HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2002.02.21 - 26791MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #02030
By: Shelley Taub, District #12; Lawrence Obrecht, District #3;
Hugh Crawford, District #17; William Patterson, District #1;
Thomas Law, District #13; David Buckley, District #14;
Bill Brian, District #10
IN RE: DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND DRAIN COMMISSIONER - COUNTY
HEALTH ORDINANCE FOR INSPECTION & MAINTENANCE OF ON-SITE SEWAGE
DISPOSAL SYSTEMS
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioner
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentleman:
WHEREAS, Wayne County's Rouge River National Wet Weather
Demonstration Project and other recent studies have plainly and
consistently demonstrated that surface waters of Southeast
Michigan are being impacted by point and nonpoint source
pollution; and
WHEREAS, nonpoint source pollution is contamination of
which cause or source cannot be easily identified, and failing
on-site sewage disposal systems are traditional contributors to
point and nonpoint source pollution; and
WHEREAS, these failures result in sewage discharges to •
ditches, drains or directly to surface waters; and
WHEREAS, to protect the public health from sewage that
originates from failed on-site sewage disposal systems, and to
reduce premature failure of these systems, a program to
regularly evaluate on-site sewage disposal systems and effect
their periodic maintenance is necessary; and
WHEREAS, in anticipation of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency's proposed Phase II Storm Water Regulations
under the federal Clean Water Act, Oakland County received its
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
Certificate of General Permit Coverage No. MIG610042 ("general
permit"), by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality on
Sept. 7, 1999; and
WHEREAS, 20 Oakland County communities also sought coverage
under this general permit; and
WHEREAS, by March 8, 2003, at least 31 Oakland County
communities will be required to seek coverage under a NPDES
storm water permit; and
WHEREAS, these permits will require an evaluation and
maintenance program for on-site sewage disposal systems; and
WHEREAS, approximately eighty thousand on-site sewage
disposal systems are used in the County and all of these systems
are subject to failure; and
WHEREAS, a program of systematic evaluation can identify
the need for maintenance and/or repair of on-site disposal
systems; and
WHEREAS, regular maintenance of disposal systems will
optimize the useful life-span of the systems, thereby minimizing
threats to public health, safety and welfare and combating the
degradation of the County's surface and subsurface waters; and
"arry Obrecht
WHEREAS, there are 61 individual cities, villages and
townships within five major watersheds in Oakland County that
drain to the Clinton, Flint, Huron, Rouge and Shiawassee Rivers;
and
WHEREAS, actions taken by one community within the
watershed have a significant impact on other downstream
communities in the watershed; and
WHEREAS, a multi-community approach needs to be identified
and utilized to comprehensively address public health and water
quality issues; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 20 of the Drain Code of 1956, MCL 280.461
et seq. ("Chapter 20"), provides the legal authority to create a
multi-community approach to address stormwater management,
nonpoint source pollution, drainage, flood control, and river
and stream management; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 20 also provides the mechanism to study,
plan and address water quality and water use issues.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, in recognition of the
importance to the citizens of Oakland County to the conservation
and development of the County's natural resources and to the
protection of its surface and ground waters, and, in recognition
of the County's commitment to protect the health, safety and
welfare of the citizens of Oakland County, the Oakland County
Board of Commissioners requests the Oakland County Executive and
the Oakland County Drain Commissioner collaborate in preparing a
county ordinance regarding on-site sewage disposal system
inspection, maintenance and enforcement for consideration by the
Oakland County Board of Commissioners.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a Public Hearing on this
proposed ordinance shall be held prior to adoption of this
resolution.
Chairperson, I move the adcy.lion of the foregoing
resolution.
Thomas Law
Bill Brian
Resolution #02030 February 21, 2002
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the General Government Committee. There were no
objections.