Ground Water Support to Ohio EPA Programs

The Division of Drinking and Ground Waters supports other Ohio EPA Divisions with ground water issues related to municipal solid waste landfills, regulated and unregulated hazardous waste sites, and wastewater facilities. Information and data is evaluated to determine the adequacy of hydrogeologic characterization and ground water investigations.  The recommendations assist the divisions in making decisions regarding permitting, compliance, corrective actions, and enforcement. DDAGW also assists in the development of rule, policy and guidance. The mission is to protect ground water resources by providing support that is consistent and technically sound. The divisions supported include:

• The Division of Hazardous Waste Management (DHWM): DHWM regulates hazardous waste from the point of generation to final disposition, which is required by the 1976 federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). 
• The Division of Emergency and Remedial Response (DERR): DERR oversees investigation and cleanup of contaminated sites through enforcement and its Voluntary Action Program (VAP). The division responds to and oversees cleanup of emergency releases and spills to the environment. It also provides assistance to companies and communities who clean up and reuse brownfield sites.
• The Division of Solid and Infectious Waste Management (DSIWM): DSIWM issues permits to regulate various waste facilities, including landfills and construction and demolition debris disposal sites.
• The Division of Surface Water (DSW): DSW ensures compliance with the federal Clean Water Act and issues permits to regulate wastewater treatment plants, factories and storm water to reduce the impact of pollutants.
• The Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance (DEFA): DEFA finances municipal wastewater treatment projects and other projects improving water quality and drinking water projects through low-interest revolving loan programs. Eligible projects include building or renovating drinking water plants, wastewater plants or sewers; restoring aquatic habitat; improving home sewage disposal systems; and best management practices for agriculture or forestry to reduce and prevent water pollution.

Staff

Questions concerning ground water conditions at a particular regulated site or facility should be directed to DDAGW district staff as appropriate:

• Central District Office (Columbus)
• Northeast District Office (Twinsburg)
• Northwest District Office (Bowling Green)
• Southeast District Office (Logan)
• Southwest District Office (Dayton)

General questions about ground water investigative techniques and Ohio EPA rule, policy and guidance, should be directed to DDAGW's Central Office Ground Water Support staff as appropriate:

• For the regulation of non-hazardous solid waste and wastewater facilities:  Scott Sutliff, Stephen Churchill, or  Lindsay Taliaferro III
• For the regulation of hazardous waste facilities under RCRA:  Katie Crowell-Rader or Jeff Patzke
• For the regulation of sites under CERCLA or Ohio EPA's Voluntary Action Program (VAP):  Lisa Koenig or Jeff Patzke

Resources

• Technical Guidance Manual for Hydrogeologic Investigations and Ground Water Monitoring (TGM)
• Technical Guidance for Sealing Unused Wells
• Technical Guidance for Well Construction and Ground Water Protection
• Statistical Analysis of Groundwater Monitoring Data at RCRA Facilities - Unified Guidance (3/09)

Division of Solid and Infectious Waste Management (DSIWM) Guidance Documents issued by DDAGW

• DDAGW-02-03-100 (25 January 1994) - ADOPTED - Modifying Ground Water Monitoring Requirements
• DDAGW-02-05-100 (29 July 1997) - ADOPTED - Definition for Aquifer System [OAC Rule 3745-27-01(B)(4)]
• DDAGW-04-03-220 (25 July 1995) - ADOPTED - Solid Waste Policy: Ban on Field Filtration of Ground Water Samples from Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facilities [OAC Rule 3745-27-10(C)(1)]
• DDAGW-04-03-226 (25 July 1995) - ADOPTED - Solid Waste Policy: Practical Quantitation Limits [OAC Rule 3745-27-10(C)(&)(e) and OAC Rule 3745-27-10(C)(6)(e)]
• GD0303.110 (05 August 1991) - FINAL - Significant Zone of Saturation [OAC Rule 3745-27-01(RR)]
• GD0403.202 (25 January 1994) - FINAL - Solid Waste Guidance: Use of Alternate Parameter Lists [OAC Rule 3745-30-08(D)(2)] 
• GD0403.203 (01 July 2009) - FINAL - Solid Waste Guidance for Residual Waste Landfills [OAC Rule 3745-30-08(D)(8) to OAC Rule 3745-30-08(D)(13)]
• GD0403.204 (25 July 1995) - FINAL - Solid Waste Guidance: Statistical Evaluation requirements at Individual Monitoring Wells [OAC Rules 3745-27-10(C)(8), 3745-29-10(C)(8) and 3745-30-08(C)(7)]
• GD0410.102 (30 June 1996) - INTERIM - Solid Waste Guidance: Corrective Measures Plans [OAC Rule 3745-27-10(F)(2) to (10)] (Revised and Reissued 29 July 1997)

Division of Surface Water (DSW) Guidance Documents issued by DDAGW

• GD0303.010 (30 June 1996) - FINAL - Ground Water Monitoring Program Plan Requirements for Wastewater Facilities