The City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services has proposed changes in a Nonconforming Sewer Conversion Program that began in January 2008. Nonconforming sewer connections, such as shared connections or private sewer lines in the public right-of-way, don’t conform to city code. The program required owners of nonconforming connections to replace the connections and pay a sewer conversion charge.

Last September, City Commissioner Dan Saltzman formed a citizen advisory committee to recommend changes and the committee released its recommendations in March 2012. In response, Environmental Services proposes to:

• Reduce the sewer conversion charge to the cost of a branch charge
• Reimburse the difference between the two charges to customers who paid a sewer conversion charge since January 2008
• Create a process for the city to adopt private sewer lines in public rights-of-way

Proposed changes are posted at www.portlandonline.com/bes/ncschanges. Environmental Services is accepting public comment on the proposals until 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 5, 2012. The bureau has also scheduled a public hearing on Thursday, June 14, 2012 from 6:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. in the Hinson Baptist Church at 1137 SE 20th Avenue in Portland.

For more information contact Linc Mann, 503-823-5328.