Surface Water Enhancement, Restoration and Protection (SWERP) Clearinghouse

Purpose

The purpose of the SWERP Clearinghouse is to serve as a networking tool to facilitate the identification and implementation of potential surface water improvement and protection projects that include restoration, protection or enhancement projects. It is intended to facilitate the process of identifying potential projects that may be selected as compensation for environmental impacts to surface waters throughout Ohio. It includes options submitted by land owners, government agencies, watershed coordinators and others that may result in improvement and/or protection of streams, wetlands and lakes.

SWERP Clearinghouse submissions are not evaluated by Ohio EPA or any other organization prior to listing in this Clearinghouse. The list of projects is comprised of voluntary submissions and does not represent a list of “approved” projects. The relevance and applicability must be evaluated by those selecting projects from this Clearinghouse and will ultimately be reviewed by Ohio EPA as part of an applicant's permit application or by other entities responsible for implementing surface water protection initiatives.

Note: Properties listed in the SWERP Clearinghouse must be owned by the applicant, or the property owner must have given express approval for listing the property in the Clearinghouse.

SWERP Clearinghouse Database

The database lists projects submitted to Ohio EPA and can be accessed two ways. The database is periodically updated to add new submissions. It is the applicant's or defendant's responsibility to determine if any of the listed projects are still available or viable.

• Access the database:
  • Clickable map or
  • Database table
• SWERP Clearinghouse Application [PDF 163K] - for those submitting SWERP projects for consideration. The form can be completed and saved using Adobe Acrobat™ reader version 7.0 or later.
• SWERP Clearinghouse Users Guide [PDF 89K] - provides helpful tips for completing the SWERP Application and for those seeking to use the SWERP Clearinghouse.
• Ohio EPA requests that, when projects are no longer available, those individuals or groups who posted the projects notify Ohio EPA as soon as possible by e-mailing SWERPclearinghouse@epa.state.oh.us so the projects may be removed from the Clearinghouse. Those seeking projects should check with those posting projects to determine if projects are still available. 

Programs for which the SWERP Clearinghouse can be used

This Clearinghouse lists potential projects that are submitted to Ohio EPA for consideration by those seeking mitigation projects through the 401 Water Quality Certification and Isolated Wetland Permit process, and by those seeking Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEP) to satisfy the requirements of an enforcement action.

• Section 401 Water Quality Certification & Isolated Wetland Permit Mitigation
• Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP)
  • Ohio EPA SEP Guidance [PDF 50K]
  •  U.S. EPA SEP Guidance - The U.S. EPA Web page includes links to SEP publications, policies and guidance and to a model consent agreement.

The SWERP Clearinghouse also provides a forum for presenting possible projects that may address implementation opportunities identified in other programs, such as:

• Total Maximum Daily Load Program projects,
• Source Water Assessment and Protection plans,
• Watershed Action Plans or
• Remedial Action Plans.

Links

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers district boundaries
• Ohio Revised Code sections 6111.02 to 6111.029 - Isolated wetland permit law
• Ohio Administrative Code rule 3745-1-54 [PDF 657K] - Wetland antidegradation rule
• Approved Mitigation Banks in Ohio

 For more information, contact:

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