PORTSMOUTH — State and town officials are dotting their I’s and crossing their T’s on a wastewater management district ordinance and plan.
The ordinance and plan is in response to the notice of violation (NOV) that the R.I. Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) first issued to the town in September 2010. The NOV alleged violations of the R.I. Water Pollution Act and RIDEM’s water quality regulations.
The town was initially ordered to install a sewer system and wastewater treatment facility to service Island Park and Portsmouth Park, and to complete a wastewater management plan. In addition, the town was fined $186,000.
However, in November 2014 both sides agreed that RIDEM would hold off on its administrative adjudicatory proceedings until the end of 2015 if the town submitted an amended draft ordinance and onsite wastewater management plan. (A copy of that agreement, along with a July 6 letter to the Town Council from Town Planner Gary Crosby, can be viewed here.)
If the town’s wastewater management plan and ordinance is approved by RIDEM, local homeowners would be eligible to participate in the state’s Community Septic System Loan Program, which offers loans for septic repairs and upgrades at 2 percent interest.
Mr. Crosby told the council Monday night that the language in the ordinance and plan — first submitted to RIDEM in January — is going back and forth between the two sides for fine-tuning but that the draft should be ready for council review by July 24.
The council voted unanimously to schedule a public hearing on the ordinance and plan for 7 p.m. on Sept. 21. Council member Elizabeth Pedro said she would like to see notice of the hearing published well in advance of the meeting so that residents have time to digest it.
Mr. Crosby replied that he should have the final language in his hand “by the end of next week” and then he will publish the hearing notice on the town’s website.