§4212. Department of Health and Human Services; responsibilities
1.
Administration of rules.
The department is responsible for ensuring the proper administration of the subsurface wastewater disposal rules and permitting processes by municipalities. The department shall assist municipalities in complying with this subchapter and with section 3428.
[PL 1999, c. 228, §4 (AMD).]
2.
Review.
The department shall review the administration of subsurface wastewater disposal rules and laws in each municipality for compliance with this subchapter and with section 3428. This review must be made on a regular basis and may be made in response to a written complaint from any person as necessary. The department shall inspect the municipality's records and discuss the administration of the program with the local plumbing inspector. The local plumbing inspector shall be available during the department's review and shall cooperate in providing all necessary information. The department shall report the results of its review in writing to the municipality and, when applicable, to the complainant. The written notice must set forth the department's findings of whether the municipality is in compliance with this subchapter and section 3428.
[PL 1999, c. 228, §4 (AMD).]
3.
Violation; penalty.
If after review the department finds any violation of this subchapter or section 3428, it shall notify the municipality that it has 30 days in which to take enforcement action and shall specify what action must be taken in order to achieve compliance. The municipality shall file a plan acceptable to the department setting forth how it will attain compliance. The department shall notify the municipality that it will review the municipality for compliance within 60 days of accepting the plan and shall conduct that review. Any municipality which fails to file an acceptable plan with the department or which remains in violation at the expiration of the 60-day period is subject to a civil penalty of at least $500. The department shall enforce this section in any court of competent jurisdiction. Every 30-day period that a municipality remains in violation after review and notification constitutes a separate offense.
[PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1987, c. 737, §§A2,C106 (NEW). PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 104, §§C8,10 (AMD). PL 1999, c. 228, §4 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 689, §B6 (REV).