Director... Pg. 3 Calendar of Events... Pg. 3 New Members/Letters to Editor... Pg. 3 Pipelayer Bond/Insurance Filing... Pg. 5 New Treatment Levels/MPCA... Pg. 6 Imminent Health Threat Grants... Pg. 7 BWSR/MPCA Grant Awards... Pg. 8 Hearing Protection... Pg. 9 Bond Basics... Pg. 11 MPCA Impaired Water List... Pg. 12 Ruppert Scholarship Application.. Pg. 14 Scholarship Resources... Pg. 15 Onsite Humor... Pg. 16 OSTP Summer/Fall Schedule... Pg. 17 MOWA Membership Form... Pg. 19 The purpose of the Forum was to discuss needs for septage storage when land application or access to a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is prohibitive. This was an opportunity to collect information from Maintainers detailing their concerns related to storage. Sara Heger presented information explaining the current options for septage storage in Minnesota, including permitting, operator licensing, and treatment plant definitions. Comparison data was highlighted to provide background from several other states that allow septage storage other than at WWTP s. You can review the presentation content and information about septage storage in other states on the MOWA website at www. mowa-mn.com. Septage Storage, Continued on Page 4 New Combined Plumbing Code Compliance and Subsurface Sewage Treatment Bond (SSTS) Required January 1, 2012 by Kevin Wilkins, Dept of Labor and Industry Effective January 1, 2012 for plumbing contractor licenses and pipe layer bond filings, the plumbing code compliance bond is being replaced with a new combined Plumbing Code Compliance and Subsurface Sewage Treatment Bond (Plumbing-SSTS Bond) authorized in Minnesota Statutes 326B.46, Subd. 2. All plumbing contractors, restricted plumbing contractors, and pipe laying contractors must file a new Plumbing- SSTS Bond for any license or registration period that starts on or after January 1, 2012. All current plumbing code compliance bonds (plumbing bonds) filed with the Minnesota Department of Labor Industry shall expire Combined Bond, Continued on Page 5 Take the Septage Survey at www.mn-mowa.com by May 15th!
Page 2 Little Digger Partnership & Perspectives... Why the Onsite Wastewater Industry Is Needed From the Onsite Journal, online at the NOWRA website - www.nowra.org Onsite systems provide wastewater treatment to homes, businesses and industrial centers. This service sector is one of the fastest growing markets within the U.S., Canada, Australia and Eastern Europe. Onsite systems support the municipal wastewater treatment infrastructure. They provide services in urban and rural areas and effectively solve problems found in unusual situations and difficult locations. In this era of fiscal limitations, many cities and towns have difficulties addressing the high costs to expand the capacity of their wastewater treatment facilities or extend lines to urban areas to accommodate growth. As a result, onsite systems now provide In this era of fiscal limitations...onsite systems now provide more than 40% of the wastewater treatment services to residential areas, communities, shopping centers and commercial businesses throughout the U.S. more than 40% of the wastewater treatment services to residential areas, communities, shopping centers and commercial businesses throughout the U.S. Onsite systems are an effective solution to protecting water quality. They are valuable component to integrate with watershed management plans and implementing sustainable development concepts. The recycling component in this system supports the water resources management goals in many arid areas of the Country. NOWRA s framework defines how it will implement programs and plans to achieve these goals. Minnesota Onsite Wastewater Association
April/May 2011 Page 3 From the Executive Director s Office by Pat Martyn, MOWA Executive Director Hope you were at the Septage Forum in April. Nearly one hundred concerned practitioners showed up for the MOWA-sponsored event. Held at the Territory Golf Club near St. Cloud, MN on April 8, the event concentrated on the topic of septage. As you may know, this issue is being discussed in the industry on a widespread basis, with thoughts diverging as to storage, application and other things. You will see more information in a separate article in this publication. Thanks goes to the Committee members that got the group together and planned the morning long conference. Lori Ende, Lee Weigt, Sara Heger, Pete Schmitz, Andy Winkler, Jim Lashinski, Phil LaRoche, Mitch Okerstrom, Bob Billiet and President Glen Schilling all played a role, and the MPCA sent several attendees and encouraged dialogue. The day was filled with information sharing and discussion. At one point, the large assembly broke into small discussion groups so that we could hear as many points-of-view as possible. After summaries were delivered from small group leaders, we had a sprightly discussion featuring real questions from real life operators. A survey has been prepared to gather additional information, and please connect with the office if you do not receive one. Also, information is available on the website. Pete Schmitz and J.L. Schmitz & Sons sponsored the rolls and coffee, and deserve a big thank you for the amenities. On another topic, we are looking for volunteers for the existing committees. We always say that there are several advantages to being a member of the volunteer groups inside of MOWA. Learning about the industry, sharing thoughts about practical day-to-day operations and performing a good deed for your industry only helps your career. Let us know if you want to be a part of a fun, dynamic group. Or if you just want to pitch in and listen, that s OK too! Jason Hill Excavating LLC Jason Hill, Grand Marais, MN Calendar of Events MOWA Events July 7, 2011 MOWA Summer Seminar St. Peter Community Center, St. Peter, MN (contact: 952.345.1141 or mowacarla@aol.com for details) Industry Events June 17-20, 2011 - Onsite Wastewater Summit with NOWRA, NEHA and SORA - Columbus, OH (contact: please contact NOWRA s Executive Director, Eric Casey by email at info@nowra,org or by phone at: 800-966-2942) February 27 March 1, 2012 - Pumper & Cleaner Environmental Expo International Indiana Convention Center - Indianapolis, IN (contact: 866-933-2653 or www. pumpershow.com) Letters to the Editor MPCA Addressing Septage Storage Issues Posed at MOWA-Hosted Meeting MPCA would like to thank MOWA for hosting the April 8 meeting on septage storage at Territory Golf Club near St. Cloud. We appreciated the opportunity to discuss this topic and were very impressed by the congenial, problem-solving atmosphere of the meeting. We are hopeful that the survey that s now being conducted by MOWA on this topic will shed additional light on current needs and practices. When the survey results are in, we will work with MOWA s Septage Storage Committee to identify options and seek solutions. Thanks to MOWA for its leadership in getting this effort underway. Gretchen Sabel, MPCA Keep Up the Good Work! It looks like from reading the Feb March Little Digger that the convention in Duluth was a success. It s good to see that people are having fun, learning and supporting the onsite industry. I appreciate getting the Little Digger. It helps me stay in touch with the industry and friends from working with MOWA. I am enjoying the flexibility in my retirement to do many volunteer activities and trail riding with our horses. Lynn and I have fallen into a bit of a groove with our riding south to Arkansas or Oklahoma in April, west to South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana or North Dakota in the summer and a central or northern MN trip in the fall. Of course there are other outings too. Ken Olson, former Executive Director, MOWA Professionals Enriching Minnesota s Environment
Page 4 Little Digger Septage Storage, Continued from Page 1 For most of the Maintainers present at the Forum, land application is the primary form of disposal, with only a few Maintainers who only transport to WWTP. Conversation focused on the issues of land application during the winter months due to frozen ground, snow and wet conditions, access to fields, and the additional cost of transporting to a WWTP when land application could not be performed within regulations. On average, Maintainers reported that 27% of their collected wastewater is disposed of during winter months, with some as high as 50% disposed during that timeframe. This information helped to confirm that options are needed for managing disposal during inclement weather and other field-use challenges. Discussion groups concentrated time on determining minimum and ideal storage needs, and reasonable requirements for the installation and operation of septage storage facilities. Storage capacity from 10,000 to 1,000,000 gallons were discussed, with a majority of Maintainers seeking If you ve got an opinion on septage storage, We need to hear from you!! Go to www.mowa-mn.com to fill out the online survey. storage in the 100,000 to 500,000 gallon range. Generally, groups reported a simpler the better approach for setting up a storage facility to be best with minimal permitting costs and procedures. However, there was consensus that requirements would be necessary such as water tight vessels to possibly include water-tightness testing, odor management, standard setbacks, vector and pathogen control plan at the point of land application, and record keeping. A short survey was distributed at the Forum and is also available on the MOWA website. If you are interested in septage storage, please complete the survey and return it to the MOWA office by May 15. Next steps include defining the needs and preferences for septage storage per the survey data. Based on those results, the Septage Storage Committee will draft an action plan and engage in conversations with state regulators. If you are interested in joining this committee, please contact chairperson, Lori Ende at 763-428-4489 or info@endeseptic.com. Minnesota Onsite Wastewater Association
April/May 2011 Page 5 Department of Labor & Industry Pipe Layer Bond and Insurance Filings Start October 2011 by Kevin Wilkins, Dept of Labor and Industry The Department of Labor and Industry is asking the 2011 Minnesota Legislature to correct an inadvertent omission made in the Department s 2010 comprehensive license restructuring to ensure contractors who perform sewer or water service installation are able to fi le a bond and liability insurance with the Department after January 1, 2012. Under current law, effective January 1, 2012 only licensed plumbing contractors and licensed restricted plumbing contractors will be able to fi le a bond and liability insurance, which excludes unlicensed contractors performing sewer and water service installations. The Department s proposal corrects this unintended omission and reinstates the existing bond and liability insurance filing requirement on contractors performing sewer and water service installations. Anticipating this correction becomes law, unlicensed contractors performing sewer and water service installations will be able to file with the Department, starting in October 2011, Application materials for filing the Plumbing-SSTS Bond and liability insurance will be posted online on September 30, 2011. their Plumbing Code Compliance and Subsurface Sewage Treatment Bond (Plumbing-SSTS Bond) and certificate of liability insurance for the coverage period starting January 1, 2012. Application materials for fi ling the Plumbing-SSTS Bond and liability insurance will be posted online on September 30, 2011. As part of the application process, contractors will need to identify a contractor contact and responsible individual that completed pipe layer certifi cation training, and submit a properly completed bond, a certifi cate of liability insurance, and certifi cate of compliance with Minnesota s workers compensation laws. The coverage period on a Plumbing-SSTS Bond fi led by an unlicensed contractor performing sewer and water service installation will be 24 months from the effective date of the bond. The bond will not have a set December 31st expiration date as will be the case with licensed plumbing contractors. Combined Bond, Continued from Page 1 on December 31, 2011. The department will reject any plumbing bond that is a continuation of a previously fi led plumbing bond. The new Plumbing-SSTS Bond form will be posted online August 1, 2011 for surety companies to use in preparing their clients bonds. The bond shall provide $25,000 coverage for plumbing work and subsurface sewage treatment work entered into within the state of Minnesota and is for the benefi t of persons injured or suffering fi nancial loss by reason of failure to comply with requirements of the State Plumbing Code and SSTS laws, rules, and ordinances. The period of the bond is two years. The expiration date of the bond for licensed plumbing contractors and restricted plumbing contractors, however, shall be December 31, 2013 to coincide with the expiration date of their licenses. SSTS licensees have the option of choosing between the SSTS bond (7080.2030) and the combined Plumbing-SSTS Bond described here. Installers who work on building sewers need to have the plumbing bond and so are the ones who will benefi t from the combined bond. Other SSTS disciplines are not required to do so. Professionals Enriching Minnesota s Environment
Page 6 Little Digger MPCA Updates, Resources and Initiatives Two New Treatment Levels added to Product Registration Page by Barb McCarthy, MPCA Through the product registration process, the SSTS Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) recommended the addition of two new treatment levels: Treatment Level A2 (15 mg/l cbod 5 and 15 mg/l TSS) no fecal coliform bacteria limit Treatment Level B2 (25 mg/l cbod 5 and 30 mg/l TSS) no fecal coliform bacteria limit Treatment levels, soil hydraulic loading rates, and vertical separation for a sandy textured soil Treatment Levels (cbod 5 /TSS/ fecal coliform bacteria)* This change was made in the 2011 rule amendments and became effective March 14, 2011. The previously registered products were evaluated to determine if they met the new treatment levels. For those products meeting the new levels, letters were sent to manufacturers on March 15, 2011. The SSTS product registration web page is now updated to reflect these changes. If you have questions, contact Barb McCarthy, barbara.mccarthy@state.mn.us The newest At A Glance Listing of Proprietary Treatment Products for Residential Strength Sewage is on the MPCA s website at http://www.pca.state.mn.us/ pyrib0b. This listing provides a quick overview of treatment products now registered for use in Minnesota and the treatment levels they ve been shown to achieve. Maximum Loading Rate [sand textured soil] (gal/ft2/day) Vertical Separation (inches)** A 15/15/1,000 1.6 12 B 25/30/10,000 1.6 18 A2 15/15 1.6 36 B2 25/30 1.6 36 C 125/60 1.2 36 * cbod5 (mg/l), TSS (mg/l), fecal coliform bacteria (#/100mL) ** Systems with design flows 5,000 to 10,000 gal/day require a minimum of 24 inches of soil for Treatment Levels A and B (per 7081.0270, Subp. 8). Don t forget to read the conditions of product use - these are contained in the MPCA s Letters to Manufacturers also posted on MPCA s website. The treatment products that meet Treatment Levels A2, B2 and C are required to have three-feet of suitable soil from the bottom of the soil dispersal system (a.k.a. infiltrative surface) to the limiting layer. But because much of the organic matter and solids have been removed in the treatment process for products registered at treatment levels A2 and B2, a slightly higher hydraulic loading rate may be used. The table (above) shows how this works for a sand textured soil. P recast Systems Concrete Products Serving the area for over 35 years! 116 E. Hwy. 12 Darwin, MN 55324 Toll Free 888-693-8440 320-693-8440 Fax: 320-693-9593 www.darwinconcrete.com Septic Tanks Holding Tanks Grease Interceptors Septic tanks are designed to exceed industry standards. Guaranteed water tight. Vacuum testing available. Prompt Delivery. Now Available on MPCA Web Site: Final Version of Remediation Technologies and Processes for SSTS Guidance Document for Practitioner Use This finalized document was developed to provide guidance on the use of remediation practices for SSTSs. It was developed with input from the SSTS Technical Advisory Panel (TAP). A draft version was posted on the Web site through the end of March for comments. The updated version is now on the web at http://www.pca.state.mn.us/pyrib0b. If you have questions, contact Barb McCarthy barbara. mccarthy@state.mn.us. Minnesota Onsite Wastewater Association
April/May 2011 Page 7 BWSR Imminent Health Threat Grant Awards FY2011 SSTS Imminent Health Threat Abatement Grants in Progress The Annual Report on Clean Water Fund Appropriations from the Board of Water & Soil Resources delivered in March to the Minnesota Legislature noted the following outcomes from the SSTS Imminent Health Threat Abatement grant program: For specific project outcomes for SSTS Abatement and Feedlot Water Quality Management Grants, the Legislature required BWSR to compare the aggregated number of specific BMPs installed with Clean Water Fund grant dollars to the estimated number of projects to be addressed state-wide. For the abatement of imminent health threat SSTS s in Minnesota, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), in their 2009 SSTS Annual Legislative Report, developed the following state-wide estimate: Number of onsite SSTS in MN = 521,000 Estimated failing SSTS = 113,000 (22%) Estimated Imminent Health Threats= 35,300 (7%) Estimated total failing and Imminent = 148,000 (29%) Source: http://www.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/aboutmpca/legislative-issues/legislative-reports/legislative-reports.html Through the efforts of the FY10-11 BWSR SSTS Abatement Grant program, 246 imminent health threat SSTS will be fixed... Of note, BWSR funds for SSTS Abatement were directed towards low income residents. Hence, more analysis would be needed to determine what portion of the estimated 35,300 imminent health threat SSTS statewide would fall into the low-income category. In addition to the SSTS imminent health threat funds, SSTS Program Enhancement Funds have resulted in 40-plus lakes and five river stretches that will have septic system and SSTS Database development or upgrade in 17 counties and one city. The following FY2011 SSTS Imminent Health Threat Abatement grants were made to: Pipestone SWCD - 9 projects; $47,368 Martin Co. Planning & Zoning - 17 projects; $223,210 Chippewa Co. Land & Resource Management - 1 project; $7,795 Stearns County Environmental Services: 45 project; $420,285 Scott County - 3 projects; $40,095 Big Stone Co. Environmental Services - 3 projects; $30,928 Lincoln Co. Environmental Office - 5 projects; $21,053 Rice County - 5 projects; $18,947 Dodge Co. Environmental Services - 7 projects; $45,513 Pennington County - 2 projects; $15,789 Mille Lacs Co. - Land Services Department - 5 projects; $47,959 Meeker County - 10 projects; $55,453 Beltrami Co. Environmental Services - 1 project; $6,400 McLeod Co. Environmental Services - 8 projects, $46,000 Chisago County Environmental Services/Zoning: 9 projects; grant award - $47,368 Lake County: 6 projects; grant award - $84,000.00 Lake of the Woods County Land & Water Planning Office: 15 projects; grant award -$113,158 Jackson County: 6 projects; grant award - $44,982 Tofte-Schroeder Sanitary Sewer District: 15 projects; grant award - $40,000.00 The BWSR FY2011 grants totaled $1,357,221 for 172 projects statewide. A comparison of estimated number of non-compliant SSTS by County to projects funded found: 465,290 total number of SSTS 107,995 - Calculated number of failing SSTS 35,197 - Calculated number of Imminent Threats to Public Health 308 - Clean Water Fund SSTS projects for 2010-11 http://www.bwsr.state.mn.us/cleanwaterfund/cwf_ FY2011-report.pdf Professionals Enriching Minnesota s Environment
Page 8 Little Digger BWSR / MPCA Grant Awards for FY2011 Program Enhancement and SSTS Inventory Grants Awarded The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources and the MPCA have awarded seven Program Enhancement and SSTS Inventory grants grant for FY2011. The BWSR Program Enhancement grants totaled $370,573 and the MPCA SSTS Inventory grants totaled $366,975. Funding for the grants was from the Minnesota Clean Water Fund (one of four funds available through the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment). Grantees, projects, grant awards and matching funds from the grantee are as follows: Faribault County - $67,895/ BWSR for creation of an accurate digital parcel database of residential land ownership that will provide Faribault County a base to track SSTS permitting, compliance status and maintenance activities, and move permitting and compliance records from a paper file system to the web for 24/7 homeowner and public access. Total grant award: $67,895/match $17,500, Cass County - $16,579/ MPCA and $13,053/ BWSR for creating lake inventories for septic compliance on 236 parcels on Sylvan Lake and 284 parcels in the Lake Margaret Watershed in southwest Cass County in partnership with the municipalities of East Gull Lake and Lakeshore and townships of Fairview and Meadowbrook. Total grant awards: $29,532/match $15,200. Rice County - $80,000/ BWSR for a project that will enhance the Rice County SSTS program by providing additional maintenance activities, follow-up of over $409,000. 350 IPHT systems identified through inventory activities, property transfers, CUPs, and variances. In addition, funds are being requested to offer a voluntary upgrade incentive program to aid in increased enforcement. Total grant award: $80,000/match $20,000. Le Sueur County - $350,396/ MPCA and $30,612/ BWSR for a project that will complete a septic system inventory of shoreland parcels on the Jefferson-German chain of lakes. A past survey showed that over 500 residents on the chain approved of having a septic inspection. There is a sewer district and a detailed septic inventory is needed. Total grant awards: $381,008/match Beltrami County - $41,500/ BWSR to expand and enhance the county s SSTS program through landowner education, professional workshops, creating an electronic database, staff training, and assisting other LGU s. Total grant award: $41,500/match $35,000. Todd County - $107,263/ BWSR for a collaborative effort between the Todd County Board of Commissioners, county administration, Sauk River Watershed District, and lake associations to systematically inventory septic systems. Four lakes with 1200 parcels total have been researched and ground truthed for imminent health threats; compliance inspections will be completed by 2011. Total grant award: $107,263/match $56,000. Anoka County - $30,250/ BWSR for assistance to the City of Columbus. Anoka County applied for this grant funding on behalf of and in partnership with Columbus so that Columbus can replace outdated septic system pumping and monitoring computer software. The current software no longer has software support from its vendor for software changes or updates nor does it have the capability to be supported by future versions of a Windows based operating system. This project will enable the city to continue the Columbus Septic System Pumping and Monitoring Program well into the future. Total grant award: $30,250/match $7,961 Minnesota Onsite Wastewater Association
April/May 2011 Page 9 The Bulletin Board Information from members! Job Site Hearing Protection Is Basic to Safety! by Robert A Bertera, CSP, ARM, Loss Control Technical Specialist - Construction, General Casualty Insurance Most construction workers sustain damage to their hearing during their careers. Damage can range from noise induced hearing loss to tinnitus, which is a ringing in your ears. Noise induced hearing loss occurs slowly, so you may not notice the change. Too much noise can also make you tired, nervous, raise your blood pressure, and add stress that can lead to heart disease. All types of hearing loss are permanent. Construction tools and equipment generate a lot of noise - jackhammers operate at over 100 decibels and heavy equipment noise ranges from 80 to 100 decibels. Noise control is essential to protecting your hearing which is why OSHA requires a hearing conservation program and controls whenever noise exposure exceeds 90 dba (decibels) as an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA). Personal hearing protective devices There are two general types of hearing protection devicesinsert type and muff-type. Insert-type protectors, know as earplugs, attenuates noise by plugging the external ear canal. Muff-type protectors, know as earmuffs, encloses the ear lobe to provide an acoustical seal. The effectiveness of personal hearing protective devices depends on several factors that are related to the manner in which the sound energy is transmitted through or around the device. There are four pathways by which sound can reach the inner ear when hearing protection devices are worn seal leaks, material leaks, device vibration, and conduction through bone and tissue. These pathways must be taken into consideration when selecting the appropriate hearing protective device. Hearing protection, Continued on Page 10 Noise controls Noise, and worker exposure to noise, can be reduced by utilizing engineering controls and administrative controls. m Engineering controls involve changes in processes and equipment. An example of an engineering control might be as simple as moving a noisy generator farther away from the worker or placing the generator on the other side of a wall or barrier. m Administrative controls involve changes in the way work is managed. An administrative control might involve rotating employees between tasks with high and low noise exposure so that the overall noise exposure remains below the acceptable limits. When engineering and administrative controls are not feasible or ineffective, personal hearing protection devices may need to be worn by the workers. It is important that hearing protection devices be selected, fitted, and used properly so that employees are adequately protected from noise. Professionals Enriching Minnesota s Environment
Page 10 Little Digger Hearing protection, Continued from Page 9 Estimating adequacy of hearing protective devices Noise exposures should be reduced to levels below 85 dba. When choosing a particular type of hearing protector, the noise attenuation of the protector is critical. The most convenient method of estimating the adequacy of hearing protector attenuation is the Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) shown on the hearing protector package. NRR s are determined in ideal laboratory environments. Under realistic conditions on the job site, the NRR is significantly less and should be taken into account when determining the adequacy of a specific hearing protection device. The procedure for finding the actual attenuation of a particular hearing protection device according to OSHA is as follows: Subtract 7 db from the NRR of the hearing protection device (NRR 7) Apply a 50% safety factor to the above result (NRR -7) x.5 Subtract this number from the worker s noise exposure (worker s exposure ((NRR-7) x.5)) Example: If the noise exposure of an employee is 95 dba and we choose a hearing protector with a NRR of 21. In this case, the actual attenuation would be 95 ((21-7) x.5) = 88 dba. In situations when noise exposure exceeds 105 dba, employees should wear dual hearing protection. This includes the use of both ear muffs and ear plugs together. Enforcement of utilization In addition to selection, fitting, and training of employees in the proper use of hearing protection, motivation and enforcement of the use of hearing protection is fundamental to a successful Hearing Conservation Program. Managers and supervisors must actively enforce the safety rules and regulations including the use of hearing protection. Enforcement needs to be firm, equitable and consistent. Front line supervisors should be held responsible for the performance of their employees and must set an example by wearing their own hearing protection devices in designated areas. Minnesota Onsite Wastewater Association
April/May 2011 Page 11 The Bulletin Board Information from members! Bid Bonds/Performance & Payment Bonds by Nate Overland, Overland Insurance For the contactor who has never acquired a bid bond, it may be of interest for you to contact your bonding agent / insurance agent and see what kind of bonding limit may be available to you. A bid bond acts as a guarantee that, if awarded the contract is based on the bid submitted, the contractor will enter into a contract to perform the work at the price quoted. If the contractor declines to enter into a contract to perform the work at the agreed-upon price, the bid bond will reimburse the obligee (owner of the project) the difference between the defaulting contractor s bid and the next lowest bid, up to the bond limit. A performance bond guarantees that the contractor will perform the work in accordance with the construction contract and related documents, thus protecting the owner from financial loss up to the bond limit in the event the contractor fails to fulfill its contractual obligations. To obtain a bid bond it is good to know about the different types of bonding options that can be available. Each bonding company has its own bonding limit requirements; some bonding companies require no financial statements and will just require a credit check on the business, all owners and their spouses. You will also sign a General Indemnity Agreement, which is a hold harmless that refers exclusively to fault or negligence of the indemnitor. Other bonding companies may require financial statements which include Business Income Statements, Balance Sheet and Profit & Loss Statements from year-end or possibly midterm. Individual owners will submit financial statements and, if approved, will sign a General Indemnity Agreement as well. This process may result in a lower bonding rate than the companies that not require statements. The companies that do not require statements usually have a higher rate and do not bond above a specific limit, not uncommon to be $250,000 for one project and a total of $500,000 for the year. If you happen to go through a bonding company that requires financials up front, be prepared to have some time available to get the needed documents to your agent. This usually will take weeks (at least a couple if not more depending on your CPA) to get a bonding limit available. Once you do have this process complete and you have a limit then any future bonds within the year are much quicker to obtain (same time as the companies who do not require statements and possibly even faster). However each year thereafter you should expect to get these statements to the bonding company again to find out your annual bonding limit for that year. Most of the companies that require these statements will also ask for you to obtain statements from a CPA and not just an accountant. The CPA statements are usually asked for when projects are anticipated to be higher for the year (usually companies that will have one bid bond anticipated over the $250,000 limit will go with a bonding company that requires statements). There are three types of statements that are usually asked for. The first is a Compilation Statement, second is a Review Statement and the third is an Audited Statement. You can expect that if you have projects that range from 0 - $250,000 they will ask for the Compilation, and from $250,000 - $500,000 a Review and from $500,000 on up an Audited Statement. These are by no means what each company requires for your bonding but they are examples of the limits/statements that I have been required to obtain to get a bonding limit for my clients. Please see your CPA for clarification on these types of statements. Bond Basics, Continued on Page 12 Professionals Enriching Minnesota s Environment
Page 12 Little Digger MPCA Updates, Resources and Initiatives Minnesota s Impaired Waters and TMDLs Impaired Waters List From the Minnesota Polluction Control Agency website [http://www.pca.state.mn.us] The MPCA maintains an Inventory of all impaired waters, those not meeting water quality standards [WQS], on its web site at http://www.pca. state.mn.us/water/tmdl/tmdl- 303dlist.html. This Inventory includes: [1] impaired waters that require the development of a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) study {this is the CWA Section 303(d) TMDL List}, [2] impaired waters that have an approved TMDL study but are not yet meeting WQS, and [3] impaired waters from natural causes that do not require a TMDL study. Altogether, in the draft 2010 TMDL List, 1,774 TMDL studies are needed. About 30% include mercury and other toxic pollutants. There are 647 lakes listed There are 388 rivers with one or more reaches listed for one or more pollutants As a comparison, the 2008 List had 338 rivers with one or more reaches listed for one or more pollutants and 510 lakes listed. There are 208 new impairment listings for river reaches and 170 new impairment listings for lakes, totaling 378 new listings. In 2008, 1,475 TMDL studies were needed, resulting in a net overall increase of about 20% for the 2010 list......while the draft 2010 TMDL List has 1,774 impairments [affecting 388 rivers and 647 lakes], the draft 2010 Inventory of impaired waters has 3,049 impairments, affecting 436 rivers and 1,205 lakes. The main differences between the Inventory & the List are the approved Statewide Mercury TMDL and the approved Southeast Regional Fecal Coliform TMDL. Waters in the Impaired Waters Inventory will remain there until they meet water quality standards. For more information regarding the 2010 TMDL List, please contact Howard Markus @ 651-757-2551 or 800-657-3864 or howard.markus@state.mn.us. Bond Basics, Continued from Page 11 The best piece of advice that I can give is it to have strong liquid assets (cash) if possible on your statements. I know from a tax standpoint most companies will remove all the cash at the end of the year or show a loss, however, that is the most common way to hurt your bonding ability for your company. Bonding companies like profitability and if you can show you made money and retained liquid assets then they will be much more willing to bond. Finances are weighed much heavier than any other part of the decision process by the bonding companies (even more than if you can perform the work and have done similar type work before). For any bid bond or performance bond questions please feel free to call me toll free at 888-346-6250 for more details. Minnesota Onsite Wastewater Association
April/May 2011 Page 13 Professionals Enriching Minnesota s Environment
Page 14 Little Digger 2011 Tony Ruppert Scholarship Application The Minnesota Onsite Wastewater Association (MOWA) is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for the Tony Ruppert Scholarship Fund. Up to $5,000 in scholarships are available to high school graduates (as of June 2011) who will be enrolled as a full-time student in post-secondary undergraduate education during the 2011-2012 school year. Applicants must be no more than 26 years old as of June 1, 2011 and be a MOWA member, or a child, sibling, or niece/nephew of a MOWA member. Students may only win this scholarship once. Students must complete an application, write an essay, and provide certification of the relationship to a MOWA member or member s employee. A complete application must include: (3 items) Item 1: Application Form (To be completed by the student; you may use this form or print all required items on a separate sheet.) Please type or print clearly: Name: Social Security #: Address : City/State/Zip: Phone: E mail address Year graduated from high school MOWA Member Name Name of school you are/will be attending: (Must be a full time student) Curriculum you are/will be enrolled in: All of the above information is true and correct and I hereby grant permission to MOWA to reprint my essay or abstract in whole, or in part, or use the created digital media for informational or advertising purposes, such as on the MOWA website or as a MOWA newsletter article or press release. (Applicant s signature) Item 2: Essay. See Essay Content Form. Item 3: Certification Form: (To be completed by the MOWA member) Name of Applicant for Tony Ruppert Scholarship: The Tony Ruppert Scholarship Fund Applicant is my: (insert relation) I agree that the information contained in this form is true and correct to the best of my knowledge: MOWA Member Name (printed): MOWA Member Signature: Date: Business Name and Address: All applications must be submitted to MOWA, postmarked no later than August 15, 2011. Applications will be rated by a panel of MOWA members. Winners will be notified in September 2011. Send the complete application to: MOWA Scholarship Committee C/O Peter Miller Wenck Associates, Inc. PO Box 249 Maple Plain, MN 55359 Questions? pmiller@wenck.com Minnesota Onsite Wastewater Association
April/May 2011 Page 15 2011 Tony Ruppert Scholarship Resources This essay is to be completed by the applicant. The applicant can choose a topic to write about that is related to the environment, water quality, etc The sponsor of this scholarship is the Minnesota Onsite Wastewater Association (MOWA). MOWA is associated with the onsite/decentralized wastewater industry (a.k.a. septic systems). TITLE AUTHOR DATE INTRODUCTION What is the problem/issue? Keep the introduction brief, but do indicate the purpose of the paper as well as present appropriate background. Make sure that the reader knows enough to appreciate the relevance of the issue and why it is appropriate to ask the question that you will address with your paper. State what angle is going to be explored and arrange key issues that will be addressed in this review by answering questions that you have personally developed and are tailored to fit your topic. Typical length 2-4 paragraphs. LITERATURE REVIEWED This section is a summary of information, references and research that has been published about your particular subject. It provides the reader with an idea about the current situation in terms of what has been done, and what we know. Sometimes it includes suggestions about what needs to be done to increase the knowledge and understanding of a particular problem. This is the longest section of your essay and will range from one to several pages. CONCLUSION Effectively wraps up the review. Summarize the points of comparison or contrast among the works based on information and literature reviewed. It should also provide insight of relationship between the topic of the review and a larger area of study such as a specific discipline or profession Typical length 2-4 paragraphs. The Little Digger is a bi-monthly publication of the Minnesota Onsite Wastewater Association. Editor: Carla Tourin E-mail: MOWAcarla@aol.com The articles printed in the publication do not necessarily reflect the opinion of this organization. Readers are encouraged to respond to the articles with their own pointsof-view. We welcome industry-related comments or articles. Information or inquires should be sent to any of the following: MN Onsite Wastewater Association, 5200 Willson Road, Suite 300, Edina, MN 55424 Phone: (952) 345-1141 Toll Free: 888-810-4178, Website: www.mowa-mn.com LITERATURE CITED Literature citations in the body of your paper should be in parentheses and contain only the author s last name and the date; for multiple authors include the last name of the first author, et al., and the date. If the author s name is used in the text then just the date in parentheses is sufficient. For example: (Monod, 1949) (Neidhardt et al., 1990) or Monod (1949) compared the reaction.. List all literature cited in your report in alphabetical order by the last name of the first author in a separate section. Use the proper form for citations. If the citation is to a specific page add the page number. For a technical paper you will need to review several sources. For this essay a minimum of four citations is required. Examples: For scientific papers: Monod, J. 1949. The growth of bacterial cultures. Annu. Rev. Microbiol. 3:371-394. For a book: Neidhardt, F.C, Ingraham, J.L. and. Schaechter, M. 1990.Physiology of the Bacterial Cell. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, MA. For a newspaper article: McKay, D. 2000. Arsenic: how much is safe? Albuquerque Journal. July 30, 2000, p. A1. For a web site: National Research Council. 1999. Arsenic in drinking water. Subcommittee on Arsenic in Drinking Water. http://www4.nationalacademies.org/news.nsf/isbn/ 030906337?OpenDocument. For a personal communication: Sanchez, R. 1993. City of Socorro, Water Utilities Division, Socorro, NM. Personal communication. Professionals Enriching Minnesota s Environment
Page 16 Little Digger The Importance of a Sense of Humor It s a dirty, smelly business, but people who pump out septic tanks often have a great sense of humour about it. Check out these slogans from septic pumpers and their trucks. Your number 2 is our number 1! Yesterdays meals on wheels Another load of political promises You dump it...we pump it Thanks for flushing our business down the drain! Money in the tank You think your job sucks Satisfaction guaranteed or 110% of your product back! Got poop? A flush beats a full house! Back off! We ain t haulin milk! After the first whiff, call Cliff Your poop is our bread and butter! Your brown is our green The wizard of ooze Minnesota Onsite Wastewater Association
April/May 2011 Page 17 New Scheduling Format UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA OSTP Sets Autumn Soils CE Courses by Nick Haig, University of Minnesota s Onsite Sewage Treatment Program Coordinator Beginning next year, OSTP courses will be scheduled on a calendar-year basis to better meet your needs. This interim brochure lists all OSTP courses through the end of 2011. Look for the 2012 brochure in mid-october, 2011. Two Soils Continuing Education Courses this Autumn! All SSTS Designers and Inspectors are required to take six hours of soils-specific continuing education every three years. OSTP has divided the state into seven distinct soils regions that share similar soils characteristics. Attend soils CE seminars in the soils regions you work to get the most out of this requirement. Use our interactive tool to determine the soil regions in your area and find out when we will be offering courses: http://septic.umn.edu/professionals/soils/trainingregions Workshops scheduled towards the end of this summer include: l Alexandria - August 5, 2011 l Brainerd - September 8, 2011 Register Now for Advanced Design/Inspection and Service Provider! SSTS professionals conducting design work on Type IV systems and SSTS with a design flow of greater than 2500 gallons per day are required to successfully complete Advanced Design and Inspection, Parts I and II. Those that must inspect these systems must also successfully complete the Service Provider course. These courses will equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to meet all rules and regulations pertaining to these advanced treatment and mid-sized systems. Current rule states that you must have these specialty area certifications by February 4, 2012. The last Service Provider offering before this deadline is August 23-26, 2011 in Brainerd, MN. The last Advanced Design and Inspection offerings before this deadline will be held in St. Cloud this autumn. Part I is scheduled for September 27-29, 2011 and Part II is scheduled for October 18-21, 2011. Be sure you carry the appropriate certification for the type of work you do! Visit our web page: septic.umn.edu We strive to provide you with the resources you need to do a great job. Check out the new additions to our website that include updated design forms, a Soils for SSTS Profes- Minnesota s Soils Regions - Interactive tool at: http://septic.umn.edu/professionals/soils/trainingregionsionals webpage and Resources for Advanced Designers and Inspectors. Please call OSTP staff if you have any questions about finding resources or publications. Do you know your continuing education requirements and deadline? Search for and use the MPCA s SSTS Certified Individual Search tool on its web site to see how much continuing education you have taken and find out when your certification expires. Enter SSTS Search in the Search Bar at the top right corner of: www.pca.state.mn.us CE requirements for SSTS professionals Specialty area Installer, Service Provider Maintainer Designer, Advanced Designer, Inspector, Advanced Inspector Required Continuing Education 12 credit hours, at least 6 direct 12 credit hours, at least 6 direct OR 9 hours specifically related to pumping SSTS and/or land application Advanced Inspector 18 credit hours, at least 6 of specially approved field soils, at least 3 additional direct Professionals Enriching Minnesota s Environment
Page 18 Little Digger OSTP 173 McNeal Hall 1985 Buford Ave St Paul, MN 55108 FAX: 612-624-6434 Summer and Autumn 2011 OSTP Workshop Enrollment Form Enroll early registra on is limited! Please print legibly. Use one form per person. All courses begin at 8 am unless noted. We do not accept enrollments over the telephone or by email to protect your personal informa on. Easy Enrollment Op ons! 1. Fill out this enrollment form - select course(s) and complete contact and payment informa on. 2. Mail or fax the form with payment to: OSTP - Water Resources Center 1985 Buford Avenue, 173 McNeal Hall St. Paul, MN 55108 FAX: 612-624-6434 3. Or...enroll online! Go to: h p://sep c.umn.edu, click on Workshops and Events Browse courses by date, loca on, or in calendar view. Pre-Cer fica on Courses DATES DEADLINE $375 ADVANCED DESIGN AND INSPECTION I Fee Includes MPCA Design Guidance Documents 283 St. Cloud Sep 27-29, 2011 09/13/11 $400 ADVANCED DESIGN AND INSPECTION II 293 St. Cloud Oct 18-21, 2011 10/04/11 $225 INSPECTING ONSITE SYSTEMS 301 Waseca Jun 7-8, 2011 05/24/11 $450 SERVICE PROVIDER 492 Brainerd Aug 23-26, 2011 08/09/11 $255 SOILS $420 SOILS WITH MUNSELL COLOR GUIDE 5151 Alexandria Jun 1-3, 2011 05/18/11 5152 Mankato Jun 22-24, 2011 06/08/11 By comple ng this form, you agree to OSTP enrollment policies: h p://sep c.umn.edu/events/generalinfo/index.htm Payment is required to reserve a spot in any course. Con nuing Educa on (CE) DATES DEADLINE $200 INSTALLER CE 694 Brainerd Dec 7-8, 2011 11/23/11 $35 PIPELAYER CERTIFICATION (Add-on to Installer CE) $75 PIPELAYER CERTIFICATION (Separate Enrollment) 924 Brainerd Dec 8, 2011 1:00 pm 11/24/11 $200 GENERAL CE 605 St. Cloud Nov 30-Dec 1, 2011 11/16/11 606 Mankato Dec 13-14, 2011 11/29/11 $200 SOILS CE $365 SOILS CE WITH MUNSELL 553 Worthington Jun 21, 2011 6-hour 06/07/11 555 Alexandria Aug 5, 2011 6-hour 07/22/11 556 Brainerd Sep 8, 2011 6-hour 08/25/11 $150 SAMPLING ONSITE SYSTEMS 721 Waterville Aug 3, 2011 6-hour 07/20/11 All checks are payable to: University of Minnesota Confirma on with Instruc ons will be mailed to your address. QUESTIONS? Call (800) 322-8642 1. NAME Please Print First Middle Ini al Last 2. PREFERRED CONTACT ADDRESS 3. CITY 4. STATE 5. ZIP 6. COMPANY Home Business Total for selected workshops: $ Late fee ($40 per workshop): $ Addi onal Manual ($40): $ A Manual is provided to Intro a endees- only purchase one if you need to update your copy. Total Amount Due: $ Please check one: Con nuing Educa on Pre-Cer? ca on 7. PHONE ( ) 8. FAX ( ) 9. EMAIL 10. PAYMENT OPTION (Select One) : Check or Money Order Local Government PO a ached Major Credit Card CARDHOLDER NAME BILLING ZIP CODE CARD NUMBER EXP. DATE X Cardholder Signature - Required Minnesota Onsite Wastewater Association
April/May 2011 Page 19 2011 MOWA MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION 1 st Member Company Name Address City/State/Zip Title Phone Mobile/800# Fax Email Additional Business/Government Members: Membership: Renewal New Member Individual Member Business Group /Government Unit Student Life-time $240 (1 person) $340 (up to 5 people; $100 /person after 5) $140 (1 person) Honorary Note: Your MOWA Membership includes one NOWRA membership Memberships are based on calendar year - After July 1st, new members pay $140-individual / $190-business or gov t groups for remainder of 2011 Individual/Group Contact: This person will be listed as the NOWRA member on the Septic Locator website. They will be listed first in all MOWA publications. Please print clearly. Circle the counties you work in: Needed for Directory and Website. Clay...14 Hubbard...29 Statewide... 88 Clearwater...15 Isanti...30 Aitkin...1 Anoka...2 Becker...3 Beltrami...4 Benton...5 Big Stone...6 Blue Earth...7 Brown...8 Carlton...9 Carver...10 Cass... 11 Chippewa...12 Chisago...13 Cook...16 Cottonwood...17 Crow Wing...18 Dakota...19 Dodge...20 Douglas...21 Faribault...22 Fillmore...23 Freeborn...24 Goodhue...25 Grant...26 Hennepin...27 Houston...28 Itasca...31 Jackson...32 Kanabec...33 Kandiyohi...34 Kittson...35 Koochiching...36 Lac qui Parle Lake...37 Lake...38 Lake of the Woods...39 Le Sueur...40 Lincoln...41 Lyon...42 Mahnomen...43 Website County Marshall...44 Martin...45 McLeod...46 Meeker...47 Mille Lacs...48 Morrison...49 Mower...50 Murray...51 Nicollet...52 Nobles...53 Norman...54 Olmsted...55 Otter Tail...56 Pennington...57 Pine...58 Pipestone...59 Polk...60 Pope...61 Ramsey...62 Red Lake...63 Redwood...64 Renville...65 Rice...66 Rock...67 Roseau...68 Scott...69 Sherburne...70 Sibley...71 St. Louis...72 Stearns...73 Steele...74 Stevens...75 Swift...76 Todd...77 Traverse...78 Wabasha...79 Wadena...80 Waseca...81 Washington...82 Watonwan...83 Wilkin...84 Winona...85 Wright...86 Yellow Medicine...87 Information: (Check all that apply) Installer Pumper Designer Inspector Gov t Regulator Educator Service Provider Student Soil Scientist Professional Engineer Manufacturer Operator/Maintenance Supplier Other: 2 nd Member Title County Address City/State/Zip Phone Mobile/800# Fax Email 3 rd Member Title County Address City/State/Zip Phone Mobile/800# Fax Email (Please list additional business/government group members on separate sheet with complete contact information.) Publications: Would y ou prefer receiving Little Digger newsletters via... Regular Mail Electronically We currently send one publication per address to business/government groups. Contact the MOWA office if you d like additional copies. Additional NOWRA Memberships: MOWA membership fees include one NOWRA membership per company/organization. List names of members who want additional NOWRA memberships here: Cost - $40 per person. 2) 3) 4) 5) Payment: (Please print) MOWA Membership $ + Add l NOWRA Memberships = Amount: $ Check enclosed (Payable to MOWA) VISA MasterCard Card Number: Expiration Date: Cardholder Name: Signature: Date Return MOWA, to: MOWA 5200 Willson 52988 Road, 250th Suite Ave 300, Pine Edina, Island, MN 55424 MN 55963 Phone: Phone: 952.345.1141 888-810-4178 Fax: 952.920.1533 Fax: 507-356-8963 Note: Dues payabletoto MOWA arenot not deductible as as a a charitable contribution but may may be be deductible as an asordinary an ordinary and necessary and necessary business business expense. expense. 24% of Professionals Enriching Minnesota s Environment
MOWA 5200 Willson Road, Suite 300 Edina, MN 55424 (952) 345-1141 (888) 810-4178 Presorted Standard U.S. Postage PAID Rochester, MN Permit No. 289 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED www.mowa-mn.com