3745-83-01 Operational requirements.

 

 

 

State of Ohio Environmental Protection Agency

 

 

PUBLIC NOTICE

 

September 28, 2011

 

Request for Comment on Draft Rules

 

Notice is hereby given that the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Division of Drinking and Ground Waters (DDAGW) has proposed revisions to miscellaneous rules in the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) governing well standards, operational requirements, plan approval and backflow and cross-connection control for public water systems.  The proposed amendments to the OAC are, in part, a result of the five year rule review requirements of Section 119.032 of the Revised Code.

 

DDAGW has proposed revisions to the operational requirements which establish practices for public water systems to ensure they are achieving optimal water quality, including disinfection requirements, approval of chemicals being used, minimum pressure requirements, operational analyses and reporting requirements.  Revisions to this rule eliminate redundant information, clarify monitoring requirements, and require reports to be submitted electronically via the electronic drinking water reporting system (eDWR).

 

Proposed revisions were also made in DDAGW's well standard rules.  References to ANSI/NSF Standards 60 and 61 were updated to reflect the most recent version in these rules, as well as in the operational requirements rule.  Additionally, the well standards rules were revised to provide additional flexibility when approving existing wells.

 

The division has also added a cross reference to capability assurance plans in requirements for supporting information for plan approval.  In addition, DDAGW proposed revisions to a plan approval rule to require removal of non-functional equipment or equipment no longer in use to prevent potential threats to water quality. Lastly, rules governing yard hydrants with weep holes have been clarified to specify conditions in which they are acceptable.

 

As part of the rule-making process, the Agency is required by Section 121.39 of the Ohio Revised Code to consult with organizations that represent political subdivisions, environmental interests, business interests, and others affected by the rules.  The Agency is offering you and your organization the opportunity to comment on these rules before the division formally proposes them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A public hearing pursuant to §119.03 of the Ohio Revised Code will be conducted on October 31, 2011, beginning at 10:30 a.m. in Conference Room B at the Ohio EPA, Lazarus Government Center, 50 West Town Street, Columbus, Ohio.  All interested persons are entitled to attend or be represented and give their written or oral comments on this proposed rule-making.  A presiding officer will be present until all interested persons have been heard.

To facilitate scheduling of oral presentations, persons intending to give testimony at the hearing should ensure that Ohio EPA receives notice of such intent by 5:00 p.m. on October 28, 2011.  Persons who provide Ohio EPA with prior notice will be heard ahead of persons who register at the hearing. All visitors to Ohio EPA must register at the Security desk in the lobby upon arrival. Please bring photo identification (such as a valid driver's license).  For security reasons, visitors are required to wear their badge at all times while in the building.  Please arrive early to complete these procedures.  To provide notice of intent to give oral comments at the public hearing, contact Susan Baughman by mail at Ohio EPA, DDAGW, Lazarus Government Center, 50 West Town Street, Suite 700, Columbus, Ohio 43215, or by phone at (614) 644-

2752.

In order to ensure that written comments are considered as part of the official record of this hearing, written comments must be received by Ohio EPA by the close of business October 31, 2011.  Written comments on the proposed rules may be given to the presiding officer during the hearing, sent by mail to Susan Baughman at the address above, or sent by email to the following address  [e-mail].

To obtain a copy of the proposed rules, contact Donna Roberts at Ohio EPA at [phone] or email at [e-mail].  Please request the "proposed miscellaneous amendments" and, if a recorded message is left, be sure to include your name, telephone number, and complete mailing address.  There is no charge for proposed rules.  The proposed rules will be available on the Agency web page until their adoption or withdrawal.  The address is:  http://www.epa.ohio.gov/ddagw/rulemaking.aspx#proposed.

Questions concerning this proposed rule-making, other than obtaining copies of the proposed rules, may be addressed to Susan Baughman at Ohio EPA, DDAGW, Lazarus Government Center, 50 West Town Street, Suite 700, Columbus, Ohio 43215 or by phone at [phone].  Email can be sent to  [e-mail].