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Sen. Roblan sets town halls on low-interest loans for septic replacements

Bill aims to protect public health and environment, help low-income Oregonians
June 13, 2016

SALEM – Sen. Arnie Roblan (D-Coos Bay), Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and local city and county officials will meet at two separate coastal locations on June 27 to discuss a program being developed that will enable those with failing septic systems to access low-interest loans to repair or replace them.

The town halls are scheduled at the request of local residents and Lane County and Lincoln County officials wanting to learn more about the legislation Sen. Roblan sponsored in the 2016

Session. Sen. Roblan represents Senate District 5, which includes parts of Coos, Douglas, Lane, Lincoln, Tillamook, Polk and Marion counties. Town halls will take place at Lane County and Lincoln County locations and are scheduled the following dates and times:

  • Lane County: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, June 27, at the Florence Event Center, 715 Quince St., in Florence; and
  • Lincoln County: 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, June 27, at the Newport City Hall Council Chambers, 169 SW Coast Highway, in Newport.

Senate Bill 1563 benefits the environment and also helps low-income families and qualifying small businesses, often in rural Oregon. Septic systems are the most common method of sewage treatment for homes and businesses that are not connected to an area-wide sewage system. Properly functioning septic systems treat sewage to minimize groundwater and surface water pollution. Septic systems which fail or malfunction can pollute Oregon’s land and waterways with raw sewage and create public health hazards. More than 30 percent of Oregonians rely on septic systems to treat wastewater from their homes and businesses.

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