Ohio
EPA Director and Gov. Kasich need to hear from us
Governor Kasich's Ohio EPA Director is
about to introduce new water regulations that are even more stringent than the
Federal EPA's! This set of regulations would have a devastating effect on the
coal industry, the fracking industry, municipalities and/or regional sewer
districts with their own waste water treatment plants, infrastructure projects
(road & sewer projects), development of any kind, etc.
The frustrating things is.... as we are
out there talking about how President Obama & Senator Sherrod Brown's
support of the EPA is causing our electric rates ad sewer bills to skyrocket
because of over-restrictive EPA mandates ad regulation, Governor Kasich's Ohio
EPA Director is trying to one-up them with stricter regulations.
Below are talking points and details about
the new water regulation proposals as being discussed by the Ohio EPA. If you
can take a few minutes and call Gov. Kasich's office, AND the Director of the
Ohio EPA, Scott J. Nally, let them know that this rules package should be
stopped in its tracks.
Scott J. Nally:
Phone: (614) 644-2782 ~ Fax: (614)
644-3184
Governor John
Kasich
Phone: (614) 466-3555
-----------------------------------------------------------
Water Quality Rules & Background
Talking Points
Background:
·
Rule package has two sections, water quality
standards and changes to 401 water quality certification program.
·
Water quality standards are regulations that set
use designations and chemical standards for lakes, rivers, and streams. These
rules contain use designations and the anti-degradation rule that set limits on
certain types of discharges.
·
The 401 water quality certification program
regulates filling of streams and wetlands with dredged or fill material
·
Both sets of rules have been proposed several times
and discussed in depth for at least ten years
Basis for Rules:
·
Ohio EPA has never clearly stated why they are
making significant changes to these administrative code sections:
·
Not mandated by US EPA
·
Not needed as part of the five year rule review
·
The proposed rules are significantly more
stringent than US EPA requires under the Clean Water Act
Specific Concerns with Rules:
·
Rules propose a complicated tiered aquatic life
use designation system that is overly complex, costly, and unnecessary
·
These rules unequivocally have more impact in
certain parts of the state and will impact the coal industry heavily
·
Ohio EPA is grossly underestimating how many
streams will be regulated as high quality waters under these rules, and
consequently, Ohio EPA is significantly underestimating the impacts to Ohio's
businesses
·
The testing required under rules is extremely
costly and there are not sufficient numbers of qualified individuals in the
State to conduct the sampling and analysis.
·
Rules add significant complexity, uncertainty
and inconsistencies
·
This rule will eliminate jobs in Ohio and it
will keep new investment from moving forward
·
Business Community Participation:
·
During Ohio EPA's work-group this summer,
participation was very limited, and not all business groups had the opportunity
to participate or have technical representatives at meetings of the work-group.
·
Ohio EPA did not consider information provided
by the business community and in general summarily dismissed any input from the
regulated community.
·
Ohio EPA refused to consider alternatives
suggested by the business community
·
Ohio EPA assumes that it is the responsibility
of the business community to prove the costs of a proposed rule.
·
Ohio EPA has not made a reasonable effort to
determine the actual costs of the rules on the business community
Ohio does not need yet more government
regulation.
