Photograph of trench, which is located within lawn area of residence.  Backhoe and NPS employee pictured.

Septic system repair, Mellott House, Four Locks, Mile 108.4

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park » Septic system repair, Mellott House, Four Locks, Mile 108.4 » Document List

The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park conducted emergency repairs to a septic drain field in the Four Locks area of the park, Washington County, MD. The existing drain field, located at the Mellott House, mile 108.4 of the park, was deemed unserviceable by the Washington County Health Department. In order to meet county health and safety standards, the park performed emergency repairs that involved the installation of a new drain field pipe. A 3' wide x 25' long trench was dug approximately 100 ' from an existing stream. Park staff had hoped to locate the new work within the existing limits of disturbance of the failed drain field but was unable to do so as it was too close to the stream. Twenty four inches of gravel was placed in the bottom of the trench for its entire length. A four inch perforated pipe was installed at midpoint of the gravel infill. The new location was within a manicured lawn area of the residence.

The park's Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) gave verbal approval for the emergency repairs on July 23, 2007, provided no cultural resources were at risk. Park maintenance staff worked with the park historian, including site visits, to ensure that project planning and oversight would focus on archeological preservation.

The trench work met OSHA standards. This work was also monitored by the park historian to ensure that no adverse impacts to archeological resources took place. The project was permitted and inspected through the Washington County, MD Health Department. Verbal approval for the project, from Washington County, was received on July 23, 2007.

Upon conclusion of the work, the IDT reviewed the project for any impacts to park resources as a result of the action. The park's Interdisciplinary Team reviewed the project for impacts to natural and cultural resources. The project did not pose any serious or long-term effects to the environmental, historical, cultural, archeological, or visual resources. It met categorical exclusion #C.8 – Replacement in kind of minor structures and facilities with little or no change in location, capacity, or appearance – for example, comfort stations, pit toilets, fences, kiosks, signs, and campfire circles.

The project also meets the National Historic Preservation Act/Section 106 Programmatic Agreement, Exclusions #IV.B 8 – placement, maintenance, or replacement of utility lines, transmission lines, and fences within previously disturbed areas.


Contact Information

For further information about this project, please contact Chief of Maintenance, at 1850 Dual Highway, Suite 100, Hagerstown, MD 21740.