Ohio Proposes Changes To Permit To Install Rule

Ohio EPA has proposed rule changes in Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) Chapter 3745-42. Chapter 3745-42 covers the requirements for wastewater permits to install (PTIs).The rules are being amended as part of the five-year rule review requirements in Ohio Revised Code section 106.


The Agency has reviewed these rules and has identified necessary changes. New exemptions are being considered, with qualifiers, for:
•building sewers, sanitary sewer replacement projects, in situ sanitary sewer repairs,
•repair or replacement of a treatment works component, media or equipment, modifications within existing treatment works infrastructure,
•disposal systems designed to be a best management practice under a storm water National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit,
•treatment works pilot study, •installation of on line monitoring or process control equipment, •installation of odor control equipment,
•remodel or replacement of buildings or laboratories located at a treatment works, and
•filtration systems, ion exchange systems and oil skimmers on process tanks that serve manufacturing equipment.


Click here to review examples of Caltha projects related to permitting. Click here for examples of project Caltha has conducted for clients located in Ohio.

Update To Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan 2015-2019

The Great Lakes Interagency Task Force has scheduled meetings for the public to provide input to a planned update of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan. The updated Action Plan would direct Great Lakes restoration for fiscal years 2015-2019. The public may comment directly to the federal agencies and to the Great Lakes Advisory Board (GLAB), a panel of experts established to provide recommendations to the federal agencies.

Comments may be given at any of the following scheduled meetings:
•May 21-22 - Great Lakes Advisory Board Inaugural Meeting & Public Comment to GLAB
 •May 23 - Webinar
•May 28 - Buffalo, New York.
•May 30 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
•June 3 - Webinar
•June 5 - Cleveland, Ohio.

In February 2010, the Task Force released the GLRI Action Plan for FY2010-2014. The Action Plan identified goals, objectives, measurable ecological targets, and specific actions to help rehabilitate the Great Lakes. The Action Plan targets investments to reduce toxic contamination, rehabilitate fish and wildlife habitat, improve nearshore health, reduce nutrients and other land-based pollution, prevent invasive species, and promote accountability, education, and collaboration.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address water quality standards, wastewater permitting and assessing potential impacts of chemicals in the aquatic environment.
Caltha LLP Aquatic Toxicology / WQ Standards Services Website

Summary of 2011 EPCRA 313 TRI Releases To Great Lakes

Releases of EPCRA Section 313 reportable chemicals into surface waters in the Great Lakes Basin increased by 12 % from 2010 to 2011, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s annual Toxics Release Inventory report. Nationwide, releases due to surface water discharges decreased by 3 %.

Nitrates and pesticides from municipal wastewater treatment plants and agriculture account for most of the releases from surface water discharges to the Great Lakes Basin. Nitrates were also discharged by primary metals facilities, such as iron and steel mills and smelters, and food and beverage manufacturers.

For the summary, the Great Lakes Basin consists of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario; a number of other smaller lakes and waterways; and the surrounding watershed. The watershed covers parts of Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, and parts of Ontario in Canada. Despite increases from 2010 to 2011, overall Section 313 releases in the Great Lakes Basin have decreased about 40 % since 2003 and are currently at the second-lowest level in a decade. Surface water, air and land releases in the basin increased by 12, 1 and 4 % respectively, while underground injection decreased 5 % from 2010 to 2011.

Read summary of national EPCRA TRI releases for 2011.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address water quality standards, wastewater permitting and assessing potential impacts of chemicals in the aquatic environment.

Caltha LLP Aquatic Toxicology / WQ Standards Services Website

US and Canada Amend Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Canada’s Minister of the Environment have signed the newly amended Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. The agreement, first signed in 1972 and last amended in 1987, is binational effort to protect the world’s largest surface freshwater system and the health of the surrounding communities.

The revised agreement will facilitate United States and Canadian action on threats to Great Lakes water quality and includes measures to anticipate and prevent ecological harm. New provisions address aquatic invasive species, habitat degradation and the effects of climate change, and support continued work on existing threats to human health and the environment in the Great Lakes Basin such as harmful algae, toxic chemicals, and discharges from vessels.

The overall purpose of the Agreement is “to restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the waters” of the Great Lakes and the portion of the St. Lawrence River that includes the Canada-United States border. Both governments sought extensive input from stakeholders before and throughout the negotiations to amend the Agreement. Additionally, the amended Agreement expands opportunities for public participation on Great Lakes issues.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address water quality standards, wastewater permitting and assessing potential impacts of chemicals in the aquatic environment.
Caltha LLP Aquatic Toxicology / WQ Standards Services Website

Ohio Proposes Changes To Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Exams

The Ohio EPA has proposed rules that will eventually allow a third party provider to sponsor and administer certifications exams for Water and Wastewater treatment plant operators. By using the third party, Ohio EPA hopes to provide examinations more often, in more locations throughout the state, using computer based testing. The Agency also believes that by using the third party, the pool of questions will expand and the third party will be responsible for verifying the validity of those test questions.

The cost of the third party administration may be passed on to applicants in the form of higher fees. In the interim, State-Sponsored exams will continue to be held twice per year in order to give operators the choice of the computerized approved exam-provider or the additional state examination. The Ohio EPA hopes to eventually eliminate the state sponsored exam and rely solely on the examinations provided by the approved exam provider.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address water quality standards, wastewater permitting and assessing potential impacts of chemicals in the aquatic environment.
Caltha LLP Aquatic Toxicology / WQ Standards Services Website

Advisory Board For Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced the creation of an advisory board to support federal agencies with the implementation of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the updated Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. The new board will provide advice and recommendations to EPA Administrator as federal Interagency Task Force chair.

To form the board, EPA will consider candidates from a broad range of interests including environmental groups, businesses, agricultural groups, funders/foundations, environmental justice groups, youth groups, academia and state, local and tribal representatives as needed. Nominees will be solicited through a Federal Register notice. EPA anticipates that board will be established during summer 2012.

The Interagency Task Force is made up of 16 federal agencies and departments. In 2010 they developed an action plan to implement initiatives in five areas:

1. Cleaning up toxics and toxic hot spot Areas of Concern.
2. Combating invasive species.
3. Promoting near-shore health by protecting watersheds from polluted runoff.
4. Restoring wetlands and other habitats.
5. Raising public awareness, tracking progress, and working with partners.

The plan also establishes annual benchmarks for success and progress.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address water quality standards, wastewater permitting and assessing potential impacts of chemicals in the aquatic environment.

Caltha LLP Aquatic Toxicology / WQ Standards Services Website

Ohio EPA Revises Water Quality Trading Program For NPDES Permits

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) has proposed changes to the rules that govern trading programs for wastewater discharge permits issued by the State. Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) 3745-5 provides the administrative requirements for the development and implementation of water quality trading programs in Ohio. Water quality trading is a voluntary program that allows a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit holder (point source) to meet its regulatory obligations by using pollutant reductions generated by another wastewater point source or non-point source.

Ohio EPA is required to review its rules every five years to determine if the rules need revisited. State law and the federal Clean Water Act require Ohio EPA to periodically update rules to reflect the latest scientific information.

A majority of the revisions consist of minor updates to references and grammatical edits. In addition, the following specific changes are being considered:

Rule 03 – Revising rule to state that use of a water quality credit shall not cause or contribute to a violation of water quality standards. Adding provision that nonpoint source load reductions funded through Ohio EPA’s Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program are not eligible to generate water quality credits
Rule 04 – Adding date by which two existing trading programs must submit water quality trading management plans
Rule 06 – Changing the size of the hydrologic unit codes that must be used when identifying areas where nonpoint source projects might be located
Rule 11 – Identifying additional compliance-related provisions that will be included in NPDES permits when the permittee is participating in a water quality trading program.
Rule 14 – Revising language to include biological and stream habitat parameters in ambient water quality monitoring plans

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address water quality standards, wastewater permitting and assessing potential impacts of chemicals in the aquatic environment.

Caltha LLP Aquatic Toxicology / WQ Standards Services Website

Water Quality Standards - Antidegradation Rules in Ohio

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently in the process of revising State Rules relating to Water Quality Standards and Antidegradation (Non-Degradation). The draft Rules are being published independently; however, because all the Rules are interrelated, OEPA has extended the public comment period.

The draft Rules applying to Antidegradation were released for comment near the end of 2008. Some of the key revisions being proposed include:

• The definition of “best available demonstrated control technology” (BADCT) is being updated to include new design criteria and effluent limits for nitrogen and phosphorus.
• Definitions for “designated uses”, “existing uses”, and “threatened species” are being removed since these definitions are located in the Water Quality Standards Rule.
• Definitions for “local and regional drainage pattern”, “loss of use”, “preferred alternative”, and “40 C.F.R.” are being added.
• The types of alternatives to be considered under the definitions for “minimal degradation alternative” and “non-degradation alternative” are being clarified.
• The definition of “regulated pollutant” is being revised to clarify that parameters include narrative and numeric water quality criteria and those limited by best professional judgment in a NPDES permit.
• The rule exemption in paragraph for net increases from existing sources is being clarified.
  Applications for Section 401 water quality certifications for wetlands will be exempt from the submital of alternatives analysis and social and economic justification information
• Section 401 water quality certifications impacting Lake Erie or its shoreline will be exempt from the mandatory public hearing
• New language is included regarding what constitutes the loss of a beneficial use.
• The set aside revision process for special high quality waters in is being clarified.
• The tables of special high quality waters are being updated.

The deadline for comments on the draft rule has not been determined yet. A draft rule addressing mitigation requirements or impacts on streams will be made available for review and comment in early 2009. Because the content of that rule relates to part of the antidegradation rule, the comment deadline for both rules will be 60 days after the stream mitigation rule is made available.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address water quality standards, wastewater permitting and assessing potential impacts of chemicals in the aquatic environment.

Caltha LLP Aquatic Toxicology / WQ Standards Services Website