District Offices

The federal Clean Air Act requires U.S. EPA to set clean air standards to protect public health and welfare. The Division of Air Pollution Control has adopted rules that ensure those standards are met throughout Ohio.

To protect Ohio’s air quality, Ohio EPA annually reviews approximately 750 requests for permits for new or modified air pollution sources, and 262 requests for renewal permits. A permit can cover multiple sources of air pollution. Ohio has more than 700 major sources that require comprehensive state and federal operating permits. Ohio EPA requires continuous monitoring of emissions at 115 facilities, including more than 350 major pollution sources. Staff conduct biannual inspections of facilities that emit more than 100 tons of air pollution per year, and all facilities that emit regulated levels of hazardous air pollutants.

Local air pollution control agencies throughout Ohio have been delegated certain air pollution control responsibilities from Ohio EPA. These agencies work under contract with Ohio EPA and, along with our district offices, perform a variety of technical and engineering services. These agencies are typically part of a city, county or health district organization. The contracted agencies serve a critical role in air monitoring, permitting and compliance oversight in certain areas of the state in addition to performing certain activities directly for U.S. EPA and/or their parent organizations (for example, indoor air quality).

District and Local Air Pollution Control Agency Responsibilities

• Evaluate proposed new sources of air pollution to determine the types and amounts of proposed emissions and coordinate with Central Office to issue appropriate permits to prevent new outdoor air quality problems.
• Evaluate permit applications and make recommendations regarding issuance.
• Evaluate Title V applications for large air pollution sources and make recommendations regarding permit conditions and issuance.
• Inspect facilities with Title V permits (large facilities) at least once every two years.
• Biannually inspect and continually monitor stationary air permit holders.
• Provide technical assistance to industries, institutions, commercial facilities and the public.
• Monitor air quality by operating ambient air quality monitors.
• Investigate air pollution complaints.
• Inspect and review private testing companies’ procedures for testing smoke stack emissions.
• Contribute to creating a statewide emissions inventory to determine long-term pollution trends from major sources.
• Review non-Title V air permits at least once every 10 years.
• Investigate open burning complaints.
• Inspect buildings being renovated or demolished for asbestos regulation violations.
• Inspect gasoline stations to ensure that proper vapor recovery controls are being used.
• Provide expert testimony to support enforcement litigation. 

Ohio EPA is responsible for implementing the federal Safe Drinking Water Act and its amendments. The Division of Drinking and Ground Waters regulates all public water systems that have at least 15 service connections or serve 25 or more people at least 60 days per year. This assures Ohio’s citizens an adequate supply of safe drinking water.

Private drinking water systems, including residential wells, are not regulated by Ohio EPA, but are under the jurisdiction of local health departments.

Drinking water staff responsibilities

• Review, deny, cancel or recommend engineering plans for public drinking water systems.
• Provide technical assistance to owners, operators, designers and engineers of drinking water systems.
• Inspect public drinking water systems to identify and eliminate potential health hazards.
• Review operating records and data from public water systems to check for compliance with the regulations.
• Ensure public water systems conduct required sampling and have samples analyzed in state-certified laboratories.
• Require and help public water systems take action to correct unsafe conditions.
• Review proposed public water system well sites for acceptability.
• Explain requirements for establishing and operating a public drinking water system.
• Collect water samples for special investigations, new public water system well installations, etc.
• Investigate citizen complaints.
• Initiate enforcement actions for violations of state laws and regulations.
• Collect and maintain records of drinking water treatment plant operations, laboratory data and certifications, plan approvals, correspondence and public notifications.
• Promote regional water systems where safe and adequate supplies cannot otherwise be maintained.
• Ensure the public is notified of violations by appropriate public notification, and that all community water systems inform their customers about the quality of their drinking water by providing information in an annual consumer confidence report.

Ground water staff responsibilities

• Collect water quality samples at a statewide network of monitoring sites to maintain ongoing ground water quality data.
• Conduct specialized monitoring to identify ground water problems and determine cause and effect relationships between those problems and pollution sources. Once a determination is made, recommend strategies for improving water quality and preventing contamination.
• Provide technical evaluation of permit applications for solid, hazardous and infectious waste facilities and wastewater dischargers.
• Provide technical assistance related to identification and cleanup of ground water contamination at hazardous waste sites.
• Assist the State Fire Marshal, Ohio Department of Health and other agencies with ground water contamination issues.
• Investigate complaints about ground water contamination.
• Provide technical assistance regarding ground water issues to municipalities, industries, the public and other Ohio EPA divisions.
• Support enforcement, including assistance with case preparation, water sampling and expert testimony.
• Speak to interested groups about the importance of maintaining good water quality.
• Help public water systems develop plans to protect their sources of drinking water from contamination. 

The Division of Environmental Response and Revitalization handles the investigation and cleanup of contaminated sites, including RCRA corrective action and closure, VAP, federal facilities, Superfund and remedial response. DERR also provides assistance and guidance to communities and private entities interested in assessment, clean up and reuse of brownfield sites.

Enforcement/Remediation Program

• Coordinate the investigation and cleanup of sites contaminated with hazardous wastes that pose a potential threat to human health or the environment.
• Work in conjunction with U.S. EPA to ensure investigation and cleanup of federal Superfund sites in Ohio.
• Work with federal departments and agencies to ensure investigation and cleanup of Department of Defense and Department of Energy sites in Ohio.
• Investigate sources of contamination to public water systems in order to reduce or eliminate potential or actual threats to human health.
• Assess and prioritize hazardous waste sites for investigation and cleanup.

Voluntary Action Program (VAP)

• Provide regulations, guidance and technical assistance for private parties to investigate environmental contamination, clean it up if necessary and receive a promise from the State of Ohio that no more cleanup is needed. Site Assistance and Brownfield Revitalization Program
• Assist those working on brownfields or contaminated sites not yet in a cleanup program.
• Oversee Ohio’s brownfields program and market Ohio’s cleanup programs.
• Manage the environmental insurance program.
• Provide support to local governments in locating state and/or federal funding, determining the correct environmental program, finding technical assistance and conducting outreach and training on brownfield issues.
• Oversee VAP certification programs for environmental professionals and laboratories. 

Hazardous Waste

• Inspect hazardous waste transporters for compliance with manifest and applicable shipping requirements.
• Inspect facilities that treat, store or dispose of hazardous waste for compliance with rules and regulations.
• Initiate enforcement actions against generators and treatment, storage and disposal facilities that improperly manage hazardous wastes or do not comply with hazardous waste regulations.
• Review new and modified permit applications for hazardous waste facilities.
• Investigate complaints of improperly managed hazardous waste. Review plans for the proper closure of hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facilities and oversee closure activities at these facilities.
• Conduct oversight of corrective action activities at hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facilities.
• Assess compliance with Cessation of Regulated Operations (CRO) requirements where businesses will no longer operate.
• Determine compliance with used oil and universal waste regulations.
• Provide technical assistance to municipalities, industry and the general public.
• Conduct educational outreach activities to inform the regulated community of Agency and division activities.
• Coordinate with Ohio EPA’s Office of Compliance Assistance and Pollution Prevention to identify pollution prevention and waste minimization opportunities.

The Division of Materials and Waste Management ensures that non-hazardous wastes are managed in accordance with the applicable regulations. In addition to a traditional regulatory program, the division’s responsibilities include establishing and implementing statewide waste reduction, recycling, recycling market development and litter prevention programs for non-hazardous wastes. Regulations are in development to encourage the beneficial use of industrial byproducts to preserve resources, conserve energy and reduce the need for additional landfills. The division also oversees state and local planning for long-term solid waste management.

District office staff:

• Oversee solid waste, infectious waste and construction and demolition debris disposal programs managed by local health departments.
• Review permit applications for all new and expanding municipal, residual and industrial solid waste disposal facilities and infectious waste treatment facilities.
• Oversee construction of new and expanding solid waste disposal facilities and infectious waste treatment facilities to ensure compliance with permit requirements.
• Oversee construction of new and expanding construction and demolition debris disposal facilities to ensure compliance with rules.
• Inspect existing and closed municipal, residual and industrial solid waste landfills.
• Inspect solid waste incinerators, transfer facilities, composting facilities, scrap tire facilities and construction and demolition debris disposal sites.
• Monitor scrap tire cleanups.
• Investigate complaints of illegal dumping.
• Initiate enforcement actions for violations of regulations.
• Review proposals for construction activities on closed landfills.
• Review methane monitoring plans for landfills and landfill gas monitoring reports.
• Inspect infectious waste generators, treatment facilities and transporters.
• Provide information and technical assistance to local health departments, the regulated community and the general public.

The Division of Surface Water works to make sure that all of Ohio’s lakes, rivers and streams are fishable and swimmable. Many of the program activities, such as stream surveys, permitting and the development of watershed restoration plans are directed along watershed boundaries. In tackling these watershed issues, the division solicits the participation of citizen groups and new partnerships with other agencies.

Permit Activities

• Inspect sites for proposed wastewater treatment facilities.
• Review permit applications and draft wastewater discharge permits for municipal, commercial, industrial facilities and home sewage systems discharging to waters of the state.
• Review detailed plans for new, expanded or improved wastewater treatment plants, on-site sewage systems and sanitary sewers.
• Review plans for the disposal of sewage sludge and other residuals, such as spent lime sludge from water treatment plants.
• Review permit applications for and provide technical assistance to dischargers of storm water from industrial and construction sites.
• Review applications for the dredging or filling or wetlands or the modification of stream channels.

Compliance Activities

• Conduct inspections to ensure facilities comply with terms of discharge permits.
• Review monthly monitoring reports required from each discharger to assess compliance with permit limitations.
• Initiate enforcement actions for violations of permit conditions or other legal requirements.
• Investigate complaints concerning stream pollution and improperly treated wastewater discharges.
• Inspect areas approved for land application of sludge.

Pretreatment Activities

• Regulate and monitor performance of approved community pretreatment programs, where the community is the primary enforcer of regulations that set standards for industrial waste that discharges into the community’s sewage treatment system.
• Regulate industrial wastewater systems discharging in communities without an approved pretreatment program.
• Inspect the operation and maintenance of industrial pretreatment facilities.
• Review plans for proposed facilities that pretreat industrial discharges.
• Review and approve municipal pretreatment programs or proposed modifications to ensure they comply with state and federal regulations and community sewer use ordinances.
• Prepare enforcement referrals for violations by industrial users and communities with approved pretreatment programs.

Water Quality Activities

• Collect comprehensive data and use it to prepare detailed evaluations of the quality of the state’s major waterways as well as develop limits for various discharge permits. Conduct monitoring and toxics evaluations of permitted dischargers to determine compliance with permit requirements and/or current water quality standards.
• Conduct specialized monitoring and nonpoint source projects to identify surface water problems; determine cause and effect relationships between those problems and pollution sources; assist in determining attainable water quality standards; and recommend strategies for improving water quality and preventing contamination.
• Provide technical assistance on surface water issues to municipalities, industries, soil and water conservation districts, the public and other Ohio EPA divisions.
• Coordinate and participate in the development and implementation of plans to help restore stream quality.
• Sample public lakes for the state Inland Lakes Program.
• Support enforcement with case preparation, water sampling and expert testimony.
• Collect quarterly water samples from a statewide network of monitoring sites to update trends in surface water quality.

Storm Water Activities

• Issue permits that require the development of Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans and the implementation of best management practices to control the quality of storm water runoff from sites with construction and industrial activities.
• Permit and regulate storm water discharges from Ohio’s municipalities.
• Inspect permitted storm water sites and provide technical assistance.
• Investigate complaints.

Outreach Activities

• Provide technical assistance to support the development of locally driven water resource management plans that identify the causes of water resource impairment and methods for their control.
• Assist local entities with their applications for grants to address nonpoint source pollution issues.
• Speak to schools and interested groups about the importance of maintaining water quality.

The primary mission of the Office of Special Investigations is to investigate situations of actual or potential criminal violations of laws and regulations that are under the purview of Ohio EPA. This is the only group within Ohio EPA that is specifically designed to handle complex criminal investigations. These investigations often result in criminal sanctions against responsible individuals or companies.

Staff members have the flexibility to cross program boundaries in the course of their investigations. Each district office has at least one person who is responsible for following up on complaints and conducting investigations within the district’s service area. The activities below are examples of situations that may warrant OSI involvement:

• illegal disposal or abandonment of hazardous waste, solid waste or construction and demolition debris;
• burial of waste at unpermitted locations;
• unpermitted discharges into waters of the state;
• unpermitted emissions of toxic air pollutants;
• open burning;
• bypassing treatment systems;
• filling of wetlands;
• “rip and tear” asbestos projects;
• falsification of documents such as manifests, waste receipt logs and monthly operating reports; and
• making false statements to regulatory personnel. 

The Office of Compliance Assistance and Pollution Prevention (OCAPP) is a non-regulatory program that provides information and resources to help businesses achieve compliance with environmental regulations. Another primary goal of the office is to help customers identify and implement pollution prevention measures that can save money, increase business performance and benefit the environment.

Information obtained by the office is not shared with Ohio EPA inspection or enforcement staff. OCAPP has staff located in both the central and district offices. Each district has one OCAPP employee who is responsible for working directly with small businesses to help them understand and comply with applicable environmental requirements. The main services of OCAPP include:

• Respond to inquiries from a toll-free hotline, (800) 329-7518.
• Provide onsite compliance and pollution prevention assessments.
• Offer compliance and pollution prevention workshops/training.
• Maintain a library of publications written in plain English that explain regulatory requirements and pollution prevention opportunities.
• Help small businesses complete air permit applications and other Ohio EPA forms.

Under Ohio’s public records law, citizens have the right to view upon request the public records of offices such as Ohio EPA. Ohio’s public records law should not be confused with the Federal Freedom of Information Act, which applies to records held by federal agencies. For more information about Ohio’s public records law, you may review Ohio Revised Code 149.43 at http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/149.43.

In order to better identify, locate and track the file(s) being requested, Ohio EPA suggests all requests for public records or file reviews be submitted in writing. When making a request, it is suggested that you fill out and submit the file review request checklist. The Procedures for Public Records Requests and File Reviews fact sheet explains Ohio EPA’s file review process in more detail.

Ohio EPA does not have a central repository for all its records. Once your request is received, it is routed to the appropriate program offices to secure files. Once the files are located, you will be contacted to have copies made or to set up a convenient time for you to review the files.

Ohio EPA has created the eDocument Search, where noncompliance documents issued since Jan. 1, 2007 are posted online. This feature will improve efficiency; reduce costs; and greatly improve the public's ability to access to Ohio EPA's public records from anywhere without copying costs. 

To access public records in CDO, email Lisa Oltman, call (614) 728-0793 or fax your request to (614) 728-3898.

Due to increased demand for file reviews, appointments are required to review district files. Office typically asks for five days advance notice for file search requests. However, requests that are limited in nature (such as files for just one facility for just one division) can usually be accommodated in less than five days.

Any request for copies under 250 pages will be provided to you free of charge and will be made by our office staff. If the request totals more than 250 pages, you have the following options:

• Ohio EPA will do the copying for you at five cents a page and will invoice you along with the copies. A copying request form needs to be completed and submitted to File Review Coordinator for processing. Copies will be made and sent out within five business days following the file review.
• You may bring your own copy machine and Ohio EPA will provide an area for you to review the files and make your own copies.
• You may contact a private copy service to come to our office and copy the files. If this option interests you, you may contact the district office for names and numbers of copying services in the area.

This non-regulatory program provides information and resources to help small businesses comply with environmental regulations. OCAPP also helps customers identify and implement pollution prevention measures that can save money, increase business performance and benefit the environment. Services of the office include a toll-free hotline, on-site compliance and P2 assessments, workshops/training, plain-English publications library and assistance in completing permit application forms. 

For compliance assistance and pollution prevention information in central Ohio, email Jessica Caceres or call (614) 644-2130.

The Office of Special Investigations is the criminal investigative branch of Ohio EPA. The office works in partnership with other state and federal agencies to conduct investigations of activities that may criminally violate any of the state or federal environmental laws or regulations. The office's investigations span all of Ohio EPA's environmental programs. To report suspected violations or illegal activities, email Ron Bonner or call 1-800-282-9378.

Under Ohio’s public records law, citizens have the right to view upon request the public records of offices such as Ohio EPA. Ohio’s public records law should not be confused with the Federal Freedom of Information Act, which applies to records held by federal agencies. For more information about Ohio’s public records law, you may review Ohio Revised Code 149.43 at http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/149.43.

In order to better identify, locate and track the file(s) being requested, Ohio EPA suggests all requests for public records or file reviews be submitted in writing. When making a request, it is suggested that you fill out and submit the file review request checklist. The Procedures for Public Records Requests and File Reviews fact sheet explains Ohio EPA’s file review process in more detail.

Ohio EPA does not have a central repository for all its records. Once your request is received, it is routed to the appropriate program offices to secure files. Once the files are located, you will be contacted to have copies made or to set up a convenient time for you to review the files.

Ohio EPA has created the eDocument Search, where noncompliance documents issued since Jan. 1, 2007 are posted online. This feature will improve efficiency; reduce costs; and greatly improve the public's ability to access to Ohio EPA's public records from anywhere without copying costs.

To access public records in NEDO, please email Nicole Patella, call (330) 963-1200 or fax your request to (330) 487-0769.

Due to increased demand for file reviews, appointments are required to review district files. A minimum of two weeks is needed to gather the files and schedule an appointment.

When your request for files has been received, an Administrative Professional at Ohio EPA's Northeast District Office will contact you.

During your scheduled appointment, you may make copies of the public records that you have requested. You will be billed five cents per copy, but as a courtesy, if you make fewer than 250 copies, you will not be billed. A two-sided copy is counted as two copies. If you copy more than 250 pages, you will be invoiced.

Office staff are not available to research files. The exception is if you are looking for a very specific document; in that case, we will try to assist in finding that one document.

If a file is small, approximately 100 pages, it can be scanned and emailed to you. For larger files, copying options include:

• Bring your own copier and paper.
• If you are not available to review the files, you may send other personnel to review the requested file(s) and copy documents as needed.
• Contract with a private copy service. The Northeast District Office works in association with Northeast Blueprint. Our office will estimate the job cost and make the initialcontact with Northeast Blueprint. The customer is responsible for all charges incurred from Northeast Blueprint. Even though we work in association with Northeast Blueprint, you are not required to use this service.
  
  The contact person for Northeast Blueprint is Tim Yurcik at (216) 261-7500.
• Contact with another vendor to come to Northeast District to copy files. However, the only vendor authorized to take files from the building is Northeast Blueprint. Other vendors will need to come to the district and make all copies on the premises.
  
  For access to public records, please contact Nicole Patella at (330) 963-1200.

This non-regulatory program provides information and resources to help small businesses comply with environmental regulations. OCAPP also helps customers identify and implement pollution prevention measures that can save money, increase business performance and benefit the environment. Services of the office include a toll-free hotline, on-site compliance and P2 assessments, workshops/training, plain-English publications library and assistance in completing permit application forms. 

For compliance assistance and pollution prevention information in northeast Ohio, email/call Tamara Girard (330) 963-1282 or Miranda Garritano (330) 963-1250.

The Office of Special Investigations is the criminal investigative branch of Ohio EPA. The office works in partnership with other state and federal agencies to conduct investigations of activities that may criminally violate any of the state or federal environmental laws or regulations. The office's investigations span all of Ohio EPA's environmental programs. To report suspected violations or illegal activities, email Ken Mettler or call 1-800-282-9378.

• ARCO Recycling Site — 1705 Noble Road

Under Ohio’s public records law, citizens have the right to view upon request the public records of offices such as Ohio EPA. Ohio’s public records law should not be confused with the Federal Freedom of Information Act, which applies to records held by federal agencies. For more information about Ohio’s public records law, you may review Ohio Revised Code 149.43 at http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/149.43.

In order to better identify, locate and track the file(s) being requested, Ohio EPA suggests all requests for public records or file reviews be submitted in writing. When making a request, it is suggested that you fill out and submit the file review request checklist. The Procedures for Public Records Requests and File Reviews fact sheet explains Ohio EPA’s file review process in more detail.

Ohio EPA does not have a central repository for all its records. Once your request is received, it is routed to the appropriate program offices to secure files. Once the files are located, you will be contacted to have copies made or to set up a convenient time for you to review the files.

Ohio EPA has created the eDocument Search, where noncompliance documents issued since Jan. 1, 2007 are posted online. This feature will improve efficiency; reduce costs; and greatly improve the public's ability to access to Ohio EPA's public records from anywhere without copying costs.

To access public records in NWDO, email Meghan Bingaman, call (419) 373-3084 or fax your request to (419) 352-8468.

Due to increased demand for file reviews, appointments are required to review district files. Office typically asks for five days advance notice for file search requests. However, requests that are limited in nature (such as files for just one facility for just one division) can usually be accommodated in less than five days.

If you wish to cancel your request, this can be done either in writing or by telephone. At that time, Ohio EPA will stop making copies and prepare a final invoice. The final invoice will reflect the charges for copying done by Ohio EPA up to the time the request was canceled. Failure to cancel a copy order results in an invoice for the full copying fee.

Your copying options are as follows:

• When you are here to review a file, you may make copies of the public records that you have reviewed. You will be billed five cents per copy, but as a courtesy, if you make fewer than 250 copies, you will not be billed. A two sided copy is counted as two (2) copies.
• Bring your own copier and paper.
• Use a private copy service to come to our office and copy the files. If you wish to pursue this option, you may contact a service of your choice or contact the district office for names and numbers of copying services in the area.
• Request that Ohio EPA make the copies and mail them to you. These requests are completed as quickly as is reasonable given the scope of the request. Requests that are particularly complicated or voluminous may take several weeks to complete. If you choose this option, the cost for copies is five cents per page, plus shipping. If the cost of copying will exceed $50.00 (1,000 pages), a deposit of one half of the estimated cost must be paid prior to the start of any copying by Ohio EPA. Checks should be made payable to the State of Ohio. Ohio EPA will bill you for the balance once the copying has been completed. All parties that make requests that are expected to cost less than $50.00 will be invoiced once the copying has been completed.

This non-regulatory program provides information and resources to help small businesses comply with environmental regulations. OCAPP also helps customers identify and implement pollution prevention measures that can save money, increase business performance and benefit the environment. Services of the office include a toll-free hotline, on-site compliance and P2 assessments, workshops/training, plain-English publications library and assistance in completing permit application forms.

For compliance assistance and pollution prevention information in northwest Ohio, contact Jeremy Scoles by email or phone at (419) 373-3095 or Tom Cikotte by email or phone at (419) 373-3020.

The Office of Special Investigations is the criminal investigative branch of Ohio EPA. The office works in partnership with other state and federal agencies to conduct investigations of activities that may criminally violate any of the state or federal environmental laws or regulations. The office's investigations span all of Ohio EPA's environmental programs. To report suspected violations or illegal activities, email Allie Reynolds or call 1-800-282-9378.

Under Ohio’s public records law, citizens have the right to view upon request the public records of offices such as Ohio EPA. Ohio’s public records law should not be confused with the Federal Freedom of Information Act, which applies to records held by federal agencies. For more information about Ohio’s public records law, you may review Ohio Revised Code 149.43 at http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/149.43.

In order to better identify, locate and track the file(s) being requested, Ohio EPA suggests all requests for public records or file reviews be submitted in writing. When making a request, it is suggested that you fill out and submit the file review request checklist. The Procedures for Public Records Requests and File Reviews fact sheet explains Ohio EPA’s file review process in more detail.

Ohio EPA does not have a central repository for all its records. Once your request is received, it is routed to the appropriate program offices to secure files. Once the files are located, you will be contacted to have copies made or to set up a convenient time for you to review the files.

Ohio EPA has created the eDocument Search, where noncompliance documents issued since Jan. 1, 2007 are posted online. This feature will improve efficiency; reduce costs; and greatly improve the public's ability to access to Ohio EPA's public records from anywhere without copying costs.

To access public records in SEDO, email Cindy Stello, call (740) 380-5270 or fax your request to (740) 385-6490.

Due to increased demand for file reviews, appointments are required to review district files. The office typically asks for two weeks advance notice for file search requests. However, requests that are limited in nature (such as files for just one facility for just one division) can usually be accommodated in less than two weeks.

Options available to copy records include the following: 

• When you are here to review a file, you may make copies of the public records that you have reviewed.
• Bring your own copier and Ohio EPA will provide a room for you to review the records.
• Requests for a specific document less than 250 pages will be copied by our office staff, free of charge and mailed to you within seven business days. Staff are not available to research files, compile records or create new documents.
• Contract with Profile Discovery copying service. For information and costs, please contact Larry Kotterman or Andrew Keck, 15 East Gay St., Suite 200, Columbus, OH 43215, (614) 222-2888.

This non-regulatory program provides information and resources to help small businesses comply with environmental regulations. OCAPP also helps customers identify and implement pollution prevention measures that can save money, increase business performance and benefit the environment. Services of the office include a toll-free hotline, on-site compliance and P2 assessments, workshops/training, plain-English publications library and assistance in completing permit application forms. 

For compliance assistance and pollution prevention information in central Ohio, email Ralph Witte or call (740) 380-5241.

The Office of Special Investigations is the criminal investigative branch of Ohio EPA. The office works in partnership with other state and federal agencies to conduct investigations of activities that may criminally violate any of the state or federal environmental laws or regulations. The office's investigations span all of Ohio EPA's environmental programs. To report suspected violations or illegal activities, email Ken Mettler or call 1-800-282-9378.

Under Ohio’s public records law, citizens have the right to view upon request the public records of offices such as Ohio EPA. Ohio’s public records law should not be confused with the Federal Freedom of Information Act, which applies to records held by federal agencies. For more information about Ohio’s public records law, you may review Ohio Revised Code 149.43 at http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/149.43.

In order to better identify, locate and track the file(s) being requested, Ohio EPA suggests all requests for public records or file reviews be submitted in writing. When making a request, it is suggested that you fill out and submit the file review request checklist. The Procedures for Public Records Requests and File Reviews fact sheet explains Ohio EPA’s file review process in more detail.

Ohio EPA does not have a central repository for all its records. Once your request is received, it is routed to the appropriate program offices to secure files. Once the files are located, you will be contacted to have copies made or to set up a convenient time for you to review the files.

Ohio EPA has created the eDocument Search, where noncompliance documents issued since Jan. 1, 2007 are posted online. This feature will improve efficiency; reduce costs; and greatly improve the public's ability to access to Ohio EPA's public records from anywhere without copying costs.

To access public records in SWDO, email Penny Prather-Dix, call (937) 285-6025 or fax your request to (937) 285-6249.

Due to increased demand for file reviews, appointments are required to review district files. A minimum of two weeks is normally needed to gather the files and schedule a room. Any request for copies less than 250 pages will be provided to you free of charge and will be made by our office staff within seven working days.

For anything more than 250 pages, these are your options:

• Copy the files yourself on a copier provided for file reviews at a cost of five cents per page. You will be billed at a later date for copying.
• If the copies number less than half of a file box, we can copy them for you at a rate of five cents per page. Our staff will provide these copies and an invoice within 7 working days.
• If the copies number over half of a file box full, we will send the copies to ARC Solutions where they will be copied and mailed directly to you. The cost for copying is 25 cents per page plus postage. ARC Solutions representatives will contact you for billing and shipping information. Please specify turn around time needed. Additional charges will apply for Fed-Ex shipping. If you have a Fed-Ex account you may provide the number for shipping. The phone number for ARC Solutions is (937) 277-7930.
• You may bring your own copy machine and we will provide an area for you to set it up.
• You may contact another vendor to come to our offices and copy the files for you. If this is an option for you, you may contact the district office for names and numbers of copying services in the area.

This non-regulatory program provides information and resources to help small businesses comply with environmental regulations. OCAPP also helps customers identify and implement pollution prevention measures that can save money, increase business performance and benefit the environment. Services of the office include a toll-free hotline, on-site compliance and P2 assessments, workshops/training, plain-English publications library and assistance in completing permit application forms. 

For assistance please email Amber Hicks or call (937) 285-6439 or email Maddie Adams or call (937) 285-6456.

The Office of Special Investigations is the criminal investigative branch of Ohio EPA. The office works in partnership with other state and federal agencies to conduct investigations of activities that may criminally violate any of the state or federal environmental laws or regulations. The office's investigations span all of Ohio EPA's environmental programs. To report suspected violations or illegal activities, email Randy Ohlemacher or call 1-800-282-9378.

Local air agency and air permitting jurisdictions have recently changed. Please see the air jurisdiction boundaries for the correct contact for your area.