Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Virginia Department of Health
Board
State Board of Health
chapter
Regulations for Alternative Onsite Sewage Systems [12 VAC 5 ‑ 613]
Action:
Performance Requirements for Repairs and Voluntary Upgrades of Systems with Direct Dispersal
Action 4737
 
General Information
Action Summary The Regulations for Alternative Onsite Sewage Systems (12VAC5-613, AOSS Regulations) establish performance and operation and maintenance requirements for alternative onsite sewage systems. The fast track amendments will change the definition of “direct dispersal of effluent to groundwater,” also known as “direct dispersal,” (12VAC5-613-10), and will add a new section (12VAC5-613-90.E) to address performance requirements for repairs and voluntary upgrades of systems that already disperse effluent to groundwater. The fast track amendments are narrowly focused to address a very specific situation when the owner has an installed sewage system that already disperses effluent into groundwater with an average daily sewage flow of less than 1,000 gallons/day, and the owner wants to repair or upgrade that installed sewage system. The fast track amendments do not affect requirements for undeveloped properties or new construction and development; however, the change in definition would not consider certain site grading work as initiating requirements for direct dispersal (e.g., pipe and tank excavations, minor tillage of the soil surface without soil removal, or replacement of fill material). The fast track amendments will improve the AOSS Regulations by providing a clearer definition of direct dispersal, identifying appropriate exclusions from the definition, and by specifying more reasonable treatment and performance requirements for direct dispersal when an owner needs to repair or wants to upgrade an installed sewage system that already disperses effluent into the water table.
Chapters Affected Only affects this chapter.
Executive Branch Review This action will go through the normal Executive Branch Review process.
RIS Project Yes  [004214]
New Periodic Review This action will not be used to conduct a new periodic review.
 
Stages
Stages associated with this regulatory action.
Stage ID Stage Type Status
7791 Fast-Track Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 07/17/2017.
 
Contact Information
Name / Title: Allen Knapp  / Director, Office of Environmental Health Services
Address: 109 Governor St.
Richmond, VA 23219
Email Address: allen.knapp@vdh.virginia.gov
Phone: (804)864-7458    FAX: (804)864-7476    TDD: ()-