Environment Management

OMA Pushes for Congressional Action on Ozone Rule

The OMA joined forces with 214 other national, state, and local organizations in sending a letter to encourage Congress to pass H.R. 4775, the “Ozone Standards Implementation Act of 2016.”

The legislation provides a common-sense approach for implementing national ambient air quality standards, recognizes ongoing state efforts to improve air quality through a reasonable implementation schedule for the 2015 ozone standards, streamlines the air permitting process for businesses to expand operations and create jobs, and includes other reforms that bring more regulatory certainty to federal air quality standards.

Increased Chemical Regulation Sought

Supporters of Senate Bill 51 are calling for increased regulation on the chemical industry and a reduction of toxic chemicals in the environment.  The bill would designate May as “Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Month.”

Senator Mike Skindell (D–Lakewood), sponsor, justified the bill citing research in 2003 indicating that more than 12% of the U.S. population was affected with severe multiple chemical sensitivity.

Manufacturers interested in this legislation are encouraged to participate in the OMA Environment Committee (sign up here for the OMA Environment Community) and to contact OMA’s Rob Brundrett.

Ohio EPA Offering Encouraging Environmental Excellence (E3) Webinar

On April 20, Ohio EPA will be offering a webinar entitled, “Encouraging Environmental Excellence (E3), How to Gain Recognition for Your Organization’s Efforts.”

Ohio EPA’s Encouraging Environmental Excellence (E3) Program recognizes an organization’s exceptional achievements in environmental stewardship.  Any business, industry, trade association, professional organization or local government of Ohio can be recognized for its commitment to environmental excellence.

U.S. EPA and the Clean Power Plan Compliance Mess

From OMA Connections Partner Jones Day:  “The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent stay of the EPA’s Clean Power Plan prevents the Agency from enforcing the Plan’s provisions until certain legal challenges are ruled on by federal courts. Oral arguments before the D.C. Circuit are scheduled for early June 2016, after which a Supreme Court appeal of that decision is almost certain. All of this combines to make delaying the Clean Power Plan’s implementation almost inevitable, but the Agency has yet to explicitly acknowledge that state compliance deadlines will be postponed.”

Read more about this EPA mess here.

Governor Introduces Proposal to Combat Lead in Drinking Water

To combat lead in Ohioans’ drinking water, this week the governor’s office announced a package of reforms that will be introduced next week in the General Assembly.

The environmental mid-biennium review (MBR) bill will require water systems to provide homeowners with water quality test results within two business days, a much faster turnaround than the current 30 day requirement.

The bill will also require communities to enact a public education campaign within 30 days if a community exceeds the federal lead threshold.

Finally, the bill will give Ohio EPA flexibility in tightening water testing requirements and extending term loan financing for communities that are attempting to upgrade older systems.  You can read the proposed provisions here.

Ohio EPA Holds Central Ohio Open House

Ohio EPA Director Craig Butler held an open house this week to help the Central Ohio regulated community learn about the agency’s compliance assistance services.  We’ll keep you posted on any future regional learning opportunities.

Pictured: OMA member Tim Ling, Environmental Engineer, Plaskolite Inc., and Ohio EPA Director, Craig Butler

OMA Environment Committee Names New Chair

This week long-time OMA Environment Committee Chairman Joe Bulzan, Environmental Manager, WestRock, Coshocton, passed the gavel to Julianne Kurdila, Lead Specialist, Environmental Compliance & Policy, for ArcelorMittal in Richfield.

Bulzan earned the OMA staff’s Babington Award for his outstanding volunteer service.

In her capacity at ArcelorMittal, Julianne works with trade organizations, consultants, law firms and other interested parties to assess proposed environmental regulations, develop comments and support ArcelorMittal’s interests in environmental sustainability in a competitive global market.  ArcelorMittal is the largest steel company in the world, and its U.S. operations encompass more than 20 facilities in 10 states.

The OMA Environment Committee meets next on Wednesday, June 1.  To be sure you receive your invitation, sign up for the Environment Community here.

Annual Emissions Report Due April 15

Ohio EPA reminds regulated entities that the 1990 federal Clean Air Act Amendments established new permitting and reporting requirements for air polluting facilities.

Under Title V of the amendments, facilities that have the potential to emit certain amounts of air pollution are required to apply for and obtain a state-federal operating permit and pay emission fees.

In Ohio, facilities are categorized into three types for purposes of deciding which reports are required to be filed on April 15 each year.  A site is either Title V or Non-Title V.  Your facility type in turn determines the level of detail, the reporting mechanism for reporting facility-wide emissions, pollutants included, and the amount of fees that are charged.  It also determines whether or not an Emissions Inventory and/or an Emissions Statement is required to be filed simultaneously.  See more at the Ohio EPA website.

OMA Joins Dozens in Amicus Brief Against Clean Power Plan

This week the OMA joined more than 160 business groups throughout the country in filing an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in support of a lawsuit by states and industry to overturn U.S. EPA’s “Clean Power Plan.”

The brief outlines major legal and economic concerns with the rule, arguing that U.S. EPA trampled the rights of states to determine their own energy mix and implement environmental standards in a manner tailored to their own circumstances.

The court is likely to issue a decision later this year.  From there, the challenge is expected to make its way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which previously issued a stay to halt all implementation and enforcement actions on the rule until it has the opportunity to hear the case.

Ohio EPA Launches STREAMS Surface Water Permitting System

Ohio EPA recently launched its new Surface Water Tracking, Reporting and Electronic Application Management System (STREAMS).  The goal of the system is to reduce turnaround time for surface water discharge general permits to two business days.

The new STREAMS system uses a smart document online that catches errors before the application is complete, and documents are submitted electronically to the agency, minimizing data entry time.  Payments can be made electronically, and permit holders can also submit monitoring reports electronically.

Every general permit is still reviewed by agency staff to ensure the applicant meets the criteria to qualify, but STREAMS makes the permitting processing more efficient, shaving valuable days off the process.