PROPOSED RULES(b)(c)(i) The system, shall have beendemonstrated to performequal or superior to asystem, which is describedin Rules .<strong>19</strong>55, .<strong>19</strong>56, .<strong>19</strong>57,or .<strong>19</strong>58, <strong>of</strong> this Section,based upon controlled pilotscaleresearch studies orstatistically-valid monitoring<strong>of</strong> full-scale operationalsystems.(ii) Materials used inconstruction shall be equalor superior in physicalproperties and chemicaldurability, compared tomaterials used for similarproposed systems,specifically described inRules .<strong>19</strong>55, .<strong>19</strong>56, .<strong>19</strong>57, or.<strong>19</strong>58 <strong>of</strong> this Section.When a system is approved asinnovative by the State, the applicantshall be notified in writing. Suchnotice shall include any conditionsfor permitting, siting, installation,use, monitoring, and operation.Approved innovative systems shall beassigned a unique code for trackingpurposes. Prior to making a requestfor reclassification <strong>of</strong> a system frominnovative to accepted, themanufacturer shall have a system inplace to keep track <strong>of</strong> the number andlocation <strong>of</strong> new system installations,and <strong>of</strong> any system installations itbecomes aware <strong>of</strong> which wererequired to be repaired, and toprovide this information to the Stateupon request and in any subsequentpetition for accepted status.A local health department shall issuean Improvement Permit and aConstruction Authorization for anyinnovative system approved by theState upon a finding that theprovisions <strong>of</strong> this Section includingany conditions <strong>of</strong> the approval aremet. Use <strong>of</strong> an innovative system andany conditions shall be described onthe Improvement Permit,Construction Authorization, orOperation Permit.(4) EXPERIMENTAL AND CONTROLLEDDEMONSTRATION SYSTEMS: A systemmay be approved for use as an experimental orcontrolled demonstration system as part <strong>of</strong> aresearch or testing program which has beenapproved by the State. The research or testingprogram shall be conducted by a third partyresearch or testing organization which hasknowledge and experience relevant to theproposed research or testing and has noconflict <strong>of</strong> interest and does not stand to gainfinancially from the sale <strong>of</strong> the proposedsystem.(a)(b)(c)To be approved by the State, theproposed research or testing programshall include the following:(i) The research program shallbe designed such that, if theobjectives were met, thesystem would satisfy thestandards for approval as aninnovative system under(ii)Item (3) <strong>of</strong> this Rule.Research design and testingmethodology shall have areasonable likelihood <strong>of</strong>meeting the objectives.The State shall notify the applicantand the applicable local healthdepartments when the proposedresearch or testing program has beenapproved for an experimental orcontrolled demonstration system.Such notice shall include, but not belimited to, conditions for permitting,siting, operation, monitoring andmaintenance, and number <strong>of</strong> systemswhich can be installed.A local health department shall issuean Improvement Permit andConstruction Authorization for anexperimental or controlleddemonstration system when thefollowing conditions are met:(i)There is an application foran Improvement Permit inaccordance with Rule.<strong>19</strong>37(c) <strong>of</strong> this Section, withthe proposed use <strong>of</strong> anexperimental systemspecified.(ii) The proposed site isincluded as part <strong>of</strong> anapproved research or testingprogram and any conditionsspecified for use <strong>of</strong> thesystem have been met.(iii)When an experimental orcontrolled demonstrationsystem is proposed to serve aresidence, place <strong>of</strong> businessor place <strong>of</strong> public assembly,there shall be a repair areausing a non-experimental ornon-controlled<strong>19</strong>:<strong>06</strong> NORTH CAROLINA REGISTER September 15, 2004610
PROPOSED RULESdemonstration backupsystem in accordance withthe provisions <strong>of</strong> Rule.<strong>19</strong>45(b) or an acceptedsystem <strong>of</strong> this Rule, except:(A) When an existingand properlyfunctioningwastewater systemis available forimmediate use,includingconnection to apublic orcommunitywastewater system;or(B) When theexperimental orcontrolleddemonstrationsystem is used as arepair to an existingmalfunctioningsystem; or(C) When for acontrolleddemonstrationsystem sufficientavailable spaceshall be reservedfor the installation<strong>of</strong> a replacementsystem at leastequal to the initialcontrolleddemonstrationsystem, or the Stateor Local HealthDepartmentotherwisedetermines that themanufacturer canprovide anacceptablealternative methodfor collection,treatment, anddisposal <strong>of</strong> thewastewater.(iv)(iii) When an experimental orcontrolled demonstrationsystem is proposed to serve aresidence, place <strong>of</strong> businessor place <strong>of</strong> public assembly,there shall be a repair systemin accordance with theprovisions <strong>of</strong> Rule .<strong>19</strong>45(b)or an innovative or acceptedsystem <strong>of</strong> this Rule, except:(A) When an existingand properlyfunctioningwastewater systemis available forimmediate use,includingconnection to apublic orcommunitywastewater system;or(B) When theexperimental orcontrolleddemonstrationsystem is used as arepair to an existingmalfunctioningsystem when thereare no otherapproved oraccepted repairoptions; or(C) As provided in G.S.130A-343(f) forControlledDemonstrationSystems.(v)(iv) When an experimental orcontrolled demonstrationsystem is proposed whichshall not serve a residence,place <strong>of</strong> business, or place <strong>of</strong>public assembly, a repairarea or backup system shallnot be required.(vi)(v) The application for anexperimental system shallinclude statements that theproperty owner is aware <strong>of</strong>its experimental nature, thatthe local health departmentand State do not guarantee orwarrant that these systemswill function in asatisfactory manner for anyperiod <strong>of</strong> time, and that use<strong>of</strong> the system may need to bediscontinued if the systemresearch or testing programis prematurely terminated.Such statements shall besigned by the owner.(vii)(vi) The owner <strong>of</strong> the site onwhich an experimentalsystem is proposed shall<strong>19</strong>:<strong>06</strong> NORTH CAROLINA REGISTER September 15, 2004611