Members of the Sewage Disposal Working Group discussed workforce training, funding options and how regulations should reflect environmentally sensitive areas and jurisdictional responsibilities.

Bob Wiedemann (Process & Funding subcommittee) described current review processes involving the Department of Public Health (DPH), local sanitarians and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) across system-size thresholds and said the subgroup is preparing to identify where process and funding changes may be needed. A meeting with the regulations/legal and budget/process subcommittees is planned to coordinate those changes.

Jim (committee participant) and others stressed a need for a DPH-supported statewide training program for sanitarians, installers and engineers to improve consistency in design and review. Matt Gilchrist said he will provide more detail after vetting with his leadership and outlined three potential initiatives his team compiled with descriptions and dollar estimates: 1) a soils training seminar; 2) a field-training facility in Enfield to offer hands-on instruction; and 3) a statewide tracking database to capture system performance and compliance data. Matt said he hoped to release the materials after a meeting with his manager.

The meeting included a brief debate about training-source neutrality. David Potts warned that some organizations 'are heavily manufactured...dependent and related to' industry, and urged reliance on unbiased, scientific training such as university-affiliated programs or Massachusetts' mass test center. Audrey Dixon noted the National On-site Wastewater Recycling Association (a national training resource) as a source of state-specific and online modules, while a representative who identified themselves as speaking for NARA (association representative) said the association can host state-specific training developed by the state and without manufacturer input.

Sonia Brinkworth (Regulations & Legal subcommittee) said regulators need to decide where environmentally sensitive areas will be reflected in regulatory language and raised jurisdiction-transfer questions between DEEP, DPH and local health that the regulations subgroup would like to address. She circulated a draft summary table template for flagging section references, concerns, recommended clarifications and priority levels.

The co-chairs said they will meet to define a framework, timelines and public-input mechanisms (email comment period or an in-person hearing at the Legislative Office Building). The working group set its next meeting for Nov. 26 and adjourned after a procedural motion.

Quotes from the meeting are drawn from subcommittee chairs and agency representatives recorded on the transcript.