901:10-4-05. General operating permit

A general permit to operate shall be effective from the date of issuance for a fixed term not to exceed five years. Holders of certificates of coverage under this permit shall comply with the following specified conditions and limitations.

(A) Applicability. "Concentrated animal feeding operation" or "CAFO" has the same meaning as division (F) of section 903.01 of the Revised Code and refers to those operations that are subject to the federally enforceable provisions of a permit into which NPDES requirements have been incorporated. "Concentrated animal feeding facilities" or "facilities" have the same meaning as division (E) of section 903.01 of the Revised Code and refer to those facilities that are subject to permits to operate. With respect to NPDES operations, the following requirements also apply to and are enforceable pursuant to the Act and to the extent authorized by federal law:

(1) The information required for NPDES permits in rule 901:10-1-02 of the Administrative Code;

(2) The information required in rule 901:10-3-01 of the Administrative Code except where general NPDES permits are specifically excluded;

(3) A manure management plan that complies with the requirements of rules 901:10-2-08 to 901:10-2-11, 901:10-2-13 to 901:10-2-16 and rule 901:10-2-18 of the Administrative Code;

(4) Inspections required in rule 901:10-2-08 of the Administrative Code;

(5) An operating record developed in accordance with rule 901:10-2-16 of the Administrative Code with the use of forms prescribed by the director and other forms selected by the owner or operator for the facility and approved by the director. The operating record shall be maintained at the site office at all times. Upon approval of the NPDES permit, the operating record shall be deemed part of the NPDES permit;

(6) An emergency response plan containing the information required in rule 901:10-2-17 of the Administrative Code; and

(7) An annual report required in rule 901:10-2-20 of the Administrative Code.

(B) Performance standards.

(1) Compliance is required with rules 901:10-2-08 to 901:10-2-19 of the Administrative Code.

(2) The facility permitted under a general permit shall be effectively maintained and operated to prevent the discharge of pollutants to waters of the state. Facilities which are in compliance with their manure management plan (MMP) and a general permit which unintentionally discharge as a result of the twenty-five year, twenty-four hour storm event or greater will not be considered to be in violation of this permit.

(3) For new and existing facilities, the operating level of manure treatment lagoons and manure storage ponds in rule 901:10-2-06 of the Administrative Code must have at a minimum containment capacity at the prospective operating level that can also contain adequate storage for a twenty-five year, twenty-four hour storm event, one foot of freeboard and any additional storage required in the MMP.

(4) For new and expanding facilities, the operating level of fabricated structures in rule 901:10-2-05 of the Administrative Code must have at a minimum storage volume at the prospective operating level that can also contain adequate storage for a twenty-five year, twenty-four hour storm event and six inches of freeboard and any additional storage required in the MMP.

(5) The manure management plan, the operating record and insect and rodent control plan are incorporated by reference into a general permit to operate. The permittee shall maintain compliance with an approved MMP, the operating record rules and insect and rodent control plan as required under state law.

(6) A facility may be expanded by not more than ten per cent in excess of the design capacity set forth in the current design capacity, provided that in no case during a five year period shall the facility's capacity be increased by more than ten per cent in the aggregate and further, that in no case shall the capacity be increased so as to exceed the number of animal units authorized in the category of the general permit.

(7) New or expanding facilities are required to be inspected by the director or an authorized representative in a timely manner prior to stocking the animals.

(8) A copy of the certificate of coverage ("COC"), general permit, distribution and utilization records, the insect and rodent control plan, the operating record and the MMP shall be maintained at the site office where manure management activities are being conducted for the life of the general permit. These documents shall be kept in good condition and shall be maintained in an orderly fashion.

(C) Operation and maintenance requirements.

(1) The manure storage or treatment facilities and equipment shall be properly maintained at all times.

(2) The manure land application sites and setbacks as required in appendix A of rule 901:10-2-14 of the Administrative Code shall be properly maintained at all times.

(3) The phosphorus and nitrogen application rates shall be maintained as set forth in paragraphs (B) to (E) rule 901:10-2-14 of the Administrative Code. Available water capacity identified in the MMP shall be maintained in accordance with appendix B of rule 901:10-2-14 of the Administrative Code.

(4) Unless designed and permitted to do so, domestic and/or industrial wastewater from showers, toilets, sinks, etc. shall not be discharged into the manure storage or treatment facility.

(5) Disposal of dead animals shall be done in accordance with specified best management practices and rule 901:10-2-15 of the Administrative Code.

(6) All stormwater conveyances shall be inspected and maintained to keep runoff from the surrounding property and buildings and shall be diverted away from the manure treatment lagoons and/or manure storage ponds to prevent any unnecessary addition to the liquid volume in these structures unless the lagoons and/or ponds are designed for such runoff containment.

(7) A protective vegetative cover shall be maintained on all disturbed areas (manure treatment lagoon or manure storage pond embankments, berms, pipe runs, erosion control areas, etc.). Emerging vegetation such as trees, shrubs and other woody species shall not be allowed to grow on the dikes or side slopes of manure treatment lagoons or manure storage ponds. Manure treatment lagoon and manure storage pond areas are to be kept mowed and accessible unless these areas are grassed waterways or buffers that manage precipitation runoff and stormwater.

(8) Management of the manure residuals shall be in accordance with the MMP.

(9) When removal of manure residuals from the manure storage or treatment facilities is necessary, provisions must be taken to prevent damage.

(10) Solid materials including, but not limited to, bottles, light bulbs, gloves, syringes or any other solid waste from the facility shall be prevented from entering the manure storage or treatment facility.

(11) The owner or operator must have at all times: adequate manure application and handling equipment on site; an agreement to acquire or have use of the necessary equipment; a third party applicator capable of providing adequate manure application equipment; or a distribution and utilization plan.

The equipment must be capable of land applying the manure on the sites specified in the MMP, including compliance with the agronomic rate, available water capacity for the land application sites and incorporation of manure, where required. Records shall be maintained in the operating record as required in rule 901:10-2-16 of the Administrative Code

(D) Monitoring and reporting requirements.

(1) Manure treatment and storage facilities under the control of the owner or operator shall be inspected for evidence of erosion, leakage, damage or discharge. A written chronological record of maintenance and repairs shall be maintained in the operating record and be made readily available during a scheduled inspection of the facility. These records shall also be made available at the request of the director. All repairs shall be completed promptly. The department shall inspect any major structural repairs.

(2) If not already installed at a facility, a liquid level board or staff gauge or other appropriate device, as approved by the director, shall be installed within sixty days of issuance of the COC under a general permit to monitor manure levels. This board or gauge or other appropriate device, as approved by the director, shall have readily visible permanent markings indicating the summation of the residual manure volume and minimum storage or treatment design volume and shall be designated as the "stop pumping" elevation. The liquid level board, staff gauge or other appropriate device, as approved by the director, shall also indicate the elevation corresponding to the summation of the maximum storage volume, residual solids minimum storage, volume, runoff and wash down volumes and manure volume and shall be designated as "start pumping" elevation. Where manure storage ponds are utilized, only a gauge with visible permanent markings indicating when the pump-out begins and freeboard elevations need be installed. Caution must be taken not to damage the integrity of the liner when installing the gauge. Levels shall be recorded in the operating record that must be maintained at the facility, in compliance with the MMP.

(3) Soil testing shall be conducted as described in the MMP on each land application site receiving manure. The results of these tests shall be maintained in the operating record by the owner or operator for a minimum of five years and shall be made available to the director.

(4) An analysis of the manure from the manure storage or treatment facility shall be conducted initially after issuance of the COC and thereafter as described in the MMP. This analysis shall include the parameters listed in the MMP.

(5) Proper records, including maintenance, repairs and the operating record, shall be maintained on site and in chronological and legible form for a minimum of five years. These records shall be readily available for inspection in the operating record.

(E) Emergency response plan.

An emergency response plan must be developed that shall include the following:

(1) The names and telephone numbers of persons who are identified by the owner or operator as responsible for implementing the plan;

(2) Areas of the facility where potential spills can occur and their accompanying surface and subsurface drainage points;

(3) Procedures to be followed in the event of a spill, including an actual or imminent discharge to waters of the state:

(a) Actions to contain or manage the spill or discharge;

(b) Identification of proper authorities to be contacted;

(c) Actions to mitigate any adverse effects of a spill or discharge; and

(d) Identification of equipment and cleanup materials to be used in the event of a spill or discharge.

(4) Procedures for reporting. The owner or operator shall report by telephone to the department as soon as possible, but in no case more than twenty-four hours following first knowledge of the occurrence of the following:

(a) The time at which the discharge or spillage occurred, if known, and or was discovered;

(b) The approximate amount and characteristics of the discharge or spillage;

(c) The receiving waters affected by the discharge or spillage;

(d) The circumstances that created the discharge or spillage;

(e) The names and telephone numbers of the persons who have knowledge of these circumstances;

(f) Those steps being taken to clean up the discharge or spillage; and

(g) The names and telephone numbers of the persons responsible for the cleanup.

(5) For any emergency that requires immediate reporting after normal business hours, the owner or operator shall contact the Ohio department of agriculture's emergency telephone number.

(6) If applicable, the owner or operator shall notify the appropriate local authorities.

(7) The owner or operator shall also file a written report of the occurrence in letter form within five days following first knowledge of the occurrence unless waived by the director permitting an extension of time. This report shall outline the actions taken or proposed to be taken to correct the problem and to ensure that the problem does not recur.

(F) Inspections.

Any duly authorized officer, employee or representative of the department may inspect the permitted site at any reasonable time upon presentation of credentials and in accordance with reasonable and appropriate biosecurity measures, for the purpose of determining compliance with this permit; may inspect or obtain a copy of any records that must be kept under the terms and conditions of this permit; and may obtain samples of the manure, soil, groundwater or surface water.

(G) General conditions.

(1) In addition to the general conditions set forth in this paragraph, the owner or operator of an NPDES operation shall comply with the standard terms and conditions set forth in rule 901:10-3-10 of the Administrative Code.

(2) Upon reasonable cause to believe that any activities pursuant to this permit may cause or contribute any manure, directly or indirectly, to be intermixed with the waters of the state, the department may require any monitoring (including but not limited to groundwater, surface water and soil) necessary to determine the source, quantity, quality and effect of such waste upon the waters of the state. Such monitoring, including its scope, frequency, duration and any sampling, testing and reporting systems, shall meet all applicable requirements, including records maintained in the operating record. The director has the ability to determine that an individual NPDES or general NPDES permit may be required.

(3) Failure to abide by the conditions and limitations contained in this permit and any COC issued under a general permit may subject the owner or operator to an enforcement action in accordance with Ohio law and may include the requirement to obtain an individual permit, the addition of manure storage or treatment facilities or the addition of land application sites.

(4) The issuance of a COC under a permit does not excuse the owner or operator from the obligation to comply with all applicable statutes, rules, regulations, or ordinances (local, state and federal).

(5) If animal production is to be suspended or terminated, the owner or operator is responsible for developing, implementing and completing a closure plan in accordance with rule 901:10-2-18 of the Administrative Code which will eliminate the possibility of an illegal discharge, pollution and the potential for environmental degradation to waters of the state and shall be in accordance with applicable closure standards in effect when the closure plan is developed and implemented.

Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 11/18/2020 and 11/18/2025
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 903.08, 903.10
Rule Amplifies: 903.03, 903.08, 903.09, 903.10
Prior Effective Dates: 07/02/2002, 09/15/2005, 01/29/2007, 06/08/2014

Prior History: (Effective: 06/08/2014
R.C. 119.032 review dates: 03/21/2014 and 06/08/2019
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 903.08, 903.10
Rule Amplifies: 903.03, 903.08, 903.09, 903.10
Prior Effective Dates: 9/15/2005, 1/29/2007)