I oppose these amended regulations. Virginia's citizens should not accept any dilution of existing standards for the protection of the water resources of the Commonwealth. The proposed regulations offer no consumer protections, little incentive to responsible firms, and many benefits to special interests which stand to benefit from the amended regulation. 

Recent events in Flint Michigan, West Virginia and Danville Virginia call attention to the need for responsible parties under the most stringent of regulations to directly supervise the operation of water and wastewater systems. There is no basis for dilution of standards of entrance or licensure, nor creating subsets of journeymen when the license holder is responsible for direct supervision of all improvements to real property which affect the natural resources of our state.

Likewise enforceable standards of practice should be a component of the regulation, along with a requirement for independent third party review of design, installation, operation of systems which affect the natural resources we depend on. The regulations for design of septic systems should not hide accountability for site conditions and design. Rather provide a regulated seal signifying compliance with regulation, attestation by the license holder, and providing assurance to the code official, landowner and community of compliance and responsibility.

Thank you for consideration of these concerns.