(A) A manufacturer seeking approval for the installation and use of a sewage treatment system or a component of a system in this state that differs in design or function from systems or components of systems the use of which is authorized in rules adopted under section 3718.02 of the Revised Code shall request an application form from the department of health. The applicant shall complete the form and include with it all of the information that is required by the department and the sewage treatment system technical advisory committee. The applicant shall submit a completed application and all required information to the director of health.

(B) Upon receipt of an application, the director shall examine the application and all accompanying information to determine if the application is complete. If the director determines that the application is not complete, the director shall notify the applicant not later than sixty days after submission of the application that the application is not complete, provide a description of the information that is missing from the application, and return the application and all accompanying information to the applicant. The applicant may resubmit the application to the director if the application includes the information that was identified by the director. Not later than thirty days after receipt of a complete application, the director shall notify the committee of the complete application and send a copy of the complete application and all accompanying information to the committee together with a request that the committee recommend that the director approve or disapprove the system.

Not later than ninety days after receipt of a complete application, the committee shall recommend approval or disapproval of the application and submit its recommendation in writing to the director. The director shall approve or disapprove the application not later than sixty days after the committee submits its recommendation to the director or, if the committee fails to recommend approval or disapproval within the required time, not later than one hundred twenty days after the submission of a complete application. If the director fails to approve or disapprove an application within the required time, the application shall be deemed approved.

(C) In approving or disapproving an application, the director shall use the standards , guidelines, and protocols that the committee developed with the department for that purpose. The director shall not approve an application that fails to comply with those standards , guidelines, and protocols. If the committee recommends approval or disapproval of an application, the director shall consider the committee's recommendation before approving or disapproving the application. If the committee fails to provide advice or if the committee fails to recommend approval or disapproval of the application within the required time, the director may approve or disapprove the application without considering the advice of the committee. The director shall establish and include any appropriate terms and conditions with the approval of a sewage treatment system or component of a system for use in this state. For purposes of establishing soil absorption specifications for a sewage treatment system, the terms and conditions shall include standards regarding the sizing of the system.

(D) If the director approves an application under this section, the director shall notify the applicant in writing. The director also shall notify boards of health in accordance with the procedures established in rules adopted under section 3718.02 of the Revised Code that the sewage treatment system or component of a system that is the subject of the application is approved for statewide use. If the director disapproves an application under this section, the director shall notify the applicant in writing and provide a brief explanation for the disapproval.

(E) Decisions of the director approving or disapproving applications under this section may be appealed in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

(F) No approval shall be required under this section with respect to a sewage treatment system or component of a system that has been approved by the director prior to the effective date of this amendment unless the manufacturer of the system or component changes the design or seeks modifications to any terms and conditions of the prior approval.

(G) The director may revoke the approval of a sewage treatment system or component of a system if the director finds, based on substantial evidence, that the system or component fails to comply with applicable standards for the system or component. The revocation of an approval under this division may be appealed in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

Amended by 128th General AssemblyFile No.51, SB 110, §1, eff. 9/17/2010.

Effective Date: 05-06-2005 .