Pennsylvania Code & Bulletin
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

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Pennsylvania Code



CHAPTER 19. ORGANIZED CAMPS AND CAMPGROUNDS

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec.


19.1.    Definitions.
19.2.    Submission of plans to Department.
19.3.    Waiver of requirements.
19.4.    Water supply.
19.5.    Plumbing.
19.6.    Sewage disposal.
19.7.    Bathing places.
19.8.    Vector control.

PERMITS


19.11.    General requirement.
19.12.    Application.
19.13.    Issuance.
19.14.    Revocation and suspension.

TOILET FACILITIES


19.21.    General requirement.
19.22.    Design.
19.23.    Maintenance.
19.24.    Toilet room.
19.25.    Organized camps.
19.26.    Campgrounds.
19.27.    Soap and towels.

SANITARY STATIONS


19.31.    General requirement.
19.32.    Ratio.
19.33.    Construction.
19.34.    Public warning.

GARBAGE AND REFUSE


19.41.    Collection.
19.42.    Storage.
19.43.    Disposal.
19.44.    Cleaning of area.

Authority

   The provisions of this Chapter 19 issued under sections 1917-A and 1920-A of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § §  510-17 and 510-20), unless otherwise noted.

Source

   The provisions of this Chapter 19 adopted September 18, 1971, effective September 18, 1971, 1 Pa.B. 1921; renumbered from 25 Pa. Code Chapter 191, June 7, 1996, effective June 8, 1996, 26 Pa.B. 2707, unless otherwise noted. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (167993) to (168000).

Cross References

   This chapter cited in 28 Pa. Code §  17.11 (relating to minimum program activities); 28 Pa. Code §  17.31 (relating to minimum program activities); and 28 Pa. Code §  17.61 (relating to minimum program activities).

GENERAL PROVISIONS


§ 19.1. Definitions.

 The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

   Campground—A portion of land used for the purpose of providing a space or spaces for trailers or tents, for camping purposes regardless of whether a fee has been charged for the leasing, renting or occupancy of the space.

   Garbage—Putrescible wastes, except sewage and body waste, including animal and vegetable offal.

   Organized camp—A combination of programs and facilities established for the primary purpose of providing an outdoor group living experience for children, youth and adults, with social, recreational and educational objectives and operated and used for 5 or more consecutive days during one or more seasons of the year.

   Person—An individual, firm, partnership, company, corporation, trustee, association, county, authority, the Commonwealth or a public or private entity.

   Refuse—Nonputrescible wastes generally regarded and classified as rubbish, trash, junk and similar designations which have been rejected by the owner or possessor as useless or worthless.

   Sanitary station—A facility used for disposing of sewage from trailer holding tanks.

   Sewage—A substance which contains any of the waste products or excrementitious or other discharge from the bodies of human beings or animals.

   Sewerage system—A community or individual system, publicly or privately owned, for the collection and disposal of sewage and industrial wastes of a liquid nature, including various devices for the treatment of the sewage or industrial wastes.

   Tent—A portable lodging unit usually made of skins, canvas, plastic or strong cloth stretched and usually sustained by poles, and dependent upon separate toilet and lavatory facilities.

   Trailer—A vehicular portable structure built on, or designed to be mounted, on a chassis or wheels, or constructed as an integral part of a self-propelled vehicle for use as a temporary dwelling for travel, recreation and vacation and commonly known as travel trailers, pick-up coaches, motor homes or camping trailers.

   Trailer or tent space—A parcel of land in an organized camp or campground for the placement of a single trailer or tent and the exclusive use of its occupants.

   Water supply—A source of water, and water treatment, storage, transmission and distribution facilities.

§ 19.2. Submission of plans to Department.

 (a)  Before work is begun in the construction, remodeling or alteration of an organized camp or campground or in the conversion of an existing establishment or facility to an organized camp or campground, properly prepared plans and specifications shall be submitted to and approved by the Department.

 (b)  The plans and specifications shall include, if applicable, data relating to the grounds, buildings, equipment, sewage disposal, water supply, including plumbing, refuse disposal and other information that may be required by the Department.

§ 19.3. Waiver of requirements.

 The Department may waive compliance with one or more provisions of this chapter for specific events as long as the lives and health of the public or the persons on the premises will not be adversely affected thereby.

§ 19.4. Water supply.

 (a)  Water used in the operation of an organized camp or campground shall be provided from a supply approved by the Department. Approval of a water supply shall be based upon satisfactory compliance with construction standards for water supplies approved by the Department.

 (b)  The water supply shall be adequate in quantity and shall meet the bacteriological and chemical water standards of the Department.

 (c)  An unapproved water supply shall be made inaccessible to the public in a manner deemed satisfactory to the Department.

§ 19.5. Plumbing.

 (a)  Plumbing shall be sized, installed and maintained so as to carry adequate quantities of water to required locations throughout the organized camp or campground and to properly convey sewage and liquid wastes from the establishment of the sewerage or sewage disposal system.

 (b)  Plumbing shall serve to prevent contamination of the water supply and may not create an insanitary condition or nuisance.

§ 19.6. Sewage disposal.

 Sewage disposal systems serving an organized camp or campground shall be approved by the Department. Approval shall be based upon satisfactory compliance with Chapter 73 (relating to standards for sewage disposal facilities) and The Clean Streams Law (35 P. S. §  691.1—691.1001).

§ 19.7. Bathing places.

 The construction, modification, maintenance and operation of a bathing place in an organized camp or campground shall be subject to the provisions of the Public Bathing Law (35 P. S. §  672—680d) and the rules and regulations of the Department.

§ 19.8. Vector control.

 Adequate measures for the control of arthropods and rodents which the Department deems a public health hazard shall be taken in a manner satisfactory to the Department.

PERMITS


§ 19.11. General requirement.

 A person may not operate at a place within this Commonwealth, and a person may not permit to be operated on his premises within this Commonwealth, an organized camp or campground unless the operator or owner possesses a valid permit from the Department. The permit shall be in addition to the registration requirements of organized camps under act of November 10, 1959 (P. L. 1400, No. 497) (35 P. S. § §  3001—3004).

§ 19.12. Application.

 Application for a permit shall be made to the Department on forms provided by the Department.

§ 19.13. Issuance.

 (a)  The Department will issue a permit for the operation of an organized camp or campground if it is satisfied that this chapter has been met.

 (b)  The permit shall be valid for 1 calendar year from date of issuance unless revoked or suspended by the Department.

 (c)  A separate permit shall be issued for each organized camp site or campground and may not be transferable or assignable.

§ 19.14. Revocation and suspension.

 (a)  A permit may be revoked or suspended at any time if the Department finds that the organized camp or campground is maintained, operated or occupied in violation of this chapter.

 (b)  The Department may order an organized camp or campground to close and cease operation if a situation is present which is inimical to the health of the occupants.

TOILET FACILITIES


§ 19.21. General requirement.

 Organized camps and campgrounds shall provide toilet facilities on the premises for the public which are separate for each sex.

§ 19.22. Design.

 Toilet facilities, including rooms and fixtures, shall be of a sanitary design and readily cleanable.

§ 19.23. Maintenance.

 Toilet facilities shall be kept in a clean condition and in good repair.

§ 19.24. Toilet room.

 Each toilet room shall meet the following requirements:

   (1)  Doors shall be self-closing.

   (2)  Adequate ventilation to the outside shall be provided.

   (3)  Toilet tissue shall be provided.

   (4)  Easily cleanable receptacles shall be provided for waste materials.

   (5)  Receptacles for women shall be covered.

§ 19.25. Organized camps.

 (a)  Toilet facilities in organized camps shall be provided in the ratios indicated in the following table:

Number of
 Number of
 Number of
Number of
Tent or Toilet Seats
 Lavatories
Urinals
Trailer Spaces
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
1—2012121
Each additional
20 persons
+1 +1 +1 +1 +1

 (b)  Urinals for males or urinals specifically designed for females may be provided in lieu of toilet seats but may not consist of more than 1/3 of the required number of toilet seats.

 (c)  Organized camps which do not provide overnight lodging and serve a minimum of one meal per day are not subject to the requirements in subsection (a) but shall provide toilet and lavatory facilities as deemed adequate by the Department.

§ 19.26. Campgrounds.

 (a)  Toilet facilities in campgrounds shall be in addition to the requirements for sanitary stations as indicated in § §  19.31—19.34 (relating to sanitary stations) and shall be provided in the ratios indicated in the following table:

 Number of
 Number of
Number of
Number of
 Toilet Seats
 Lavatories
Urinals
Persons
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
 1—15 11111
16—30 12221
31—45 22331
46—60 23332
61—80 34442
81—10034442
Each additional
1—100 spaces
+1 +1 +1 +1 +1

 (b)  Urinals specifically designed for females may also be provided in lieu of toilet seats, but for not more than 1/3 of the required number of toilet seats.

§ 19.27. Soap and towels.

 (a)  Lavatories in new and existing organized camps and campgrounds where campers do not provide their own soap and individual towels, soap and single-service towels shall be provided.

 (b)  The use of a common towel is prohibited.

SANITARY STATIONS


§ 19.31. General requirement.

 New organized camp or campground operations which provide parking spaces for trailers shall provide sanitary stations in order that the removal and disposing of sewage from trailer holding tanks shall be accomplished in a sanitary manner.

Cross References

   This section cited in 28 Pa. Code §  19.26 (relating to campgrounds).

§ 19.32. Ratio.

 Each new organized camp or campground shall provide a sanitary station in the ratio of one for every 100 trailer spaces or fractional part thereof.

Cross References

   This section cited in 28 Pa. Code §  19.26 (relating to campgrounds).

§ 19.33. Construction.

 Each sanitary station shall consist of at least the following:

   (1)  A 4-inch sewer pipe which shall be connected to an approved sewage disposal system, surrounded at the inlet end by a concrete apron sloped to the drain.

   (2)  A suitable fly-tight cover which shall be provided to the 4-inch sewer pipe.

   (3)  A water outlet, with the necessary appurtenances and connected to a water supply system to permit a washdown of the immediate adjacent areas after each use.

Cross References

   This section cited in 28 Pa. Code §  19.26 (relating to campgrounds).

§ 19.34. Public warning.

 Each water outlet used for washdown purposes at sanitary stations shall conspiciously display at all times a sign stating: ‘‘Notice, This Water For Flushing and Cleaning Purposes Only.’’

Cross References

   This section cited in 28 Pa. Code §  19.26 (relating to campgrounds).

GARBAGE AND REFUSE


§ 19.41. Collection.

 The collection of garbage and refuse shall be conducted in a sanitary manner and as often as necessary to prevent a nuisance.

§ 19.42. Storage.

 (a)  Garbage and refuse containing food wastes shall, prior to disposal, be kept in leak-proof, nonabsorbent, rust and corrosion-resistant containers of adequate number, which shall be kept covered with tight-fitting lids, when filled or stored or not in continuous use, but any other manner of garbage and refuse storage may be used if approved by the Department.

 (b)  Other refuse shall be stored in containers, rooms or areas of sufficient number and size in a manner so as to prevent arthropod or rodent problems and other nuisances.

§ 19.43. Disposal.

 When disposal of garbage or refuse is accomplished within or upon the premises of the organized camp or campground, the disposal facilities shall be operated and maintained so as not to create a nuisance or a health hazard.

§ 19.44. Cleaning of area.

 Adequate cleaning facilities shall be provided, and each container, room or area shall be thoroughly cleaned after each emptying or removal of garbage and refuse.



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