PUBLIC INTEREST CENTER: (614) 644-2160
MEDIA CONTACT: Linda Fee Oros
CITIZEN CONTACT: Mary McCarron

Ohio EPA Drafts Hazardous Waste Rules to Require Report Every Two Years

Ohio EPA is holding a review period for interested parties to make comments on a package of nine proposed hazardous waste rules regarding reporting requirements.  The purpose of the rulemaking is to change the frequency that regulated facilities must submit a hazardous waste report to Ohio EPA from annual to biennial.

Ohio EPA will hold a public hearing regarding the revisions on Dec. 19, 2012, at 10:30 Columbus.  Those who intend to provide testimony at the hearing should preregister by calling (614) 644-2160.  All interested parties are entitled to present verbal or written comments concerning the proposed rulemaking. Visitors should bring a photo I.D. to check in at the building security desk.

The rules do not change any recordkeeping or record retention requirements.  Copies, manifests and other required shipping or transport-related records, generator records, waste descriptions, analysis and other requirements would still be required under the changes, as previously indicated in the rules. These records need to be available for inspection regardless of whether they are used to compile a hazardous waste report.

To learn more about the biennial set rules may be mailed to the Division of Materials and Waste Management, Attention: Kit Arthur, Ohio EPA, P.O. Box 1049, Columbus, Ohio 43216-1049.  Comments on these draft rules also may be submitted via email to rulecomments@epa.ohio.gov by Dec.19, 2012. Ohio EPA will consider all comments before finalizing these rule changes.

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The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency was created in 1972 to consolidate efforts to protect and improve air quality, water quality and waste management in Ohio. In the past 40 years, air pollutants dropped by as much as 90 percent; large rivers meeting standards improved from 21 percent to 89 percent; and hundreds of polluting, open dumps were replaced with engineered landfills and an increased emphasis on waste reduction and recycling. Ohio EPA….40 years and moving forward.