Environment Management

Cleveland, Cincinnati in Non-Attainment for Ozone Standard

This week, the Ohio EPA hosted calls to notify stakeholders in the Cincinnati and Cleveland areas that both regions will not be in attainment under the federal ozone standard of 2015. Both regions are required to be in compliance with the standard by Aug. 3, 2021.

Because both regions are reporting higher ozone numbers, they will considered as being in “moderate non-attainment.” This status change will trigger additional compliance requirements under the federal Clean Air Act, including emissions offsets.

The OMA will continue to work with members and Ohio EPA on Ohio’s responses to these new challenges. Ohio EPA says they are working with other states to examine non-point source solutions — not just point sources, which tend to punish manufacturers. 9/17/2020

Lake Erie Commission Advisory Group Includes OMA Members

The Lake Erie Commission has voted to establish an advisory group to better vet technology-driven proposals that will help combat harmful algal blooms to protect Lake Erie and Ohio waterways. Among the OMA members that have been named to the H2Ohio Technology Assessment Program advisory council are Scotts Miracle-Gro Company and Owens Corning. 9/14/2020

Ohio EPA Webinar on Regulations in Your Community

Late last month, Ohio EPA hosted a webinar titled, “Environmental Regulations of Businesses in Your Community.” The webinar is now available on demand. It provides an overview of the environmental regulations affecting both large and small businesses in Ohio communities — and explains Ohio EPA’s permitting, inspection, and enforcement procedures. 9/17/2020

Ohio EPA Compliance Assistance Conference Begins Next Week

Here’s a reminder that this year’s Ohio EPA Compliance Assistance Conference, which will be completely online, begins Monday, Sept. 21 and will continue over a three-week period. For details, see this guide or go directly to the registration page. 9/17/2020

Ohio EPA Director Laurie Stevenson to Headline OMA Environment Committee’s Sept. 29 Meeting

Ohio EPA Director Laurie Stevenson will address the OMA Environment Committee at its upcoming meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 29. Director Stevenson will provide a complete rundown of the agency’s activities and priorities. Please plan to join us by registering here. 9/10/2020

Report: Environmental Agencies Have Ended COVID-19 Enforcement Discretion Policies

Earlier this year, the U.S. EPA and other environmental regulators developed temporary enforcement discretion policies to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on their own employees, as well as on the employees of regulated companies and their contractors. States, including Ohio, also adopted their own enforcement discretion policies.

This week, OMA Connections Partner Benesch published a new bulletin stating that both U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA have terminated these enforcement discretion policies. According to Benesch, Ohio business “would be wise to assume that environmental regulators will now be deeply skeptical of claims that any ongoing difficulties.” 9/10/2020

Ohio EPA Compliance Assistance Conference Begins Sept. 21

This year’s Ohio EPA Compliance Assistance Conference, which will be completely online, begins Monday, Sept. 21 and will continue over a three-week period.

The conference’s free sessions will focus on compliance with air, waste, and water regulations. Attendees may register for the individual sessions that are most relevant to their business. See this guide or go directly to the registration page. 9/10/2020

OMA Submits Comments on Water Quality Standards for Point Sources

On August 28, OMA submitted these comments to Ohio EPA regarding the agency’s Early Stakeholder Outreach (ESO) – OAC Chapter 3745-1-38 – Variances from Water Quality Standards for Point Sources.

OMA highlighted the wide ranging impact of the rule and stressed in particular that greater flexibility is needed with respect to the mercury variance portion of the rule.

We’ll will continue to work with Ohio EPA through the rule process. 9/3/2020

Register for Ohio EPA Virtual Compliance Assistance Conference – Sept. 21 – Oct. 8, No Charge

Ohio EPA’s popular compliance assistance conference goes virtual. The free 2020 Virtual Compliance Assistance Conference will provide daily interactive sessions focused on compliance with air, waste, and water regulations, strategically and conveniently spaced over three consecutive weeks.

Register for the free sessions individually to tap into the knowledge of fellow business owners, Ohio EPA staff, and invited guests. 9/3/2020

Roundtable to Focus on Reuse of Textile Materials

Does your business have recurring supplies of textile materials or an end-market or solution provider? If so, you can help Great Lakes businesses keep textiles out of the landfill. Ohio EPA invites you to take part in a virtual roundtable — held in conjunction with the Ohio Materials Marketplace — at 10:30 a.m. (ET) Tuesday, Sept. 1. 8/24/2020