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Sustained Compliance for Public Water Systems – Chapter 2 Anchorage, Alaska September 29-30, 2011 Initial Steps for Engineering Plan Submittals. Audrey Lammers Environmental Program Specialist Drinking Water Program Department of Environmental Health Alaska Dept. of Environmental Conservation.
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Sustained Compliance for Public Water Systems – Chapter 2Anchorage, AlaskaSeptember 29-30, 2011Initial Steps for Engineering Plan Submittals Audrey Lammers Environmental Program Specialist Drinking Water ProgramDepartment of Environmental Health Alaska Dept. of Environmental Conservation
Initial Steps for Engineering Plan Submittals • How to successfully submit an engineering plan review request and/or a waiver request • When are plans required? • Plan review checklists • Stages, Timelines, and Expectations • Fee calculations based on 18 AAC 80 regulations • The Submittal at a Glance • The Submittal Process at a Glance • Further Information • Questions
When Are Plans Required? • According to 18 AAC 80.200 …”in order to construct, install, alter, renovate, operate, or improve a community water system, non-transient non-community water system or transient non-community water system, or any part of one, the owner must have prior written approval of engineering plans…” • Addition or modification of source water transmission lines or distribution mains • Changes in treatment techniques • New public water system • By definition a new public water system is one that was constructed after October 1, 1999; has not received a public water system identification number as of October 1, 1999; or an existing water system that, as a result of expanding infrastructure, falls within the definition of a different classification. • Separation distance waivers for a new system, the result of modifications to an existing system, or from findings from a sanitary survey
When Are Plans Not Required? • Written approval is not required for emergency repairs, routine maintenance or for a single-service line installation or modification. • Routine maintenance includes activities that are normally required to maintain a public drinking water system in good working order but does not include any change that will affect the configuration of the system, materials, treatment, or capacity: • Replacing a pump with a similar pump • Replacing 40 feet or less of pipe • Maintaining valves • Replacing a hydro-pneumatic tank • Replacing sediment filters
Plan Review Checklists • Designed as guidance for plan review submittals • Purpose is to assist the system to obtain construction and operational approval for new construction, system modification and/or change of use, and separation distance waiver requests. • Completing the checklists does not mean that you have a complete submittal; additional information may be requested by the Department as part of the plan review process. • Can be found online through the State of Alaska DEC Drinking Water website or contact your local DEC office to get a copy
Plan Review Checklists Continued • How to find the checklists on the website • www.alaska.gov • Environmental Conservation • Environmental Health • Drinking Water • Engineering Plan Reviews
Stages • Three major stages of the plan review process • Approval to Construct • Expires two (2) years after the construction certificate is issued. • Interim Operational Approval • Expires 90 days after it has been issued. • Can be issued for longer if time is needed to evaluate components of system such as a treatment process. • Final Operational Approval • Does not expire for the specific project or portion of a project that it has been issued for. • Any changes, other than routine maintenance, to the project area must go through plan review again. • Extensions of time • Extensions can be requested for Construction Approval and Interim Operational Approval but they must be requested prior to the expiration of the original approval. • If the original approval expires, get in contact with one of the DW Program engineers to see what the best course of action is.
Timelines • The timelines for the plan approval process can vary greatly and are based on numerous things: • Completeness of the initial submittal • Submission of additional information • Payment of the fee • Plans will not be reviewed until the fee has been paid • Complexity of the project • Time of year • Workload of the DW Program engineering staff • Communication between submitting engineer and DW Program staff
Expectations • It is the responsibility of the owner to make sure that all necessary information is submitted in a timely manner. • Do not wait until the project is ready to begin to request approval. • 18 AAC 80.210: “The department will issue its approval or denial to construct…within 30 days after the department receives all of the plans and information required by this chapter. If submittals are deficient, the department will notify the owner that additional information is needed.” • If the department does not issue an approval or denial within 30 days, plans are not automatically approved!
Fee Calculations • Plan review will not begin until DW Program plan review fee has been paid in full. • Fee is calculated by the DW Program based on the submittal: • System size • Scope of project • Inspections • Waivers
Fee Calculations • You have the right to dispute the fee calculation. • Call the office issuing the invoice and speak with an engineer prior to beginning the dispute process. Many times the fee calculation can be explained adequately without an official dispute. • A person who disputes the determination or computation of a fee under this section may request a fee review under 18 AAC 15.190.
Invoice • Call the office that you are submitting the plans to prior to sending in a payment. • Offices have different procedures about fees and payments. • Payments can be made by check or credit card (over the phone or in person).
The Submittal at a Glance • Cover letter with the specific request • Reference where to send the invoice or the fee request • Engineer’s report that is stamped and signed • Forms and checklists (with owner’s signature) • Design sheets that are stamped and signed on 11 x 17 paper • If it is a source project, be sure to include the 100-foot and 200-foot protective radius around the source. • Attachments including ANSI/NSF documentation on components, pump specs and curves, pilot test results, and other test results supporting the design, pressure model, design calculation…
The Submittal Process at a Glance • Water system owner hires a state licensed engineer. • Engineer uses DEC Drinking Water checklists to prepare a submittal for review and approval. • Engineering submittal with cover letter explaining the scope of the project, reports, and drawings are submitted to DW Program. • DW Program invoices the system for the plan review fee. • System pays plan review fee. • DW Program reviews submittal (~30 days). • Approval to Construct is granted if all regulatory requirements met. • Project is constructed. • Interim Operational Approval request is sent to DW Program showing construction requirements were met. • DW Program grants Interim Operation Approval if all conditions of the construction approval are met. • Owner can start using water system • System engineer finalizes as-builts or record drawings and a request for Final Operational Approval is submitted. • DW Program issues Final Operation Approval.
