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Thanks for learning more about the Red Cliff / WISCAP
septic assessment project.
Dear Reservation Septic System Owner,
On behalf of the
Red Cliff Tribal Council, the Red Cliff Planning and Environmental
Departments are asking that you please complete the attached survey
regarding the condition of your private septic system. The
survey is confidential, entirely voluntary, and very important to protect
public health.
You may either return the survey using
the enclosed self-addressed stamped envelope OR for those surveys not
returned by mail within 10 days, a Tribal program staffperson will begin
calling to assist you and collect the survey information by
phone.
Why
are septic surveys being done?
The Red Cliff Tribe is
seeking to assess threats to human health and the environment resulting from
malfunctioning septic systems. Recent studies at the Bad River
Reservation as well as other rural northern Wisconsin communities indicate
that home septic systems have average failure or major repair rates of 70%,
with an additional 10 – 15% requiring less serious repairs. In
addition, over the last several years a number of tribal residents have
sought help or advice from the Water and Sewer Department regarding problems
with their septic systems.
Who is
involved in this effort to assess septic systems?
The Tribe
will be assisted by the Wisconsin Community Action Program Association
(WISCAP) – Rural Community Assistance Program (RCAP). WISCAP is a
non-profit organization serving low-income people. RCAP is a
federally-funded statewide program to provide training and technical
assistance to low- and moderate-income rural communities with problems
related to water and wastewater systems. The Red Cliff septic
assessment project is funded by a grant from the U.S. EPA.
What will happen once I send in the septic survey
form?
The enclosed survey will be held in strict
confidence. It will not be shared with County or State
officials. A generalized summary of survey results will be made
available. The Tribe will keep participants informed throughout
the process by use of letters, media, and public forums.
The survey
will help us select individual properties to receive on-site septic system
evaluation. The Tribe, in cooperation with RCAP, will retain the
services of an engineering firm specializing in wastewater systems.
Upon completion of the on-site evaluations, each property owner will receive
a copy of their confidential evaluation results.
If I am selected for a system evaluation, what
would it cost?
There are no costs to you for any part of this
septic assessment project. Tribal costs for the assessment project are
almost entirely grant-funded.
If problems with my septic system are
found will I be forced to fix it? Will the Tribe fix it?
No. The purpose of this project ONLY is to determine the
extent and seriousness of septic problems for Tribal members, at which point
the Tribal government will evaluate what opportunities it may have to seek
aid. Individual system repairs will NOT be compulsory, and no
Tribal funds for repairs are available at this time.
PLEASE,
we need your help in this effort to learn of risks posed to your family’s
health, the health of our neighborhoods, and the health of our
environment. Please complete the enclosed Septic Survey and return it
to the Red Cliff Environmental Department in the enclosed stamped envelope
within 10 days of receipt or please retain the survey as a reference for an
upcoming phone interview. The survey will be evaluated and
residents informed of results.
If you have questions, feel free to
contact Red Cliff Environmental Department 715-779-3650 and ask for Summer
Klinger.
Thank you for your assistance.