County changes 'policy' for Seeley Lake SMA septics, says data appears concerning

The Missoula County Health Department now requires tighter standards for septic systems in the Seeley Lake Special Management Area (SMA) as officials said the best available data from the area shows any new permit would violate federal drinking standards.

While the regulations are different, and no public process was held over the matter, the Health Department argued it has not technically changed the rules. The new guidelines require future buildings to keep nitrate discharge at a lower than legally-allowed rate, 10mg/L.

The system to do so is called a SepticNet, which could cost up to four t...