HARRY HUGHES, Governor

2417

FOR the purpose of creating the Innovative and Alternative Septic
System Grant Program in the Department of Health and Mental
Hygiene; providing for the management and supervision of
this Act; authorizing the Department to make septic tank
grants to certain political subdivisions; authorizing the
political subdivisions to make septic tank grants to certain
property owners; establishing certain eligibility criteria
for the grants; granting the Secretary of Health and Mental
Hygiene certain powers and duties relating to the Program;
providing for the administration of the Program; providing
for the use of certain funds for the Program; and generally
relating to the Innovative and Alternative Septic System
Grant Program.

BY adding to

Article - Health - Environmental

Section 9-1401 through 9-1407 9-1406, inclusive, to be under
the new subtitle "Subtitle 14. Innovative and
Alternative Septic System Grant Program"

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1982 Volume and 1983 Supplement)

Preamble

WHEREAS, In 1972 the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
revised its rules and regulations to require that, in the
subdivision of land, the percolation testing for a septic system
in soil with severe or moderate limitations may be conducted
during the prescribed wet season of any given year; and

WHEREAS, Before 1972, many of the septic systems constructed
during the building boom of the 1960's and 1970's that had passed
percolation tests, which were given at any time during the year,
had failed prematurely; and

WHEREAS, These septic systems were installed on approved
land or on land that was approved or purchased in anticipation
for housing, development, and construction that was no longer
able to be instituted; and

WHEREAS, The only way to bring these septic systems up to
acceptable standards is to modify or improve the design,
construction, or equipment of a deficient or inadequate septic
system with innovative, new, or alternative technology; and

WHEREAS, Since community sewer service does not extend
presently to areas that were previously recorded in 1972 for
unimproved lands, the only way to allow development is to modify
or improve the design, construction, or equipment of a septic
system through innovative, new, or alternative technology; and