1. If the governing body of the city determines that:

(a) A package plant for sewage treatment which is located within the city limits and is exempt from the provisions of NRS 445A.540 to 445A.560, inclusive, is not satisfactorily serving the needs of its users; and

(b) Sewerage provided by a public utility, the city or another municipality or other public entity is reasonably available to those users,

the governing body may require all users of the plant to connect into the available sewers provided by a public utility, the city or another municipality or other public entity, and may assess each lot or parcel served for its proportionate share of the cost of connecting into those sewers. These assessments are not subject to the jurisdiction of the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada.

2. If the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has found that a package plant for sewage treatment which is exempt from the provisions of NRS 445A.540 to 445A.560, inclusive, is violating any of the conditions of NRS 445A.465 to 445A.515, inclusive, and has notified the holder of the permit that he or she must bring the plant into compliance, but the holder of the permit has failed to comply within a reasonable time after the date of the notice, the governing body of the city in which the plant is located may take the following actions independently of any further action by the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources:

(a) Give written notice, by certified mail, to the owner of the plant and the owners of the property served by the plant that if the violation is not corrected within 30 days after the date of the notice, the governing body of the city will seek a court order authorizing it to assume control; and

(b) After the 30-day period has expired, if the plant has not been brought into compliance, apply to the district court for an order authorizing the governing body to assume control of the plant and assess the property for the continued operation and maintenance of the plant as provided in subsection 4.

3. If the governing body of the city determines at any time that immediate action is necessary to protect the public health and welfare, it may assume physical control and operation of a package plant for sewage treatment which is located within the city limits and is exempt from the provisions of NRS 445A.540 to 445A.560, inclusive, without complying with any of the requirements set forth in subsection 2. The governing body may not maintain control of the plant pursuant to this subsection for a period greater than 30 days unless it obtains an order from the district court authorizing an extension.

4. Each lot and parcel served by a package plant for sewage treatment which is exempt from the provisions of NRS 445A.540 to 445A.560, inclusive, is subject to assessment by the governing body of the city in which the plant is located for its proportionate share of the cost of continued operation and maintenance of the plant if there is a default or the city assumes control and operation of the plant pursuant to subsection 2 or 3.

(Added to NRS by 1979, 1918; A 1987, 710; 1997, 1979)