Documents Out for Public Comment
Draft 401 Certification for U.S. EPA’s Vessel General NPDES PermitOhio EPA has issued a draft 401 Certification for U.S. EPA’s Vessel General NPDES permit. U.S. EPA's permit would cover vessels nationwide, and covers and regulates a wide variety of discharges from vessels, including ballast water, bilge water and gray water discharged from vessels. Sanitary wastewater discharges are exempt from the Clean Water Act, but are covered by U.S. Coast Guard regulations. All federal actions that could affect water quality in a state must obtain a certification from the state that the action meets state water quality standards. The issue affecting Ohio waters is the ballast water discharge and whether that discharge meets Ohio water quality standards. Ballast water is water and associated suspended sediments taken into or discharged from ballast tanks to maintain the stability of the vessel. Comments on Ohio EPA's draft 401 Certification must be submitted by November 26, 2008. Go here for more information. State Controlling Board Approves Surface Water Improvement Fund
On August 19, the State of Ohio Controlling Board approved the creation of the Surface Water Improvement Fund, which allows the Division to make grants for projects that restore or improve Ohio’s impaired waters. Funding for these grants will come from supplemental environmental projects, alternative mitigation and payments and contributions from state agencies, corporate sponsors and others. Ohio municipalities, county and township governments, statewide conservation organizations and metro park districts may be eligible to receive grants from this fund. Watershed groups may also be eligible, with the support of a co-sponsoring local government. Projects such as stream restorations, dam removals, wetland and riparian restoration and innovative storm water management projects are all possibilities. Further information about grants from the Surface Water Improvement Fund and forthcoming Requests for Proposals will be announced in the next few months on this Web page. Questions may be directed to Russ Gibson, Nonpoint Source Section manager, at (614) 644-2020 or e-mail at russ.gibson@epa.state.oh.us. Discharger-specific Permit Information
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new funding opportunity will soon become available for nonpoint source and other watershed
improvement projects.