Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 13, September 23, 2024
Subpart 1.
In general.
Facilities plans for wastewater treatment systems must be
prepared and signed by a professional engineer registered in Minnesota,
provided that facilities plans for individual sewage treatment systems designed
to treat 5,000 gallons or less of wastewater per day must be prepared and
signed by either a professional engineer registered in Minnesota or an
individual sewage treatment system designer authorized under agency rules to
prepare such plans.
Subp.
1a.
Approval by commissioner.
Facilities plans must be submitted to the commissioner for
review and approval. Approval shall be based on the commissioner's
determination of the adequacy of the facility plan to address the requirements
of this part. If the municipality is proposing to change the selected treatment
method or any other major element of a previously approved facilities plan or
storm water project plan, the municipality must receive the commissioner's
approval of a facilities plan addendum.
Subp. 2.
Facilities plan
contents.
A facilities plan must address items A to E in the amount of
detail that is appropriate to describe a project accurately.
A. A complete description and evaluation of
the existing wastewater treatment system and problems that need correction.
This evaluation must consider the age, condition, design capacity, and
treatment capabilities of each treatment unit, the system's ability to meet
current or proposed permit requirements, and the location, frequency, and
quantity of any bypasses. For existing individual sewage treatment systems, a
survey must also be prepared which identifies whether or not each individual
sewage treatment system in the project service area conforms to the
requirements under chapter 7080.
B.
Data describing existing residential wastewater flows and loadings, and
existing nonresidential wastewater flows and loadings. The existing wastewater
flow and loading data must be reported on a form provided by the
agency.
C. Data describing future
residential and nonresidential wastewater flows and loadings within the next
20-year period based on projected residential growth, projected nonresidential
growth, and signed letters of intent from significant industrial users. The
future wastewater flow and loading data must be reported on a form provided by
the agency.
D. An analysis of all
feasible treatment alternatives that are capable of meeting the applicable
effluent, water quality, and public health requirements for 20 years. Where the
project service area is currently served by individual sewage treatment
systems, the analysis of feasible treatment alternatives must be submitted on a
form prescribed by the commissioner. The discussion of the considered
alternatives must include:
(1) a comparison
of the cost-effectiveness of the alternatives considered. The comparison must
include a detailed breakdown of the present worth of all capital costs, annual
operation and maintenance costs, equipment replacement costs, and salvage
values. If excessive levels of infiltration or inflow exist, the comparison of
treatment alternatives must include a comparison of the cost of eliminating
excessive infiltration or inflow with the cost of transportation and treatment
of the infiltration or inflow;
(2)
a site assessment of the existing soil and groundwater conditions conducted and
signed by a professional engineer. For individual sewage treatment systems
designed to treat less than 5,000 gallons per day of wastewater, a site
assessment must be done by either a professional engineer or an individual
sewage treatment system designer authorized under agency rules to make the
assessment;
(3) an evaluation of
the impact of the alternatives on all existing wastewater treatment systems,
including sewers and lift stations;
(4) a comparison of the potential
environmental impacts.
E. If the project service area is currently
served by individual sewage treatment systems, the facilities plan must
include:
(1) a determination of the operating
condition of each individual sewage treatment system made by an individual
authorized by agency rules to determine the compliance status of individual
sewage treatment systems;
(2) a
determination of whether each lot in the project service area can support a
replacement individual sewage treatment system made by an individual authorized
by agency rules to make such a determination; and
(3) an assessment of the suitability of an
individual sewage treatment system that would serve multiple dwellings.
The assessment in subitem (3) must be conducted by an
individual authorized by agency rules to make such an assessment unless the
flow volumes or other circumstances of the system would warrant issuance of an
SDS permit, in which case the assessment must be conducted by a registered
professional soil scientist or professional engineer.
F. A description of the selected
treatment alternative and the complete wastewater treatment system of which it
is a part, including:
(1) the specific design
parameters of all individual treatment units and the complete treatment
system;
(2) estimated construction,
annual operation and maintenance, and equipment replacement costs;
(3) estimated annual sewer service
charges;
(4) a determination of
whether pretreatment of any industrial wastes is needed in order to avoid
disruption of the proper operation of the proposed system;
(5) an evaluation of how and where sludge or
septage resulting from the treatment process will be disposed;
(6) an analysis of the 25- and 100-year flood
elevations in relation to the proposed project site or sites, showing that the
project will be operable during a 25-year flood and protected during a 100-year
flood; and
(7) an analysis of how
interim treatment will be accomplished during construction to meet permit
requirements.
Subp.
2a.
Facilities plans supplement.
The following items must be submitted to the commissioner
with the facilities plans:
A. a
complete list of addresses used for public notice purposes and listed on a form
prescribed by the commissioner;
B.
a summary of the information presented and public comments received at a public
hearing, required under subpart
3, and the action taken to
address those comments;
C. a formal
resolution of the municipality's governing body adopting the facilities
plan;
D. a list of ordinances or
intermunicipal agreements necessary for the successful implementation and
administration of the project;
E. a
signed treatment agreement with each significant industrial user;
F. a completed environmental information
sheet; and
G. documentation of
notification to other governmental units, summaries of comments received, and
county certification as required under Minnesota Statutes, section
116.182,
subdivision 3a, clause (5).
Subp.
3.
Public hearing.
Before adopting the facilities plan, the municipality must
hold at least one public hearing to discuss the proposed project. The
facilities plan must be made available for review by interested persons before
the date of the hearing. At the public hearing, information must be presented
on the various treatment alternatives considered, the reasons for choosing the
selected alternative, the location of the proposed project site, and the
estimated sewer service charges.
Subp.
4. [Repealed, 17 SR 3097]
Subp.
5.
Consistency with planning requirements.
The selected treatment alternative must be consistent with
plans, if any, developed under sections 205(j), water quality management
planning; 208, areawide waste treatment management; 303(e), water quality
standards and implementation plan; and 319, nonpoint source management programs
of the act.
