S.C. Code Regs. § § 61-56.102

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 10, October 25, 2024

Section 61-56.102 - Onsite Wastewater System Site Evaluation and Fees

102.1. Site Evaluations.

(1) An applicant for a permit to construct an onsite wastewater system, nonwater-carried sewage treatment system, wastewater combustion system, or gray water subsurface reuse system shall, at the time an application for a permit to construct is submitted to the Department, pay to the Department the site evaluation fee set forth in Section 102.2.

(2) Soil evaluations shall be conducted only by:

(a) A certified Department staff member;

(b) A licensed Professional Soil Classifier or other licensed person qualified to practice soil classifying under S.C. Code 40-65-40(7) and otherwise deemed qualified by the Department who has contracted with the Department. The contractor may not charge a rate more than three (3) times the Department's permit fees; or

(c) A privately hired licensed Professional Soil Classifier or other licensed person qualified to practice professional soil classifying under S.C. Code Section 40-65-40(7), provided that the burden of documenting qualification under S.C. Code Section 40-65-40(7) is on the licensed professional. The licensed professional shall provide to the Department verification of licensure and confirmation from their licensing board that the person is qualified to practice professional soil classifying within the scope of their license. The Department will disallow a soil evaluation from any person not able to provide verification to the Department's satisfaction.

(3) Except as provided in Section 102.1(4) and 102.1(5), an onsite wastewater system layout in accordance with Section 400, Appendices of Standards for Permitted Systems, may be prepared by:

(a) A certified Department staff member;

(b) A Registered Professional Engineer licensed in South Carolina who is not Department staff and has subcontracted with the Department to prepare onsite wastewater system layouts at a rate not more than three (3) times the Department's permit fee; or

(c) A privately hired Registered Professional Engineer licensed in South Carolina or the same licensed person under Section 102.1(2)(b) or (c) who conducted the soil evaluation for the site.

(4) Only a Registered Professional Engineer may design a system and prepare a system layout for Standard 610/611 - Specialized Onsite Wastewater Systems, Standard 150 - Large and Community Onsite Wastewater Systems, nonwater-carried sewage treatment systems, wastewater combustion systems, and gray water subsurface reuse systems.

(5) The Department will not perform a soil evaluation or prepare a system layout for any subdivision or portion of a subdivision with ten (10) or more lots without access to all available utilities. Soil evaluations for any lots that are part of a subdivision with ten (10) or more lots without access to all available utilities must be conducted by a licensed person meeting the criteria of Section 102.1(2)(b) or (c). Proposed system layouts for any lots that are part of a subdivision must be prepared by a third-party Registered Professional Engineer or Professional Soil Classifier meeting the criteria under Section 102.1(3)(b) or (c). The Soils Report and proposed system layout must be submitted with the onsite wastewater system permit application for the purpose of the Department review and issuance of a permit to construct.

102.2. Fees.

The Department shall charge a fee of one hundred and fifty dollars ($150.00) to evaluate the site of a proposed onsite wastewater system, nonwater-carried sewage treatment system, wastewater combustion system, or gray water subsurface reuse system.

102.3. Other.

Funds derived from these fees shall be used only for the provision of services and accompanying expenses associated with the Department's Bureau of Environmental Health Services programs.

S.C. Code Regs. § 61-56.102

Amended by State Register Volume 40, Issue No. 05, eff. 5/27/2016; State Register Volume 45, Issue No. 05, eff. 5/28/2021; State Register Volume 46, Issue No. 05, eff. 5/27/2022.