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ORANGE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT <br /> Board of Health Policy and Procedure Manual <br /> Section I: Board Adopted Policies <br /> Policy A: Requests for Environmental Services and Assessments <br /> Reviewed By: Board of Health&Health Director&Environmental Health Division Director <br /> Approved By: Board of Health <br /> related to environmental conditions and exposures. The investigation of <br /> acute and chronic diseases would be indicated with confirmed cases of <br /> those diseases in rates extraordinary to baseline rates for Orange County <br /> or statistically expected rates for that community. Investigations will be <br /> carried out in accordance with best epidemiological practices established <br /> by the EPI Team* in each community or collective request. <br /> b. OCHD will conduct community studies for acute and chronic diseases <br /> suspected of originating from environmental exposures and for wells and <br /> septic systems failures when data or reports indicate that study beyond <br /> the individual level is needed to confirm or deny multiple sources of <br /> contamination leading to acute and/or chronic disease under <br /> investigation. <br /> 1.2 Wastewater and Well Water Studies <br /> a. Community studies will be considered and acted on or deferred by <br /> OCHD based on several risk factors and other defined considerations. <br /> Those include the following: <br /> 1. The study area consists of more than 5 households. <br /> 2. Known disease-causing environmental contamination (chemical <br /> releases, improper biosolids applications, underground storage <br /> tanks,junkyards, etc.)that could adversely affect a natural <br /> resource (groundwater, stream, etc.) or negatively impact more <br /> than a single property in that community. <br /> 3. Known geophysical conditions (e.g.,underlying rock structure <br /> that might lead to high levels of natural radon release, severe <br /> disturbances of the underlying structure)with a scientifically <br /> documented negative environmental impact potential that could <br /> affect the intended use and sustainability of property in the <br /> community. <br /> 4. More than 30% of the individual wells in a given geographical <br /> community were drilled prior to 1981 or more than 30% of the <br /> septic systems in the community are more than 20 years old. <br /> 5. Protection of water supply resources (protected water supply <br /> watersheds, water quality critical areas, wellhead protection <br /> areas, etc.). <br /> b. Statistical Studies may be considered in order to gain important <br /> information about septic system failure rates or groundwater quality or <br /> quantity characteristics. Examples in this category might include: <br /> Review Annually(July) Page 2 of 4 <br /> Original Effective Date: August 24,2006 <br /> Revision Dates: 11/2013,11/2014,8/2015,10/2019,8/2020 <br /> S:\MANAGERS WORKING FILES\BOH\AGENDAS&ABSTRACTS\2020 Agenda&Abstracts\August 2020\Pdfs for webpage\V.A. <br /> Policy Review Attachments\I.A.Environmental Assessment Policy BOH Manual August 2019.doc <br />