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Montana Administrative Register Notice 17-318 No. 7   04/14/2011    
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BEFORE THE BOARD OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW

OF THE STATE OF MONTANA

 

In the matter of the amendment of ARM 17.38.101, 17.38.106, 17.38.502, 17.38.511, and 17.38.513 pertaining to plans for public water supply or wastewater system, fees, definitions, water supply, and chemical treatment of water

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED AMENDMENT

 

(PUBLIC WATER AND SEWAGE SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS)

 

            TO:  All Concerned Persons

 

            1.  On May 11, 2011, at 1:30 p.m., the Board of Environmental Review will hold a public hearing in Room 111, Metcalf Building, Department of Environmental Quality, 1520 East Sixth Avenue, Helena, Montana, to consider the proposed amendment of the above-stated rules.  In addition, the department will hold an informal question/answer session at 1:00 p.m., at the same address, to answer questions regarding those proposed amendments.

 

            2.  The board will make reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities who wish to participate in this public hearing or need an alternative accessible format of this notice.  If you require an accommodation, contact Elois Johnson, Paralegal, no later than 5:00 p.m., April 25, 2011, to advise us of the nature of the accommodation that you need.  Please contact Elois Johnson at Department of Environmental Quality, P.O. Box 200901, Helena, Montana 59620-0901; phone (406) 444-2630; fax (406) 444-4386; or e-mail ejohnson@mt.gov.

 

            3.  The rules proposed to be amended provide as follows, stricken matter interlined, new matter underlined:

 

            17.38.101  PLANS FOR PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY OR WASTEWATER SYSTEM  (1) and (2) remain the same.

            (3)  As used in this rule, the following definitions apply in addition to those in 75-6-102, MCA:

            (a) through (e)(ii) remain the same.

            (f)  "Rural distribution system" means those portions of a water distribution system that are outside the limits of a city or town and that:

            (i)  have fewer than one service connection per mile on average;

            (ii)  are constructed of water mains six inches in diameter or less; and

            (iii)  do not provide fire flows.

            (f) through (l)(ii) remain the same, but are renumbered (g) through (m)(ii).

            (4)  A person may not commence or continue the construction, alteration, extension, or operation of a public water supply system or wastewater system until the applicant has submitted a design report along with the necessary plans and specifications for the system to the department or a delegated division of local government for its review and has received written approval.  Three sets of plans and specifications are needed for final approval.  Approval by the department or a delegated division of local government is contingent upon construction and operation of the public water supply or wastewater system consistent with the approved design report, plans, and specifications.  Failure to construct or operate the system according to the approved plans and specifications or the department's conditions of approval is an alteration for purposes of this rule.  Design reports, plans, and specifications must meet the following criteria:

            (a) through (i) remain the same.

            (j)  the department may grant a deviation from the standards referenced in (4)(a) through (f) (e) when the applicant has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the department that strict adherence to the standards of this rule is not necessary to protect public health and the quality of state waters.  Deviations from the standards may be granted only by the department.

            (5) through (18) remain the same.

 

            AUTH:  75-6-103, MCA

            IMP:  75-6-103, 75-6-112, 75-6-121, MCA

 

            17.38.106  FEES  (1) remains the same.

            (2)  Department review will not be initiated until fees calculated under (2)(a) through (e) and (5) have been received by the department.  If applicable, the final approval will not be issued until the calculated fees under (3) and (4) have been paid in full.  The total fee for the review of a set of plans and specifications is the sum of the fees for the applicable parts or subparts listed in these citations.

            (a)  The fee schedule for designs requiring review for compliance with Department Circular DEQ-1 is set forth in Schedule I, as follows:

 

                                                               SCHEDULE I

            Policies

                        ultra violet disinfection.......................................................................... $    700

                        point-of-use/point-of-entry treatment................................................... $    700

            Section 1.0 Engineering Report...................................................................... $    280

            Section 3.1 Surface water

                        quality and quantity............................................................................... $    700

                        structures............................................................................................... $    700

            Section 3.2 Ground water................................................................................ $    840

            Section 4.1 Clarification

                        standard clarification............................................................................ $    700

                        solid contact units................................................................................. $ 1,400

            Section 4.2 Filtration

                        rapid rate............................................................................................... $ 1,750

                        pressure filtration................................................................................. $  1,400

                        diatomaceous earth............................................................................ $  1,400

                        slow sand.............................................................................................. $  1,400

                        direct filtration....................................................................................... $  1,400

                        biologically active filtration.................................................................. $  1,400

                        membrane filtration.............................................................................. $  1,400

                        micro and ultra filtration....................................................................... $  1,400

                        bag and cartridge filtration................................................................... $    420

            Section 4.3 Disinfection................................................................................... $    700

            Section 4.4 Softening....................................................................................... $    700

            Section 4.5 Aeration

                        natural draft............................................................................................. $   280

                        forced draft............................................................................................. $   280

                        spray/pressure....................................................................................... $   280

                        packed tower.......................................................................................... $   700

            Section 4.6 Iron and manganese..................................................................... $   700

            Section 4.7 Fluoridation.................................................................................... $   700

            Section 4.8 Stabilization................................................................................... $   420

            Section 4.9 Taste and odor control.................................................................. $   560

            Section 4.10 Microscreening........................................................................... $   280

            Section 4.11 Ion exchange............................................................................... $   700

            Section 4.12 Adsorptive media....................................................................... $   700

            Chapter 5 Chemical application...................................................................... $   980

            Chapter 6 Pumping facilities............................................................................ $   980

            Section 7.1 Plant storage................................................................................. $   980

            Section 7.2 Hydropneumatic tanks.................................................................. $   420

            Section 7.3 Distribution storage...................................................................... $   980

            Section 7.4 Cisterns.......................................................................................... $   420

            Chapter 8 Distribution system

                        per lot fee................................................................................................ $     70

                        non-standard specifications................................................................. $   420

                        transmission distribution (per lineal foot)............................................ $  0.25

                        rural distribution system (per lineal foot).............................................. $  0.03

            Chapter 9 Waste disposal................................................................................ $   700

            Appendix A

                        new systems........................................................................................... $   280

                        modifications.......................................................................................... $   140

 

            (b) through (7) remain the same.

 

            AUTH:  75-6-108, MCA

            IMP:  75-6-108, MCA

 

            REASON:  The proposed amendments to ARM 17.38.101 provide a definition for "rural distribution system" and correct an erroneous internal reference in ARM 17.38.101(4)(j).  The proposed definition of "rural distribution system" is necessary to implement the reduced design review fees for those systems as proposed in the amendments to ARM 17.38.106, discussed below.  Rural distribution systems are those that are outside of cities and that have mains with relatively simple construction and long stretches of mains without service connections.

            ARM 17.38.101(4)(j) authorizes deviations from standards referenced in (4)(a) through (f).  The standards that were intended to be referenced were those in (4)(a) through (e), which are department circulars and rules incorporated in this rule by reference.  The proposed amendment is necessary to conform the language of the rule to the original intent.

            The proposed amendment to ARM 17.38.106 adds a new fee category for rural distribution systems.  The new rate will reduce fees for review of those systems.  These systems have large distribution systems but are fairly simple to review.  The new lower fee rate is necessary in order for the review fee to reflect actual review costs to the department, as required under 75-6-108(3), MCA.  Systems that would submit plans under this new definition and fee schedule would see a significant reduction in their review fees, from 25 cents/lineal foot to three cents/ lineal foot.  The department does not have sufficient information to estimate the number of fee payers nor the lineal feet of distribution systems that may be affected by the reduced fee.

 

            17.38.502  DEFINITIONS  (1) remains the same.

            (2)  "Water hauler" is a person engaged in the business of transporting water, to be used for human consumption through a non-piped conveyance, from a water source to a cistern or other reservoir by ten or more families or to be used for human consumption in a public water supply system.  As defined in 75-6-102, MCA, a public water supply system is a system that has at least 15 service connections or that regularly serves at least 25 or more persons daily for at least any 60 or more days of the in a calendar year.

 

            AUTH:  75-6-103, MCA

            IMP:  75-6-103, MCA

 

            REASON:  The proposed amendment to ARM 17.38.502 is necessary to clarify that the water hauler requirements apply only to non-piped means of delivery.  The amendments also conform the rule to the current definition of "public water supply system" set forth in 75-6-104(14), MCA.

 

            17.38.511  WATER SUPPLY  (1)  Water to be hauled must be taken from a supply approved by the department-approved community public water supply system and from a department-approved water loading station that meets the requirements of Department Circular DEQ-1.

            (2)  Periodical Water haulers shall collect bacteriological samples will be collected from the water hauling equipment by the department or its authorized representatives at least once per month for each approved public water supplier the hauler uses that month.

            (3)  If a water hauler's public water supplier is in compliance with the monitoring and maximum contaminant level requirements set forth in ARM Title 17, chapter 38, subchapter 2, the water hauler is not required to duplicate the entry point sampling of the supplier unless specifically required to do so by the department.

 

            AUTH:  75-6-103, MCA

            IMP:  75-6-103, MCA

 

            REASON:  The proposed amendments to ARM 17.38.511(1) clarify that a water hauler's supply must be a department-approved community public water supply system.  Because water haulers are regulated as community systems, the water they haul must be received from a system designed and monitored as such.  The proposed amendments also clarify that water loading stations require department approval.  This amendment is necessary to comply with existing department requirements for loading stations in Department Circular DEQ-1.  Proposed (2) removes the reference to the department or its representatives conducting biological sampling.  This has not been actual department practice because of limited staff resources, and amending the rule is necessary to clarify that bacteriological sampling is the obligation of the water hauler.  Finally, proposed (3) provides that water haulers are not required to duplicate the entry point sampling of their supplier if the supplier is in compliance with the requirements in ARM Title 17, chapter 38, subchapter 2.  This amendment is necessary to help regulated haulers in determining applicable sampling requirements.

 

            17.38.513  CHEMICAL TREATMENT OF WATER  (1)  Each Except as provided in (3), water haulers shall dose each load of water shall be dosed with enough chlorine to provide a free chlorine or total chlorine residual of at least 0.4 parts per million (ppm), not to exceed 4.0 ppm, at the time the water hauling equipment is filled and at the time the water is delivered to the receiving system.  The wWater haulers shall have DPD test kits use department-approved methods to check monitor the chlorine residual concentration.

            (2)  Sufficient chlorine must be added when delivering water into the cistern to have a chlorine residual of 0.4 parts per million detected when the cistern is filled.  Water haulers shall monitor each load of water, and shall record chlorine residual results on department-approved forms.  Haulers shall retain the records of chlorine residual results for each load and shall provide the records to the department upon request.  By the tenth of the month following a delivery, haulers shall report the following to the department on department-approved forms:

            (a)  one chlorine residual result for each day water is delivered, taken from the load with the lowest monitored residual result; and

            (b)  for days that a hauler obtains and delivers water from multiple public water suppliers, one chlorine residual result per supplier per day, taken from the loads with the lowest monitored residual result.

            (3)  Water haulers using an approved chloraminated source of water shall monitor, record, and report residuals as required in (1) and (2), but are not required to adjust total chlorine levels.

 

            AUTH:  75-6-103, MCA

            IMP:  75-6-103, MCA

 

            REASON:  The proposed amendments to ARM 17.38.513(1) clarify that the residual of 0.4 mg/L of free or total chlorine is a minimum that must be maintained  at the time the water hauling equipment is filled and at the time the water is delivered to the receiving system.  Water haulers are not responsible for the quality of the water after it enters the receiving system.  The amendments also require that the hauler use department-approved methods to monitor chlorine residuals.  The proposed amendments to ARM 17.38.513(2) provide that each load of hauled water must be monitored, and specify the time and manner of reporting the results to the department.  Proposed (3) clarifies the requirements for haulers that utilize a chloraminated source of water.  Because of the complications associated with adding chlorine to chloraminated water, as well as the regulatory requirements applicable to the supplier, haulers utilizing chloraminated sources of water are required only to monitor and report the chloramines level of the water, and are not required to treat the water.  The proposed amendments to this rule are necessary to ensure the safety of hauled water, which has an increased potential of being exposed to sources of contamination.

 

            4.  Concerned persons may submit their data, views, or arguments, either orally or in writing, at the hearing.  Written data, views, or arguments may also be submitted to Elois Johnson, Paralegal, Department of Environmental Quality, 1520 E. Sixth Avenue, P.O. Box 200901, Helena, Montana 59620-0901; faxed to (406) 444-4386; or e-mailed to ejohnson@mt.gov, no later than 5:00 p.m., May 12, 2011.  To be guaranteed consideration, mailed comments must be postmarked on or before that date.

 

            5.  Katherine Orr, attorney for the board, or another attorney for the Agency Legal Services Bureau, has been designated to preside over and conduct the hearing.

 

            6.  The board maintains a list of interested persons who wish to receive notices of rulemaking actions proposed by this agency.  Persons who wish to have their name added to the list shall make a written request that includes the name, e-mail, and mailing address of the person to receive notices and specifies that the person wishes to receive notices regarding:  air quality; hazardous waste/waste oil; asbestos control; water/wastewater treatment plant operator certification; solid waste; junk vehicles; infectious waste; public water supply; public sewage systems regulation; hard rock (metal) mine reclamation; major facility siting; opencut mine reclamation; strip mine reclamation; subdivisions; renewable energy grants/loans; wastewater treatment or safe drinking water revolving grants and loans; water quality; CECRA; underground/above ground storage tanks; MEPA; or general procedural rules other than MEPA.  Notices will be sent by e-mail unless a mailing preference is noted in the request.  Such written request may be mailed or delivered to Elois Johnson, Paralegal, Department of Environmental Quality, 1520 E. Sixth Ave., P.O. Box 200901, Helena, Montana 59620-0901, faxed to the office at (406) 444-4386, e-mailed to Elois Johnson at ejohnson@mt.gov, or may be made by completing a request form at any rules hearing held by the board.

 

            7.  The bill sponsor contact requirements of 2-4-302, MCA, do not apply.

 

 

 

 

 

Reviewed by:                                     BOARD OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW

 

 

/s/ James M. Madden                         BY:  /s/ Joseph W. Russell                                  

JAMES M. MADDEN                                   JOSEPH W. RUSSELL, M.P.H.,

Rule Reviewer                                               Chairman

 

            Certified to the Secretary of State, April 4, 2011.

 

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