Increased regulations for sewer systems means loss of property value, jobs
Letter to the Editor:
After 27 years of owning property at 1623 Stone Dr, Gig Harbor, WA, the Tacoma Pierce County Health Dept (TPCHD) and the Washington State Dept. of Ecology (DOE ) (in contract with each other), three visits from TPCHD (10/6/2008. 7/29/2010. 7/11/2011, with no citations sent to us or our tenant, just recommendations) and passage of regulation in 1995, which prohibits discharging of industrial waste into an On-Site Septic System (OSS), no matter how benign, safe, or clean, we are experiencing extreme measures ("sustainable development") to comply:
1. The data obtained from sample testing and how it was applied:
a. There are three phases contained within an On-Site Septic Tank: the top layer (scum, about 5%), middle layer (aqueous, about 90%), and the bottom layer (sediment, 5%). The route of testing using a ‘composite’ (homogeneous, representative sampling vs. multi-phase (heterogeneous) testing, in order to obtain the desired results of “dangerous waste”. The DOE only tested the sediment portion of the tank and only one sample.
b. The DOE uses both dry weight (dehydrate the sediment) and testing for all forms of metals (soluble and insoluble), which would skew, increase the results, and probably make it invalid. In other words, the DOE has lowered the threshold and, in addition to that, raised the possibility of exceeding the threshold.
c. Two and one-half years of potential accumulation of product in the OSS. The values for toxicity for Washington State are .001% and the Federal levels are .005%, which is five times more restrictive.
d. Consider the fact that the DOE can penalize to the cost of $10,000/ day/ per violation.
2. The requirements for clean-up of the contents of the tank (OSS) and/ or business use and procedures of the property:
a. A cost difference of $6-$8,000 for dangerous waste (DW), and only $500 for common waste.
b. As one crosses from Washington State to the Oregon border, the contents of the tank change from DW to common waste.
c. A fish bioassay test to be done to confirm or refute the contents of the tank as DW. As heavy metals are toxic to fish, so is fecal material. Fish do not survive well in human waste.
d. Our tenant, Harbor Graphics, may have to quit doing business on our property and move to another location, which instead may be connected to a sewer system, because to invest in an Evaporation System at an additional $1,000/ month is just too expensive. Gig Harbor loses a business, and we lose a tenant. Lost revenue to the city and the state.
There are approximately 55,000 small businesses ( meaning less jobs), in Washington State which will potentially be impacted by the increased permitting and regulations. As stated by Attorney General, Rob McKenna, "Washington State is on the top 10 list as one of the most expensive states in America to employ people and create jobs." Private Property values will decrease for those not connected to sewers. The option for tenants will also be lessened.
If you are interested, we can provide all the documentation and more details in regard to our situation.
Thank you.
Les & Landra Skelly (253) 278-8419