Environment Management

Central Ohio EPA Open House with Director Butler

Ohio EPA Director Craig Butler is holding an open house event from 1:00-5:00 p.m. on March 24, 2016 at the agency’s central office, 50 W. Town Street, Columbus, Ohio.  Director Butler will share his priorities, answer questions and discuss his initiative to consolidate Ohio EPA’s business and community assistance resources under its newly reorganized Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance.

This is the first of what Ohio EPA hopes will be a series of open house events planned for various locations around Ohio. This first event is targeted to businesses that interact with Ohio EPA’s Central District Office, including those in Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Knox, Licking, Madison, Morrow, Pickaway and Union counties.  This event should be particularly helpful to small and medium-sized businesses that seek environmental compliance assistance.

Go here to learn more and register.

Air Report Due Next Week

Friendly reminder:  For regulated entities, there are a number of Ohio EPA environmental air compliance reports coming due in the coming months.  The next one is the Permit Evaluation Report – Air Services (PER).

This report is required of all facilities that have had a PTIO issued that was effective during the reporting period.  Don’t forget to check the issued PTIO for reporting requirements that may need to be met as part of completing the PER.  The PER is due on February 16 for facilities with a reporting period of January 1 to December 31.

If you need assistance, please visit Ohio EPA Air Services or contact:  Air Services Access:  Linda Lazich (614) 644-3626; Air Services Software Support, Emissions Reporting or Facility Profile:  Safaa El-Oraby (614) 644-3571; eBusiness Center PIN or Password:  eBiz Helpdesk (877) 372-2499.

Ohio EPA Publishes New Resource Guide

Ohio EPA’s Division of Environmental & Financial Assistance has just published its Resource Guide, an overview of technical, compliance and financial assistance programs and resources to help Ohio communities and businesses with their environmental needs.

Ohio EPA Calls for Comment on Wastewater Discharge Permitting

Ohio EPA has announced its Early Stakeholder Outreach (ESO) process for Chapter 3745-33 of the Ohio Administrative Code which contains the administrative and technical requirements for writing and obtaining wastewater discharge permits under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program.

This is an opportunity to shape the rules before EPA staff draft language.  By sharing your comments early in the process, Ohio EPA can consider potential impacts.

ESO comments are due by Monday, February 8, 2016 via email, fax (614) 644-2745, or mail: Rule Coordinator, Ohio EPA, Division of Surface Water, P.O. Box 1049, Columbus, OH 43216-1049

Contact OMA’s Rob Brundrett to share your thoughts on this issue.

Hazardous Waste Reports Due to Ohio EPA March 1

Ohio EPA 2015 Hazardous Waste Reports are due on March 1, 2016.  This report is required of any facility that generated more than 2200 pounds of hazardous waste (or 2.2 lbs. of acute hazardous waste) in any calendar month in 2015.

For 2015 there are no changes to the reporting process, which means no changes to the eBusiness Center data entry screens or paper forms.  The only change for this year’s report is the exclusion of the Waste Code U202.  This code, indicating saccharin, is no longer considered a hazardous waste.

Ohio EPA is encouraging all businesses that have filed on paper, to consider using the eDRUMS reporting site.  The eDRUMS software has many features that help you prepare the report quickly and more accurately than on paper, including the ability to copy a previous year’s report as a starting point for a new report, even if you haven’t filed electronically in the past.

If you have questions please contact Thomas Babb, Ohio EPA Hazardous Waste Report Coordinator, at (614) 914-2527.