Public Hearing: Notice of Rulemaking

NOTICE OF RULEMAKING AND PUBLIC HEARING

PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO FLATHEAD COUNTY REGULATIONS FOR ONSITE SEWAGE TREATMENT SYSTEMS AND ASSOCIATED CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS FOR ONSITE SEWAGE TREATMENT SYSTEMS

The Board of Commissioners of Flathead County, Montana, hereby gives notice pursuant to §50-2-116(1)(i), MCA and Article IV of the Flathead City County Board of Health Bylaws, the rulemaking process shall commence to amend the Flathead County Regulations for Onsite Sewage Treatment Systems and associated Construction Standards for Onsite Sewage Treatment Systems.  The amendments to Regulations are recommended by the Board of Health to incorporate additional types of sewage systems and provide more flexibility for applicants and continuity with the Construction Standards. Amendment to the Construction Standards is proposed by the Board of Health to mirror the State of Montana standards found in Department of Environmental Quality, Circular 4.

The Board of Commissioners further provides notice the Flathead City County Board of Health is hereby appointed to conduct a public hearing on January 26, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. in Conference Room A/B, 1035 1st Ave W, Kalispell Montana.  At the public hearing, the Board of Health will give the public an opportunity to be heard regarding proposed amendments to the specified Regulations.  Public comment may be submitted in person at the public hearing and/or before the public hearing: by mail to the Board of Health, 1035 1st Ave W, Kalispell MT 59901; online at https://flatheadcounty.gov/department-directory/health/board-health/septic-regulation-public-comments; or through email to HAOffice(at)flatheadcounty.gov.  The above link provides access to view the proposed Regulations and Construction Standards or Health Officer Jennifer Rankosky may be reached at the above physical address, email address, or at (406) 751-8101, for more information.

The Board of Health shall conduct a public hearing and make and report findings of the public hearing to the Board of Commissioners. The City-County Board of Health shall recommend adoption of the rule changes as proposed in the Notice, adopt amendments proposed within the public hearing process, or take no action on the rule amendment proposed.

DATED this 8^th day of January, 2026.

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Flathead County, Montana

                                                                        By _/s/Brad W. Abell______________

                                                                              Brad W. Abell, Chairman

Publish on January 12 and 19, 2026.