Rule-making in Progress

Proposing new rules and amendments to existing rules is a regular activity conducted by Ohio EPA in response to laws passed by the General Assembly and federal rule requirements. The Agency is also required by state law to review its rules at least once every five years to ensure their continued need and relevance.

During the Ohio rule-making process, rules are in one of four phases: draft, proposed, final but not yet effective and effective. Electronic versions of rules in each of these various phases may be viewed by scrolling down this page or by clicking on the appropriate links.

Ohio EPA distributes draft rules to interested parties for review and comment before they are filed with the Ohio General Assembly's Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR). Ohio EPA considers comments received from this preliminary review and makes changes to the rules as appropriate.

Ohio EPA then files proposed rules with JCARR and other agencies as required by Ohio Revised Code 119.03. Another opportunity for public comment is offered.  More information about proposed rules is on the Register of Ohio Web site.

After Ohio EPA considers public comments and makes additional changes to the rules as appropriate, and after the review by JCARR is completed, the agency adopts final rules. There is usually a ten-day period before final rules become effective. Effective rules are the enforceable requirements found in the Ohio Administrative Code.

Join a rules electronic mailing list to stay informed about current rule-making and opportunities to provide comment during the process.

Draft Rules

The following draft rules have been distributed to interested parties for review and comment:

Miscellaneous Amendments

Public Notice: DDAGW seeks comment on Miscellaneous Amendments to the Primary Drinking Water rules

• 3745-81-11 (Amend) Maximum contaminant levels and best available technologies for inorganic contaminants
• 3745-81-19 (Amend) Use of bottled water and point-of-use or point-of-entry treatment devices
• 3745-81-26 (Amend) Radionuclide monitoring requirements

Proposed Rules

The following proposed rules have been filed with the Ohio General Assembly's Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR):

Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts (DBP) Rules

Public Notice: DDAGW seeks comments on proposed Stage 2 rules.
Response to comments received on draft Stage 2 rules.

• 3745-81-01 (Amend) Definitions
• 3745-81-10 (Amend) Maximum residual disinfectant levels
• 3745-81-12 (Amend) Maximum contaminant levels and best available technologies for organic contaminants
• 3745-81-22 (New) Initial distribution system evaluations
• 3745-81-23 (Amend) Inorganic chemical monitoring requirements
• 3745-81-24 (Amend) Organic chemical monitoring requirements
• 3745-81-31 (Amend) Reporting requirements for public water systems
• 3745-81-33 (Amend) Record maintenance
• 3745-81-70 (Amend) Monitoring requirements for disinfection residuals
• 3745-81-75 (Amend) Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
• 3745-81-77 (Amend) Treatment techniques for control of disinfection byproduct (DBP) precursors
• 3745-81-78 (Amend) Optimization of distribution systems for control of disinfection byproducts
• 3745-89-03 (Amend) Procedure for laboratory approval
• 3745-96-02 (Amend) Required report content

Long Term 2 (LT2) Surface Water Treatment Rules

Public Notice: DDAGW seeks comments on proposed rules and amendments to the LT2 rules.
Response to comments received on LT2 draft rules.

• 3745-81-27 (Amend) Analytical techniques
• 3745-81-32 (Amend) Public notification
• 3745-81-60 (Amend) Sanitary surveys
• 3745-81-64 (New) General requirements of the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
• 3745-81-65 (New) Source monitoring requirements
• 3745-81-66 (New) Source monitoring results and grandfathered data
• 3745-81-67 (New) LT2 bin classification and treatment technique requirements
• 3745-81-68 (New) Microbial toolbox options for meeting Cryptosporidium treatment requirements
• 3745-81-69 (New) Reporting and recordkeeping requirements for LT2 only
• 3745-81-71 (Amend) General requirements for filtration and disinfection of surface water sources.
  3745-81-71 Appendix
• 3745-81-72 (Amend) Disinfection of water from surface water sources
• 3745-81-73 (Amend) Filtration of water from surface water sources
• 3745-81-76 (Amend) Water source designation
• 3745-89-05 (Amend) Requirements for maintaining laboratory certification
• 3745-89-11 (New) Approved for laboratories for the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
   

Plan Approval

Public Notice: DDAGW seeks comments on proposed amendments to the plan approval rules.
Response to comments received on draft amendments to the plan approval rules.

• 3745-91-02 (Amend) Application for approval of plans.
• 3745-91-03 (Amend) Requirements for plan drawings.
• 3745-91-08 (Amend) Procedure for approval; changes.   
• Rule by References:
  • Planning and Design Criteria for Establishing Approved Capacity for Surface Water and Ground Water Supply Sources; Drinking Water Treatment Plants; and Source/WTP Systems
  • Guidelines for Design of Small Public Water Systems
  • Guidelines for Arsenic Removal Treatment for Small Public Drinking Water Systems

Final But Not Yet Effective Rules

There are not currently any rules in this stage of the rule-making process.

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