BEFORE THE OHIO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

BEFORE THE

OHIO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Public Notice

Proposed Update to State Water Quality Management Plan

and Section 208 Plans

Public Notice No. OEPA 19-06-066

Date of Issue of Public Notice: Jun-28-2019

Notice is hereby given that the Director of Environmental Protection is proposing to

update water quality management plans, as required by Sections 303 and 208 of the

Clean Water Act. These plans describe and promote efficient and comprehensive

programs for controlling water pollution from point and nonpoint sources in a defined

geographic area. This update includes 208 Plans from the following Areawide Councils

of Governments:

• Eastgate Regional Council of Governments;

• Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission;

• Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency;

• Northeast Ohio Four County Regional Planning and Development

Organization;

• Ohio Kentucky Indiana Regional Council of Governments; and

• Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments.

Areawide Councils of Governments act as the lead planning agencies in 24 Ohio

counties (those with large urban populations). The Areawide Agencies prepare and

approve the 208 Plan in their counties. Pursuant to applicable regulations, the State of

Ohio has authority to certify that the documents include the required plan elements, are

consistent with one another, and are consistent with basin plans. The State of Ohio

prepares and maintains the 208 Plan applicable in the remaining 64 counties. The

Governor then certifies the entire 208 Plan via submission to U.S. EPA for their approval.

A public hearing on the proposed 208 Plan update will be held to consider public

comments. This hearing will be held at 3:00 p.m. on August 13, 2019 at the following

location: Ohio EPA Central Office 50 W. Town Street, Suite 700, Conference Room

A, Columbus, Ohio 43215. Comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. on August

18, 2019 to be considered part of the official record.

All visitors to Ohio EPA must register at the Security desk in the lobby upon

arrival. Please bring photo identification (such as a valid driver's license). For

security reasons, visitors are required to wear their badge at all times while in the

building. Please arrive early to complete these procedures.

To facilitate the scheduling of oral presentations, persons intending to give testimony

at the hearing should notify the Ohio EPA Public Interest Center, P.O. Box 1049,

Columbus, Ohio 43216-1049, (614) 644-2160. Prior registration will ensure that

registrants are heard ahead of those individuals who register at the hearing. Oral

testimony may be limited to five minutes, depending on the number of persons

testifying. All interested persons are entitled to attend or be represented and to present

oral and/or written comments concerning the 208 Plan update.

Written testimony should be sent to the attention of Walter Ariss at the Division

of Surface Water, P.O. Box 1049, Columbus, Ohio 43216-1049. Written comments

may also be submitted to the Hearing Officer at the public hearing. Written

testimony will receive the same consideration as oral testimony. All testimony

received at the hearing or by 5:00 p.m. on August 18, 2019, will be considered by

Ohio EPA prior to final action on the 208 Plan update. Written comments submitted

after this date may be considered as time and circumstances permit.

For questions or to supply comments regarding this public notice, please contact

Walter Ariss, at the Division of Surface Water (DSW), at (614) 644-3075 or via e-

mail at walter.ariss@epa.ohio.gov. The proposed 208 Plan update is available for

review at the Ohio EPA central office or on the DSW Web site at:

http://www.epa.ohio.gov/dsw/SurfaceWater.aspx