Environmental Health Services
Southwest District Health’s (SWDH) Environmental Health Services oversees a number of programs relating to the health and the environment within Canyon, Gem, Payette, Washington, Owyhee, and Adams counties.
Programs include:
- License and inspect food establishments including mobile and temporary food booths, investigation of foodborne illness outbreaks and complaints, and teaching of food safety education classes
- Inspection of daycare centers
- Investigate communicable and/or infections disease outbreaks
- Issue of permits for subsurface wastewater disposal systems (Septic Systems)
- Evaluate subdivisions for design and placement of septic systems
- License and inspect public swimming pools
- Evaluate nuisance complaints
- Monitor small public water systems
Contact us at:
To request copies of completed septic permits Click Here.
Environmental Health Services
Caldwell Office
Phone: 208-455-5400
Hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Email: Olivia.Howard@phd3.idaho.gov
Request Environmental Health Records:
To request environmental health records, please fill out the public records request form Click Here and submit via e-mail to Olivia.Howard@phd3.idaho.gov.
To file an Environmental Health complaint:
To file a complaint please call 208-455-5400
Or
Contact us through our Complaint page.
Appeals Process for Land Development and Subsurface Sewage
Policy
Any citizen aggrieved by a decision made by a staff member of Public Health District 3 may submit an
administrative appeal to Public Health District 3 and may request a hearing.
Limitation of Time Periods
A party shall have thirty-five (35) days from the receipt of an adverse order or notice of decision to file an appeal
of any adverse order or notice of decision.
Format for Appeal
All administrative appeals shall be made in writing, and shall contain the following information:
1. The nature of the decision upon which the appeal is brought, including the code, ordinance, rule, or policy
cited by the staff member to support the decision.
2. The ruling or decision desired by the appellant.
3. A statement identifying the code, ordinance, rule, or policy which supports the citizen’s position.
4. The reason(s) why the citizen believes the code, ordinance, rule or policy has been misapplied.
Basis for Appeal of Staff Member Decision
- Supervisor or Division Administrator Role. Each appeal request shall be submitted to a supervisor or
Division Administrator who shall determine whether the issue raised is tied to application of a statute,
policy, or rule administered by Public Health District 3, or whether the issue involves the substance of any
statute, policy, or rule. - Criteria for Appeal. An appeal is appropriate only in the instance of alleged misapplication of a state or
public health district statute, rule, or policy.
Hearing Schedule: Within five (5) days of receipt of an administrative appeal, the staff member whose decision is being appealed shall assist the citizen to schedule a hearing before the supervisor or Division Administrator as soon as the appeal can be accommodated.
Fee: No fee shall be charged to any appeal applicant whose case shall be brought before the supervisor or Division Administrator.
Staff Member Representation: The staff member whose decision has been challenged shall be present. The District Director may designate an alternate staff member to be present if the staff member making the challenged decision is unavailable.
Staff Member or Citizen
Length of Presentations: Presentations shall be limited to ten (10) minutes for each citizen and ten (10) minutes for the staff member, unless extraordinary circumstances require otherwise as determined by the supervisor or Division Administrator.
Reports: The staff member or citizen may submit a written explanation for the supervisor’s or Division Administrator’s consideration prior to the hearing. A copy of any staff member explanation shall be provided to the citizen at the time it is prepared for presentation to the supervisor or Division Administrator.
Supervisor or Division Administrator
Decision: Within five (5) days after the hearing, the request of a citizen, the supervisor or Division Administrator shall affirm the staff member’s decision, reverse the decision, or affirm the decision conditionally.
Decision Format: The decision in any such appeal shall be made in writing and shall set forth the reasons thereof.
District Director
District Director Role: An appeal of the supervisor’s or Division Administrator’s decision may be taken to the District Director of Public Health District 3, solely upon the record compiled in accordance with this procedure.
Appeal Format: Said appeal may be accompanied by a written explanation of the basis for appeal, not exceeding two (2) type written pages.
Options: The District Director may request more information or may schedule oral presentations, if desired.
Decision: Within five (5) days after reviewing the request of a citizen, the District Director shall affirm the
supervisor’s or Division Administrator’s decision, reverse the decision, or affirm the decision conditionally.
Decision Format: The District Director’s decision in any such appeal shall be made in writing and shall set forth the reasons thereof.
Board of Health
Board of Health Role: An appeal of the District Director’s decision may be taken to the Board of Health of Public Health District 3, solely upon the record compiled in accordance with this procedure.
Appeal Format: Said appeal may be accompanied by a written explanation of the basis for appeal, not exceeding two (2) typewritten pages.
Options: The Board of Health may request more information or may schedule oral presentations, if desired.
Board of Health Decision: After reviewing the request of a citizen at the next scheduled Board meeting after the request is received, within five (5) days the Board of Health shall affirm the District Director’s decision, reverse the decision, or affirm the decision conditionally.
Decision Format: The Board of Health decision in any such appeal shall be made in writing and shall set forth the reasons thereof.
Final Agency Appeal: The Board of Health’s decision shall be final in matters subject to the appeal procedure outlined herein.
Further Appeal: Further appeal outside the agency may be authorized by provisions of Idaho Code and IDAPA.