Date: August 4, 2006
Source: OhioEPA
Public Comments Sought by September 1
Ohio EPA is introducing a new approach to regulating waste disposal in Ohio. New draft rules would provide consistent, science-based requirements for protective liners at construction and demolition debris (C&DD) landfills, industrial waste landfill facilities and disposal lagoons.
Ohio EPA Director Joseph Koncelik said, "The proposed system evaluates the potential for environmental problems and applies the best levels of protection for each circumstance without over-regulating."
Ohio EPA began evaluating its liner requirements in 2004 in response to concerns about disposal requirements for industrial waste. Some of the concerns about over-regulation were legitimate, Ohio EPA acknowledged. While Ohio EPA was researching possible alternatives, the Ohio General Assembly passed two bills to strengthen regulations for C&DD landfills.
HB 432 requires Ohio EPA to develop rules to create a ground water monitoring fee and to establish what material can be disposed at a C&DD facility. HB 397 requires Ohio EPA to adopt rules to govern ground water and leachate monitoring, closure and post-closure care of C&DD facilities: prohibit pulverized debris; and require compliance history disclosures and reporting on rejected loads. It also requires Ohio EPA to establish a permitting program for construction and demolition debris facilities, including expanded siting criteria.
Following extensive research using the latest science and Ohio-specific data, Ohio EPA determined it makes sense to have a consistent approach to liner standards based on the potential environmental impacts of the facility rather than its legal classification. As a result, the draft rules include 14 liner options for lagoon systems, 12 options for industrial waste landfills and seven options for C&DD landfills. Requirements range from no liner at all to a five-foot thick recompacted clay liner combined with a dense plastic liner. Requirements for C&DD landfills range from a minimal recompacted soil liner to a five-foot thick recompacted clay liner combined with a dense plastic liner.
Information about these rules can be obtained on Ohio EPA's web site at: www.epa.state.oh.us/dsiwm/ or by calling (614) 644-2621.
To comment on the rules, contact Scott Heidenreich at (614) 728-5333, or send written comments by e-mail to scott.heidenreich@epa.state.oh.us or by mail to Ohio EPA, Division of Solid and Infectious Waste Management, P.O. Box 1049, Columbus, Ohio 43216-1049, no later than Friday, September 1, 2006.
Ohio EPA will consider all comments submitted prior to September 1 before formally proposing these rules. When the rules are formally proposed, Ohio EPA will hold a public hearing and offer another public comment period before adopting final rules.
Definitions:
Construction and demolition debris: materials resulting from the alteration, construction, destruction, rehabilitation or repair of any manmade physical structure, such as drywall, brick, concrete, plaster, lumber, roofing materials, plumbing fixtures, heating equipment, electrical wiring and components containing no hazardous fluids or refrigerants and insulation.
Industrial solid waste: a type of solid waste generated by manufacturing or industrial operations including, but not limited to, solid waste resulting from electric power generation; fertilizer/agricultural chemicals; food and food-related products/byproducts; inorganic chemicals; iron and steel manufacturing; pulp and paper industry; rubber and miscellaneous plastic products; stone, glass, clay and concrete products; textile manufacturing; and transportation equipment.
Waste lagoon: Industrial solid waste is waste generated by manufacturing or industrial operations and includes, but is not limited to, industrial scrap, ash, sand, slag, industrial waste water sludges and air pollution control dusts.
Media Contact:
Linda Fee Oros
OhioEPA
Public Interest Center
P.O. Box 1049, 122 S. Front St.
Columbus, OH 43216-1049
Tele: (614) 644-2160 Fax: (614) 644-2737
For more information visit: www.epa.state.oh.us.
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