The 2015 SSTS Annual Report for Minnesota is now available online. The report summarizes information submitted by local governmental units (LGUs) such as counties, townships and cities that permit and inspect septic systems and work with local septic system pumpers, designers and installers.

The 2015 report continues to show progress toward the state's goal of identifying the location and condition of all septic systems in the state and fixing or replacing septic systems that pose a threat to human health and/or groundwater or surface waters.

In 2015, 86 counties, 80 cities, 44 townships and four other permitting authorities submitted SSTS annual report information to the MPCA. LGUs reported 4,288 news systems and 6,205 replacement systems were installed in 2015.

Since 2002, LGUs have issued 166,307 SSTS construction permits for new and replacement systems or repairs. This means that roughly 31% of Minnesota's 543,454 septic systems are less than 14 years old.

Direct any questions about the 2015 SSTS Annual Report to Cody Robinson, MPCA St. Paul, or by phone at (651) 757-2535.

2016 tank fee submission reminder

The Minnesota Legislature passed a bill in 2003 that requires SSTS installers to pay a $25 fee for each septic system tank they install. Since then, the process installers need to follow to submit those fees has been changed to better track and account for the fees.

Steps for submitting 2016 tank installation fees

• Work with local governmental units (LGUs) to verify the number of tanks installed during the 2016 calendar year.
  
  
• In November of this year, installers will again receive a copy of the SSTS Tank Fee Record/Submission form. All installers need to complete both sides of the form and return it to the MPCA by Jan. 31, 2017. This form will also be available on the MPCA website. DO NOT include payment with the form.
  
  
• Even if you did not install any tanks in 2016, you still need to indicate this on the form and return it to the MPCA. Enter a zero on the form where it asks for the number of tanks installed in 2016.
  
  
• Installers that report installing one or more septic system tanks in 2016 will receive an invoice from the MPCA in April 2017 for payment. Payment submissions should include both the invoice and the payment. Failure to pay these invoices within 30 days could lead to an enforcement action including license revocation.

Local governments will still submit tank installation counts in their annual reports to the MPCA. The MPCA will use these reports to audit the number of tanks installed reported by installers. If discrepancies are found, the MPCA will contact the installer to follow up. Discrepancies or late payment could result in a penalty or enforcement action.

If you have questions about the tank fee, contact Kristi Kalk in Mankato, 507-344-526; or Sadie Wunder, Brainerd, 218-316-3909.

Volunteers are needed for two "need-to-know" job analysis efforts this winter. There is no debate about that (Thank goodness!).

The two groups needing volunteers are:

1. Maintainer Exam Question Piloting – you must have taken the Maintainer exam in the past. We are especially interested in balancing practicing Maintainers with QE inspectors that have septage management programs.

2. Installer Task Analysis development – We would really like to form a solid group of Installation professionals with a variety of backgrounds.

Each of these groups will meet in St. Paul two or three times this winter. We will plan on beginning in December. This is not a long-term commitment – you are free to participate in any or all sessions as your schedule allows.

Contact Nick Haig at the MPCA to express your interest in joining one or both of these important groups. Or call 651-757-2536. Feel free to forward this message to others who might be interested in helping out.

Nicholas (Nick) Kramer has been named to the SSTS compliance and enforcement position at the MPCA regional office in Detroit Lakes. Nick was most recently a biologist/environmental scientist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in New York City. We wondered what kind of biology they needed to deal with in the Big Apple but Nick pointed out there are a lot of ecological issues associated with New York's coastal areas.

Nick is originally from this part of the country and wanted to get back to this area. He has served with the Wisconsin National Guard and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.

In a continuing effort to assist county SSTS programs, the MPCA works with the Legislature to secure funding to support and enhance the work counties do to promote effective sewage treatment.

In July, the MPCA awarded grants to counties for the following related SSTS activities:  

1. administration of local SSTS programs,
2. special projects to improve SSTS compliance rates and
3. assistance to low-income homeowners to upgrade their  systems.

The Legislature provided funds for county base grants of $18,600/year and incentive grants for counties that have adopted ‘triggers’ to promote SSTS compliance or are implementing special projects to improve compliance.

Funding was also made available for grants to low-income homeowners to help them bring their septic systems into compliance.

$195,000 awarded for adopting compliance triggers

Just under $195,000 was granted to counties that are working to improve compliance by adopting compliance inspection triggers when a property is sold or a property owner applies for any type of permit. Others are improving record-keeping, conducting septic system inventories and working with unsewered areas to improve compliance. Over $750,000 dollars was granted to counties to assist low-income homeowners with SSTS upgrades.

Sixty-seven of 86 eligible counties submitted grant applications this year. Of these, 50 qualified by requiring compliance inspections triggered by a property sale and 11 qualified by requiring inspections any time a home owner applies for a permit. Fifteen counties received money for having plans to improve compliance and 39 counties received low income fix-up funds.

Grants available for advanced inspector work on large systems

Another area where the MPCA is able to support county SSTS programs is by providing grants for work done by advanced inspectors on systems designed to handle more than 2,500 gallons per day. These grants reimburse the county for 75% of the cost of this work, whether it is done by county staff or licensed Advanced Inspectors hired by the county. Currently, there are 22 counties participating in this grant program. The application period for this grant is currently open. Contact Aaron Jensen for more information as well as the MPCA website.

The advanced inspector grants are distributed by the MPCA. All other grants flow to counties through the Board of Water and Soil Resources Natural Resources Block Grants. There will be additional funding available in FY17 for the add-on competitive grants.