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Ericksen wants to eliminate
mandatory inspections of septic systems
42nd District lawmaker believes goals can be met
without costly mandates
Rep. Doug Ericksen,
R-Ferndale, announced today he will introduce legislation in the 2008
legislative session to repeal excessive mandates on septic system
inspections. The 42nd District lawmaker wants to build a rural coalition
and believes goals can be met without costly mandates.
I fully understand the need to identify and fix failing septic systems
throughout Whatcom County. But the program in place will cost homeowners
with a septic system a minimum of three hundred dollars per year. This
is a massive expense to many families, said Ericksen. We can meet our
goals without costly mandates.
Ericksen is crafting legislation to give counties more flexibility in
monitoring septic systems and provide greater protections for families
who rely on septic systems.
Whatcom County officials are citing state legislation to require yearly
septic system inspections.
House Bill 1458 passed in 2006 on a House vote of 70-26, and a
Senate vote of 28-15. Ericksen highlighted his concerns for homeowners
and the cost-to-benefit ratio when voting no on the measure.
At some point our elected officials, at all levels, need to stand-up
for common sense solutions that do not penalize the hard-working
families of our state, said Ericksen. We have an opportunity to fix a
poor piece of legislation and I hope majority Democrats in Olympia will
agree that changes are needed.
Ericksen notes if all 30,000 Whatcom County septic systems are inspected
every year at a cost of $300 per home, it will drain over $9 million in
disposal income from families in the area.
Concerned citizens are encouraged to contact Ericksen directly to work
on fixing state legislation dealing with septic systems.
Ericksen can be contacted at (360) 786-7980 or
ericksen.doug@leg.wa.gov
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For more information, contact:
John
Handy, Assistant Director: (360) 786-5758
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