PSMA Members

PSMA is Dedicated to
Protecting the Environment

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Upcoming Events


INSPECTION TRAINING

NEW LOCATION!!!

MARCH 30-31, 2010
 -

Onsite Inspection Training 101, 201, & SR1
 at the CROWNE PLAZA in Reading, PA




Call for more details at:(717)763-PSMA(7762)


Welcome

 

PSMA'S members are involved with... septic systems, on-lot sewage disposal systems, on-site sewage disposal systems, individual wastewater treatment systems, anaerobic treatment tanks, aerobic treatment tanks, cesspools, seepage pits, septics, seepage beds, trench systems, elevated sand mounds, peat filters, Biomicrobics® and Ecoflo® units, subsurface sand filters, drip irrigation systems, recirculating sand filters, Zabel™ filters, at-grade systems, IRSIS or individual residential spray irrigation systems, holding tanks, privies, septic inspections, onlot wastewater treatment system inspection, real estate transfer inspection, grease traps, grease pits, system installations, system maintenance, chlorinators, UV lamps and all related issues. Alternate systems, commercial systems, restaurant systems, experimental systems, emerging technology, Chapter 73 and Act 537 all apply to our members' businesses and our visitors' interests!

 

We are glad that you found our web site! We appreciate other web sites that have chosen to link to this site.

You will find explanations of PSMA/NOF's Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Inspection Standards on many web sites. Do not be misled. Because an inspection company has a link to this site, does not mean that the company is a PSMA member or employs a PSMA/NOF certified inspector.

 

PSMA members service all or parts of
Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey,

Virginia, and West Virginia.

 

ALWAYS ask if the company is a PSMA member before you hire them.

 

ALWAYS ask if the technician that will inspect the system is currently PSMA/NOF certified.

 

ALWAYS ask if the inspector will apply the complete PSMA Inspection Standards.

 

Are You Following the Law?
Are You Sure You’re Covered?

In 2008, the Pennsylvania Legislature passed the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act (HICPA). The law requires that all contractors who perform at least $5,000 worth of home improvements per year, which includes residential installations or repairs of septic systems, register with the Attorney General's Office.

If you fall in this category, you must FOLLOW THE LAW and be registered! As of July 1, 2009, consumers in Pennsylvania will be able to verify your registration with the Attorney General’s office by visiting the List of Registered Contractors online or by calling this toll-free hotline: 1-888-520-6680. In the coming months, the Attorney General’s office will encourage consumers to use registered contractors when deciding to invest in home improvements.

Make sure you’re registered! Follow this link for more information on HICPA and to register: http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/hic.aspx?id=4313.

In addition to registering, PSMA is encouraging members to let us know how you feel about this law, what questions you have and any comments you have on improving this law. PSMA has a newly formed committee focusing on HICPA and this committee wants to do everything possible to help all PSMA members with this new regulation.

The HICPA Committee is planning to meet with a representative from the Attorney General’s office in regards to how this law affects the septage industry. To make this the most effective conversation possible, we NEED YOUR COMMENTS! Please submit your comments or questions to Lisa Herron at assoced@psma.net and those comments will be passed along to the committee.

For more information on this law, click here to view an article from attorney Bryan Shook who spoke at a Region 3 meeting earlier this year.


Visit "News for Members" in the "Member Area"

 

Membership Renewals

 Members can now 'Renew' online by logging in with Member ID and Password. Go to 'About Us' and click 'Renew Membership' in the drop down menu list. Payment can be made either by Check or Credit Card.



PSMA is now offering 1 page websites to you, the valued member.
One page template website includes:
  • Your Logo
  • One Photo
  • Your Address and contact information
  • 5 customizable content areas
One Time Investment: $100 (a value of $600)

Preview Thomas H Erb and Sons, Inc. website (click here)



PSMA offers training in a variety of subject areas.

  • Onlot Wastewater Treatment System Inspection (basic and advanced)
  • Vacuum Truck Technician
  • Confined Space Entry
  • Installing Onlot Sewage Disposal Systems

Click here for more information

Current News Events

Packer Township, PA amends ordinance that bans Land Application of Bio-Solids

From  Pottsville, PA Republican & Herald, 10-15-08,  Packer Township, PA OK's Amendment to Law Regulating Use of Sludge.    The Packer Township supervisors do not want the State Attorney General's office meddling in their efforts to regulate the use of sewage sludge. They made that point clear when unanimously backing an amendment to the townships Local Control, Sewage Sludge and Chemical Trespass Ordinance on Tuesday night......   Read more - click here

Shrewsbury Township, PA ordinance bans Land Application of Bio-Solids

From  York, PA Daily Record, 9-12-08,  Are Sludge Regs Strong Enough in PA?    State lawmakers should look into complaints by municipalities like Shrewsbury Township, PA. An ordinance passed by the Shrewsbury Township supervisors seemed to be popular among the large crowd that showed up for the meeting last week. Whether it will prove to be popular in court -- among judges -- remains to be seen. The new ordinance calls for stringent regulations on the practice of applying sewage sludge to farm fields as fertilizer.....  Read more - click here

Biosolids Recycling In Pennsylvania - The Impact of Local Ordinances

From  PSMA - Policy Statement  A small but vocal minority of citizens opposed to biosolids recycling in their community, citing concerns about odors, safety and enforcement of the state program, have pushed several municipal governing bodies into passing local ordinances which ban or severely restrict the beneficial recycling of biosolids. Bills have been introduced in the legislature to legitimize municipal ordinances which impose bans or restrictions on land application of biosolids over and above the requirements of the state regulatory program.......  Read more - click here

PSMA letter to Pennsylvania Attorney General

From  RE: Pennsylvania Septage Management Association (PSMA) / Shrewsbury Township Ordinance,  Dear Mr. Corbett:   On behalf of our 200 plus members of the Pennsylvania Septage Management Association (PSMA), we are writing this letter regarding the recently enacted Shrewsbury Township ordinances concerning the pumping, transportation, and land application of biosolids and septage within the borders of Shrewsbury Township. Copies of the two ordinances are attached hereto for your review and consideration......  Read more - click here

Pennsylvania Attorney General responds to PSMA

Response highlights  RE: Shrewsbury Township Sewage Sludge Ordinances   PSMA has been informed by the Attorney General's office that they are already reviewing the legality of the Shrewsbury Township ordnances. The actual basis lies in the satute known as The Agricultural., Communities and the Environmmental law ("ACRE"), Act 38 of 2005, requires the office of the Attorney General, upon the request of a farm owner or operator, to review a municipal ordinance for compliance with ACRE. ACRE authorizes the Office, in it's discretion, to file a lawsuit against the municipality if, upon review, the Office believes that the ordinance unlawfully limits or restricts a normal Agricultural operation. They have received an ACRE to review the Shrewsbury Township Sewage Sludge Ordinances from the owner of a normal Agricultural operation, and that review is currently pending.

Pennsylvania Attorney General vs. East Brunswick Township, PA sludge ban lawsuit settlement

From  Pottsville, PA Republican & Herald, 12-5-09,  East Brunswick Township, PA Settles Sludge Lawsuit.    East Brunswick Township, PA has settled the state attorney general's challenge to its 2008 sewage sludge ordinance, and will be allowed to impose some regulations, its solicitor said Friday. "It's great for the township", James E. Crossen III, Pottsville, said of the settlement, which allows East Brunswick to impose some regulations on sewage sludge, also known as biosolids, but not ban them.......   Read more - click here

Sewage Enforcement Reimbursements Exhausted for Remainder of 2008-09 Fiscal Year

HARRISBURG, PA  (Feb. 18, 2009) --    High demand has exhausted this year's fund to reimburse municipal sewage enforcement agencies for part of the cost of on-lot sewage permitting and enforcement, forcing the Department of Environmental Protection to halt payments......  Read more - click here

 

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