[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6077591,"mediaKeyId","2964043-c787de78be9bfe2a2802492537c9ecbd","parentId",2964043,"title","Committee backs bill centralizing on-site wastewater rules under DEQ; sets licensing, inspections and penalties","audioSeconds",1035,"startMs",1170000,"endMs",2205000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2964043-c787de78be9bfe2a2802492537c9ecbd&start=1170&end=2205","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2964043-c787de78be9bfe2a2802492537c9ecbd/thumbnail_1170000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6077591/North-Dakota/Committee-backs-bill-centralizing-on-site-wastewater-rules-under-DEQ-sets-licensing-inspections-and-penalties","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6077591-c571478f4bb09eacb5f370d7c3c93ecc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770966600&Signature=EYbeyrJQ8R3qkdpDXfpcEYJLYJOscnNeZOfVaCMTkP6K-vQVCmUJAU9mxIkwxPsL-eSq6duHjCt4TyiaSohzSf1xW5pAXI~VplPHFQ~QHJ1bIXmZk45ZHQRRYlwieA4d-gqbOaujBx2qDK0z57MxlSyZKFRwKH7T6rNh~k1qBDLN1Z~jXrP-akpXo8W8-iz0Ec2bzhydPfbJWxxoPd6U~TXzcewTa0iPh3H7ED5OoCZ6yG9qcXpZdI8Gab75H9yknFPTUMBEThiMVVLVqOiGgHeWYRFDPt3ik8MN8pWKLIIOHq~m~FfckX73a12asaxDZ5fxWro1j6gEfgdH~fDznA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Dakota Legislature","date","2025-04-11T00:00:00Z","article","The House Energy and Natural Resources Committee recommended a due pass for Senate Bill 22-67 as amended, a bill that would centralize rulemaking for on-site wastewater (septic) systems at the Department of Environmental Quality and create a statewide licensing and enforcement framework for installers.

\"The department has the exclusive authority to adopt rules,\" Dave Glott, director of the Department of Environmental Quality, told the committee while explaining the draft. The bill, as amended and presented by Glott, says the DEQ will adopt statewide rules, provide technical assistance, and expects that local plumbing boards would remove overlapping rules to avoid conflict.

Key operational changes included in the amended draft, as explained by Glott: public health units shall conduct inspections of on-site wastewater systems within 24 hours when requested; local public health units may enter memoranda of understanding with adjacent counties to provide inspection services; the DEQ will establish licensing standards for installers; homeowners installing a system on their own property would not need a license but would still have to comply with rules; and a statewide appeals process would permit installers to petition DEQ for review within 10 business days.

Glott also outlined enforcement and fee provisions in the draft. For serious physical violations that threaten the environment or public health, the bill authorizes civil penalties of up to $12,500 per day; for record or paperwork violations, the bill authorizes penalties up to $5,000 per day. The draft authorizes the department to collect reasonable license and permit fees and deposit them into the department's operating fund. Glott estimated a working licensing fee for installers might be in the neighborhood of $200 and said the current installer population could generate roughly $50,000 annually under that fee structure. \"We're gonna give it a shot,\" he told the committee when asked whether the appropriation and fee structure would be sufficient.

On appropriations and oversight, Glott said the draft includes an appropriation described in the amendment and that the department will report back to the committee on how the program is operating; he suggested a follow-up reporting timeframe around August 2026 to review fee adequacy and enforcement outcomes.

The committee accepted an amendment to the bill presented by Glott (motion by Representative Doctor, seconded by Representative Olson), then voted to recommend a due pass on SB22-67 as amended (motion by Representative Olson; seconded by Representative Novak). During the roll call on the due-pass motion the following votes were recorded: Chairman Porter: yes; Vice Chair Anderson: yes; Vice Chair Novak: yes; Representative Conmey: yes; Representative Doctor: yes; Representative Heinert: yes; Representative Johnson: no; Representative Marshall: yes; Representative Olsen: yes; Representative Ruby: yes. The clerk announced the result as a do-pass recommendation; the transcript records those responses and the committee carried the motion.

Supporters said the bill provides uniform standards intended to reduce local rule conflicts and speed inspections; installers and local public-health representatives who worked on the draft asked for a clear statewide framework and timely inspection requirements. Opponents or cautious members questioned whether the initial appropriation and fee structure would be adequate to cover DEQ's startup and oversight costs; Glott said the department will monitor implementation and return to the committee with results and recommendations.

The bill will proceed through the legislative process with the committee's recommendation. DEQ officials said they expect to coordinate with the state's installer association and local public-health units on training and implementation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Energy and Natural Resources Apr 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Department of Environmental Quality would gain exclusive rulemaking authority for on-site wastewater systems, the bill would require public-health inspections within 24 hours and create a state licensing regime for installers with fee and enforcement provisions, the committee heard and advanced Senate Bill 22-67 as amended.","taxTitle","Energy and Natural Resources, House of Representatives, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28890,"location","North Dakota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6077595,"Committee recommends due pass for bill requiring joint county boards on cross-county water projects",823,227000,1050000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2964043-c787de78be9bfe2a2802492537c9ecbd&start=227&end=1050","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2964043-c787de78be9bfe2a2802492537c9ecbd/thumbnail_227000.jpg","/articles/6077595/North-Dakota/Committee-recommends-due-pass-for-bill-requiring-joint-county-boards-on-cross-county-water-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6077595-ca27ed1b7848caa00f13e0389e266276/orig.mp4?Expires=1770966600&Signature=VUCNKuUvJj185S7fyF11Q4ZLNG2s5f6bA8eZ3C4I8Qm4OK~MzhRFDC9u84j-~dlKb8Dc0kQLOD--wSR0FgPWNUXhLiOzWrCrspNdVJG2-kWZDWsrP4D3HrGurBg2dc61V33fzM1yW32QdclaoiV2roPcuORisREzwLoT7B64TcgYKx~vkGkj-drQ7x-6J7AQjuvGwieMBntkO9Lp8jymhKs3A9F4~WzVIs83LfDyspAxswQcs86Cnzc8XeWKGrUeN3Tx81tsvvwseUU2mOEEEHRB370Rwye0tVuvuXzKrw9oYBugla~6POd8DElDpKqVYgw1b2mFVORSamCWrFnjZg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted to recommend a due pass for Senate Bill 22-76 as amended, a bill that would require counties with shared water projects to form joint boards with equal representation and a stepped dispute-resolution process.

Supporters said the measure aims to reduce costly litigation and stalled projects that result when adjacent counties do not coordinate on water management. \"We've been working on this quite a long time, and, it's been actually years,\" Senator Larry Lueck said. \"I am happily coming to you to maybe put an end to, 2276 in a good way.\" Lueck said the bill pushes counties toward an enforceable path for cooperation after earlier, voluntary efforts produced little change.

The amendment before the committee formalizes how joint boards would be formed and how to resolve potential deadlocks. Danny Quizelle, speaking for the North Dakota Water Resource Districts Association, described the amended deadlock process: \"If you had that situation, the first step would be to go to mediation. The ag department, the commissioner's office has mediation services that are offered for other types of water disputes. They were comfortable with taking this on as well if needed.\" Quizelle said an unsuccessful mediation would be followed by an appeal to the Department of Water Resources and, if necessary, ultimately to the courts.

The amendment also adds clarifying language to allow a remaining district or districts to proceed if one district refuses to join a joint board — inserting the words \"or district\" in several places of the draft to cover that scenario, per Quizelle's recommendation.

Committee members asked about enforcement mechanics. Representative Heinert raised concerns about a process that could end with one county suing another via the county auditor. Chairman Porter and others responded that the bill focuses the levy and collection functions through local county processes and that the process aims to address obstacles before litigation is necessary.

The committee approved amendment 01005 (moved by Representative Haggard; seconded by Representative Olson) and then voted to recommend a due pass on the bill as amended (motion moved by Representative Hager; seconded by Representative Olson). During the roll call on the due pass recommendation, the following members recorded votes: Chairman Porter: yes; Vice Chair Anderson: yes; Vice Chair Novak: yes; Representative Convey: yes; Representative Doctor: yes; Representative Haggard: yes; Representative Heinert: yes; Representative Johnson: yes; Representative Marshall: yes; Representative Olsen: yes; Representative Ruby: yes. The clerk announced the tally as 11 yes, 0 no, 2 absent; the motion prevailed.

Supporters urged that the new statute provide a predictable, local-level path to plan and finance cross-boundary water projects, arguing it could save money and reduce lawsuits. \"It is costing the state a lot of money. It's costing each and every one of us a lot of money and angst and lawsuits,\" a member of the public and longtime water contractor told the committee after the vote. He added that technical water management is straightforward but that personalities have impeded cooperation.

The bill will be carried forward under the committee's procedural process. Committee members and bill proponents said they expect the mediation and administrative appeal steps to reduce litigation and help projects move forward, though they acknowledged litigation remains a last-resort option.","The House Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted to give a due-pass recommendation to Senate Bill 22-76 as amended, a measure that would require counties sharing water projects to form joint boards with equal representation and a prescribed dispute-resolution process including mediation, administrative appeal and court as a last resort.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee backs bill centralizing on-site wastewater rules under DEQ; sets licensing, inspections and penalties

Committee recommends due pass for bill requiring joint county boards on cross-county water projects