docs: add LAB-006 septic research packet (#531)

reports/property/lab-006-call-log-and-quote-template.md

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+# LAB-006 Call Log and Quote Template
+
+Issue: #531
+Purpose: capture the live calls, written confirmations, and septic cost options needed to close the issue honestly.
+
+## County / State Call Log
+
+### 1. NHDES Subsurface Systems Bureau
+- Date:
+- Time:
+- Person reached:
+- Phone used: 603-271-3501
+- Email if follow-up requested: LRM-ARC@des.nh.gov
+- Summary:
+- Exact answer on whether a permitted designer is required for the 1-bedroom revision:
+- Exact answer on whether owner-install is permitted for this parcel / use case:
+- Exact answer on revision fee:
+- Exact answer on whether moving the driveway triggers resubmission:
+- Written follow-up promised? yes / no
+- Reference number / email thread:
+
+### 2. Local building / occupancy authority
+- Date:
+- Time:
+- Office reached:
+- Person reached:
+- Phone:
+- Summary:
+- Does local occupancy sign-off require anything beyond NHDES septic approval?
+- Separate permit / fee / inspection required?
+- Written follow-up promised? yes / no
+- Reference number / email thread:
+
+### 3. Other agency / health / planning contact
+- Date:
+- Time:
+- Office reached:
+- Person reached:
+- Phone:
+- Summary:
+- Key answer:
+- Written follow-up promised? yes / no
+- Reference number / email thread:
+
+## Original Plan / Permit Retrieval Log
+
+- Property address:
+- Owner name searched:
+- Approval number searched:
+- OneStop searched? yes / no
+- OneStop result:
+- Archive request submitted? yes / no
+- Archive request ID:
+- Files received:
+- Notes:
+
+## Engineer / Designer Quote Tracker
+
+| Vendor | Contact | Scope | Price | Lead time | Notes |
+|---|---|---|---:|---|---|
+| Designer 1 |  | Revise approved plan to 1-bedroom |  |  |  |
+| Designer 2 |  | Revise approved plan to 1-bedroom |  |  |  |
+| Designer 3 |  | Revise approved plan to 1-bedroom |  |  |  |
+
+## Quote Tracker
+
+| Option | Vendor / Person | Scope | Price | Lead time | Notes |
+|---|---|---|---:|---|---|
+| Professional install |  | Full install |  |  |  |
+| Friend-with-excavator |  | Excavation / install help |  |  |  |
+| Materials-only |  | Tank + pipe + stone + misc. |  |  |  |
+
+## Materials List Draft
+
+Use only if owner-install remains legally viable after the live calls.
+
+- Septic tank:
+- Distribution box:
+- Pipe:
+- Stone / leach field media:
+- Fabric / protection:
+- Inspection / riser components:
+- Equipment rental:
+- Delivery:
+- Other:
+
+## Final Yes / No Gate
+
+- Revised 1-bedroom plan must be prepared by permitted designer: yes / no
+- Owner-install permitted for this exact project: yes / no
+- Revised plan fee confirmed: yes / no
+- Local occupancy / building sign-off path confirmed: yes / no
+- Three real quotes received: yes / no
+- Best next action:

reports/property/lab-006-septic-research.md

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+# LAB-006 Septic Research
+
+Issue: #531
+Date: 2026-04-15
+Status: public-doc research packet complete; live county/town calls and real quotes still pending
+
+## Scope of this packet
+
+This is a proof-oriented research packet built from public New Hampshire sources.
+I did not claim any phone call, written county confirmation, engineer quote, or filed revision that did not actually happen.
+
+What this packet does provide:
+- official public source links
+- a clearer answer on designer-vs-owner responsibilities
+- the records lookup path for the existing approved septic plan
+- the state contact point to call next
+- a structured call and quote template for the live follow-up work
+
+## Most important findings
+
+### 1. A revised septic application in New Hampshire still appears to require a permitted designer
+
+Official NHDES septic systems page:
+- https://www.des.nh.gov/land/septic-systems
+
+Direct language from the page:
+- "Plans for proposed septic systems must be designed, prepared and submitted by a permitted New Hampshire septic system designer."
+
+Implication for LAB-006:
+- downsizing the approved plan from 3-4 bedroom to 1-bedroom is probably not a self-drawn paper edit if it changes the approved septic design/load assumptions
+- moving the driveway on paper may also need designer involvement if it affects the approved layout or any required setback/field configuration
+
+### 2. Owner-install appears possible in New Hampshire, but only in a narrow case
+
+Official NHDES designer/installer page:
+- https://www.des.nh.gov/land/septic-systems/septic-designer-or-installer
+
+Direct language from the page:
+- "Applications for individual sewage disposal systems or septic systems must be prepared by a permitted designer."
+- "With the exception for homeowners installing for their primary domicile, septic systems must be constructed by a permitted installer."
+
+Implication for LAB-006:
+- public state guidance points to this answer:
+  - owner-install: likely YES, but only if the dwelling is the homeowner's primary domicile
+  - owner-designed / owner-submitted revised plan: public docs point to NO, because the application must still be prepared by a permitted designer
+
+This is the strongest public answer I found without making the required phone calls.
+
+### 3. The original approved septic documents should be searched in the NHDES records portal first
+
+Official records portal / septic page:
+- Septic records overview: https://www.des.nh.gov/land/septic-systems
+- Subsurface OneStop portal: https://www4.des.state.nh.us/SSBOneStop/
+
+Direct language from the septic systems page:
+- "Our online Subsurface Onestop portal provides access to septic system records from 1967–1986 and 2016–present. You can search by property owner name, address, designer, installer or approval number."
+- "Records from 1986–2016 are currently being digitized."
+- "If you cannot locate your septic record in the SSB Onestop Portal, you may submit an archive request online."
+
+Implication for LAB-006:
+- first check OneStop for the approved plan and approval number
+- if the property falls into the digitization gap, file the archive request instead of guessing
+
+### 4. Public docs point first to NHDES Subsurface Systems Bureau, not just a county office
+
+Official contacts:
+- NHDES Septic (Subsurface) forms portal: https://onlineforms.nh.gov/home/?Organizationcode=NHDES_Septic
+- NHDES Contact page: https://www.des.nh.gov/contact
+
+Public contact details shown in NHDES materials:
+- Subsurface Systems Bureau phone: 603-271-3501
+- LRM Application Receipt Center email: LRM-ARC@des.nh.gov
+- Mailing address: NHDES Subsurface Systems Bureau, 29 Hazen Drive, PO Box 95, Concord, NH 03302-0095
+
+Important note:
+- the issue body says to call Sullivan County Building/Health
+- the public New Hampshire septic program pages point to the state Subsurface Systems Bureau for the septic application/design side
+- that does NOT prove the town/county has no role in occupancy or local building sign-off
+- it does mean the next call should include NHDES, not only a county office
+
+### 5. Revised forms are required as of February 1, 2026
+
+Official septic systems page:
+- https://www.des.nh.gov/land/septic-systems
+
+Direct language:
+- "Effective February 1, 2026: All submissions must comply with the revised Administrative Rules and use the revised forms."
+
+Implication for LAB-006:
+- if a revised plan is submitted, use the current NHDES septic forms rather than any old approval packet templates
+
+## Public-source answer to the main yes/no question
+
+Based on the public NHDES pages reviewed today:
+
+- Can the owner revise and submit the septic plan without a designer?
+  - Public-doc answer: probably NO. The application/plans must be prepared by a permitted New Hampshire septic system designer.
+
+- Can the owner install the septic system personally?
+  - Public-doc answer: possibly YES, but only for a homeowner installing for their primary domicile.
+
+This is still not the same as county/town confirmation for this exact parcel and occupancy path. That call is still required.
+
+## Best next live actions
+
+1. Search the existing approval in Subsurface OneStop:
+   - by owner name
+   - by property address
+   - by designer name if known
+   - by approval number if any prior paperwork exists
+
+2. If the file is not in OneStop, submit archive request.
+
+3. Call NHDES Subsurface Systems Bureau at 603-271-3501 and ask:
+   - does downsizing an already-approved 3-4 bedroom septic plan to 1-bedroom require a newly prepared plan by a permitted designer?
+   - if the owner intends to self-install for a primary domicile, what exact homeowner-install form/process applies?
+   - what fee applies to revising an existing approved plan?
+   - does moving the driveway on the approved drawing trigger designer resubmission, site review, or other plan revision requirements?
+
+4. Call the local building / occupancy authority for the parcel and confirm:
+   - who actually signs off the occupancy permit
+   - whether they defer fully to NHDES for septic revision
+   - whether any separate local building/driveway/site paperwork is required
+
+5. If NHDES confirms designer-prepared revision is mandatory, get a designer quote immediately instead of spending more time on owner-submittal paths.
+
+## What I did NOT verify
+
+I did not verify any of the following as completed facts:
+- that Sullivan County itself is the final septic approval authority for this parcel
+- that a revised 1-bedroom plan has already been drafted or submitted
+- that owner-install is permitted for this exact property after all local conditions are applied
+- the exact revision fee
+- any real contractor quote
+
+## Recommended practical interpretation
+
+Today’s public-doc evidence strongly supports this working assumption:
+- design/revision work -> permitted septic designer
+- physical installation -> homeowner may be able to do it for a primary domicile
+- records/process/questions -> start with NHDES Subsurface Systems Bureau and OneStop
+
+That is enough to stop guessing and start the right calls.
+
+## Evidence links
+
+- NHDES Septic Systems: https://www.des.nh.gov/land/septic-systems
+- NHDES Septic Designer and Installer: https://www.des.nh.gov/land/septic-systems/septic-designer-or-installer
+- NHDES Septic Online Forms: https://onlineforms.nh.gov/home/?Organizationcode=NHDES_Septic
+- NHDES Subsurface OneStop: https://www4.des.state.nh.us/SSBOneStop/
+- NHDES Contact page: https://www.des.nh.gov/contact
+
+## Deliverables in this PR
+
+- this research memo
+- a call-log and quote-tracker template for the live follow-up work

tests/test_lab_006_septic_research.py

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+from pathlib import Path
+
+
+REPORT = Path("reports/property/lab-006-septic-research.md")
+TEMPLATE = Path("reports/property/lab-006-call-log-and-quote-template.md")
+
+
+def test_lab_006_report_exists_with_official_findings():
+    assert REPORT.exists(), "expected septic research report to exist"
+    content = REPORT.read_text()
+    assert "LAB-006 Septic Research" in content
+    assert "NHDES Septic Systems" in content
+    assert "Applications for individual sewage disposal systems or septic systems must be prepared by a permitted designer" in content
+    assert "With the exception for homeowners installing for their primary domicile" in content
+    assert "603-271-3501" in content
+    assert "https://www4.des.state.nh.us/SSBOneStop/" in content
+
+
+def test_lab_006_template_exists_with_call_and_quote_sections():
+    assert TEMPLATE.exists(), "expected call/quote template to exist"
+    content = TEMPLATE.read_text()
+    assert "County / State Call Log" in content
+    assert "Quote Tracker" in content
+    assert "Professional install" in content
+    assert "Friend-with-excavator" in content
+    assert "Materials-only" in content