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Ericksen’s septic system
inspection bill to receive hearing Tuesday at 8:00 a.m.
42nd District lawmaker encourages people to
testify, send him letters for the legislative record
A measure that would
reduce the authority of the state Department of Health and state Board
of Health with regard to mandatory septic system inspections will
receive a public hearing Tuesday at 8:00 a.m.
House Bill 2922, sponsored by
Rep.
Doug Ericksen, is scheduled to be heard in the
House Select
Committee on Environmental Health. It will be held in House Hearing
Room E in the John L. O’Brien Building on the
Capitol
Campus.
Ericksen is encouraging constituents to come to Olympia and
testify, or send him letters that he can enter into the legislative
record.
The goal of Ericksen’s measure is to give counties more
flexibility in monitoring septic systems and provide greater protections
for families who rely on them. He has been working with a rural
coalition and believes goals can be met without costly mandates.
“I understand the need to identify and fix failing septic systems in
Whatcom County. But the program in place will cost homeowners with a
septic system a minimum of three hundred dollars a year. This is a
massive expense to many families,” said Ericksen. “The government
needs to work for the people. I believe the state and counties can meet
their goals without this costly mandate.”
If all 30,000 Whatcom County septic systems are inspected each year at a
cost of $300, it would drain at least $9 million in disposal income from
local families.
The measure is in response to
House Bill 1458 – legislation that passed in 2006 that cleared
the way for mandatory septic system inspections in certain counties.
Ericksen highlighted his concerns for homeowners and the
cost-to-benefit ratio when voting “no” on the legislation.
House Bill 2922 is also expected to be voted on by the House
Select Committee on Environmental Health Tuesday.
Ericksen can be contacted at (360) 786-7980 or
ericksen.doug@leg.wa.gov
# # #
For more information, contact:
John
Handy, Assistant Director: (360) 786-5758
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