The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has promulgated
certain regulations known as "Chapter 9A, Standards for Individual
Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems," New Jersey Administrative Code
7:9A-1.4 through 7:9A-12.8, together with Appendix A through D, which
establish standards for the location, construction and maintenance
of sewage disposal systems is hereby adopted in its entirety and shall
be controlling unless higher standards are prescribed herein by the
Vernon Township Department of Health and Human Services.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
ADDITIONAL BEDROOM
An increase in the number of bedrooms from that which existed
prior to the addition. A interior partition which divides a room into
two separate rooms which meet the definition of "bedroom" is considered
an additional bedroom.
BEDROOM
Any room, excluding the general living area as defined in
this section, which contains a door and a window, and which is greater
than 80 square feet. At least 1/2 of the floor area of the bedroom
shall have a ceiling height of at least seven feet. The floor area
of that part of any room where the ceiling is less than five feet
shall not be considered as part of the floor area in comparing the
total floor area of the room for the purpose of determining the square
footage of living space available for occupancy as a bedroom.
ENGINEER
A professional engineer licensed to practice engineering
in the State of New Jersey.
ENGINEER CERTIFICATION OF INSTALLATION
A certified statement by the engineers that the individual
sewage disposal system was installed according to the designs and
plans submitted to, and approved by, the Vernon Township Department
of Health and Human Services and without deviations therefrom in any
manner, shape or form.
FENCING
A rigid or semirigid barrier constructed of aluminum, steel,
wire, plastic or other durable, weather-resistant mesh which shall
be four feet in height from the ground and the said fencing shall
be anchored to the ground by post, pole or other such supporting device
at least every eight feet. The bottom of the fencing shall not be
more than four inches from the underlying ground.
GENERAL LIVING AREA
The kitchen, dining room, living room, and family room. These
rooms shall not be located so as to be used as a primary sleeping
area. For example, a second floor of a home which has bedrooms located
on it would be considered to be all bedrooms even if one room was
called a family room.
PERSON
Any person, persons, firm, engineer, applicant, surveyor,
corporation or other entity.
SOIL LOG
Having the following information as a minimum: number of
soil profile pits, type of soils, depth of soil horizons, presence
and depth of mottling, percolation or permeability of soil, estimated
seasonal high-water table, depth of bedrock and whether massive or
fractured.
STABILIZATION
The containment of all soil within the area of ground disturbance
and the prevention of soil erosion through wind or rainfall by the
application of mulch and the installation of silt fences or hay bales
on the perimeter of the soil disturbance.
Trenches are the preferred system and must be installed when
possible. If a disposal bed is proposed instead, the engineer must
state why trenches are not desirable for the lot.
[Amended 11-13-2008 by Ord. No. 08-21]
The engineer or surveyor must stake the corner of the disposal
area with 10 feet off set stakes prior to the commencement of any
construction on the site. The lot must be staked by a licensed professional
surveyor prior to the commencement of construction. Any deviation
from the proposed design must be reported immediately to the Vernon
Township Health Officer. No further work shall continue until approved
by said Health Officer.
Certification of installation by the design engineer shall be
required when retaining walls of greater than 48 inches in height
are designed to contain a raised system. Approval by the design engineer
is required for any retaining wall installations over 48 inches in
height.
New individual disposal systems shall not be placed in operation,
nor shall new dwellings or buildings or additions thereto be occupied,
which must rely on such a system for sewage disposal, until the Vernon
Township Health Officer shall have issued a certificate indicating
that the disposal system has been located and constructed in compliance
with the terms of the permit issued and the requirements of the aforementioned
standards. Issuance of such certificate shall not be required for
repairs to an existing individual sewage disposal system, as defined
in N.J.A.C. 7:9A-2.1.
[Amended 11-13-2008 by Ord. No. 08-21]
After all required inspections, except the final grade, are
made and approved by the Vernon Township Health Officer, the builder
of the home as well as the installer of the subsurface sewage disposal
system shall be required to prepare at least two copies of an as-built
plan showing the actual locations and dimensions of all components
of the subsurface sewage disposal system and the well. Before a certificate
of compliance is issued for the premises, one copy of the as-built
plan shall be placed in a plastic wrapper on or adjacent to the electrical
box for the building, and one copy given to the Vernon Township Health
Officer for filing.
Fees associated with this chapter are included in Chapter
250, Fees and Escrows, Article
II.
[Amended 11-13-2008 by Ord. No. 08-21]
A. In case any permit or certification required by this chapter is denied
by the Vernon Township Health Officer, a public hearing shall be held
before the Mayor and Township Council within 15 days after written
request is made by the applicant, and upon such hearing the Mayor
and Township Council shall affirm, alter or rescind the previous determination
of the Vernon Township Health Officer and shall, by written resolution,
notify the applicant accordingly within 15 days after the date of
such hearing.
B. If an application to construct, alter, or repair a subsurface disposal
system is denied, and no further revisions, information, etc., is
received within six months of issuance of a written notice from the
Vernon Township Health Officer indicating that the application cannot
be approved by the Vernon Township Health Officer, the entire application
shall become null and void and be returned, except for one copy for
the file, to the applicant at the address provided on the application.
Any subsequent application shall be considered as an initial application
and not a revision to an existing application.
[Amended 11-13-2008 by Ord. No. 08-21]
The Vernon Township Health Officer may order all further work
in and about any individual sewage disposal system, which is being
erected or installed in violation of the standards, to be stopped
forthwith, except such work as shall be necessary to remedy such violation.
Thereafter, the work shall be continued without any violation of any
of the provisions of the code. After issuance of any such stop-work
order and the service of a copy thereof upon any person connected
with or working in and about the erection or installation of any such
disposal system, or any part thereof, no further work shall be done
thereon except as aforesaid.
[Amended 11-13-2008 by Ord. No. 08-21]
Three copies of the adopted code referred to as the "Standards
for Construction, Installation, and Maintenance of Individual Subsurface
Sewage Disposal Systems in the Township of Vernon" have been placed
on file in the office of the Vernon Township Health Officer and will
remain on file in said office for the use and examination of the public.