In Your Community

A New Webinar Series for Environmental Issues at the Local Level.

 As a precautionary response to COVID-19, Ohio EPA is currently operating with most staff working remotely. If you are working with our staff on a current project and you know the name of the employee you are working with, email them at firstname.lastname@epa.ohio.gov or call them directly. The Agency website has contact information for every district, division, and office. To report a spill or environmental emergency, contact the spill hotline (800) 282-9378 or (614) 224-0946. This number should only be used for emergencies. For all other calls, please contact Ohio EPA’s main phone line at (614) 644-3020 or the main line for the division or office you are trying to reach.

After March 23, our district offices and Central Office will be temporarily closed and will have increasingly limited ability to receive deliveries, plans, etc. All entities are encouraged to submit plans, permit applications, etc., electronically where there are existing avenues to do so, such as the eBusiness Center (eBiz). Please refer to the list of available services on the main eBiz webpage. We encourage you to make use of all that apply, even if you have not used eBiz in the past. Plans under 25 MB can be emailed. For large plans over 25 MB, entities should work with the reviewer/division to upload via LiquidFiles. Directions for submitting docs via LiquidFiles is available on YouTube. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you in advance for your understanding. If you wish to send hard copies of documents to any of Ohio EPA’s district offices, the best method to ensure we receive these documents is to send them via U.S. Mail. Since all offices are closed, deliveries outside of U.S. Mail (FedEx, UPS) will likely be returned because the offices are closed and deliveries cannot be made.

Local officials wear a lot of hats and may not be familiar with the many environmental issues that affect their communities. The Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance is launching a new series of webinars focused on those environmental issues that have an impact at the local level. These webinars will occur throughout the year and cover a wide range of topics from how Ohio EPA regulates sources of air pollution, waste management, wastewater and storm water discharges to different ways your community can promote environmental stewardship and improve the environment in your local area.

DEFA will use these webinars to share details about Ohio EPA's roles, processes, and partners, in addressing environmental issues facing Ohio's communities. They will also share resources and tools for planning and responding to the environmental concerns that impact all Ohioans at the local level. Planned webinar topics include:

  • Environmental regulation of businesses
  • Managing contaminated sites
  • Septic systems
  • Odors and dust
  • Nuisance waste sites

Open Dumping of Solid Waste and Scrap Tires in Your Community - October 28, 2020 (10 a.m. – 11 a.m.)

Presenters: Kelly Jeter and Kevin Shoemaker, Ohio EPA Division of Materials and Waste Management

Description: Hidden dump piles, trash strewn property, abandoned buildings filled with tires, and tire piles left by the roadside – community leaders make discoveries like these all the time and are often left to clean up the mess. Community leaders will want to join this webinar to learn how to recognize open dumping and find out about the tools that are available to help. Attendees will learn when Ohio EPA’s open dumping laws apply, who is ultimately liable to address open dumping, and in the case of scrap tires, hear about Ohio EPA’s program to provide assistance for victims of scrap tire dumping.

Continuing Education Units:

  • 1 hour AICP CM credits from American Planning Association/Ohio Chapter (AIPC) CEU Credit
  • 1 hour RS/SIT credits from Ohio Department of Health has been preapproved. Please provide your full name and RS/SIT number when registering.

Recorded Webinars

  • Environmental Regulations of Businesses in Your Community - Many environmental regulations affect businesses in your community. Ohio EPA regulates sources of air pollution, waste handling, wastewater and storm water discharges, and more. This webinar will provide an overview of the environmental regulations affecting both large and small businesses in your community, and explain Ohio EPA's permitting, inspection and enforcement procedures.

    Presenters: Tamara Girard and Maddie Adams, Ohio EPA Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance

  • Managing Contaminated Sites in Your Community - It’s important that local leaders are aware of how contaminated sites are regulated to keep residents safe and what redevelopment opportunities exist. This webinar will explain the basics of environmental clean-up regulations, will provide an overview of liability, due care, land use restrictions, and will explain Brownfield funding assistance that is available.

    Presenter: Lisa Shook, Ohio EPA Division of Environmental Response and Revitalization

  • Open Burning, Odors, Dust, and Asbestos in Demolition in Your Community – The most frequently reported complaints to Ohio EPA’s Division of Air Pollution Control are for open burning, odor, and dust. Ohio EPA also receives numerous questions about the regulation and management of asbestos during demolition. There are state regulations dealing with open burning, dust, and nuisance odors, but what should you do if you or your community is having issues with these? And how should your community deal with various asbestos issues that may arise when demolition occurs? This webinar will detail state requirements for facilities with dust or odor issues, or those undergoing demolition where asbestos may be present. We will discuss what to do if you get a complaint regarding dust and odors that can’t be addressed by local ordinances. Or when demolition activities occur, and asbestos is suspected or found. You will also learn when to ask your district office for help.

    Presenter: Jim Kavalec, Ohio EPA Division of Air Pollution Control

  • Sustainability in Your Community – From energy efficiency to zero waste, many communities are embracing sustainability and "green" approaches as the most cost-effective way to address environmental issues. This webinar will introduce sustainability concepts and provide examples of how sustainability and "green" approaches can be used to improve the environment in your community. The webinar will focus on the resources from Ohio EPA, including the Ohio Materials Marketplace, the Encouraging Environmental Excellence Program, and Ohio EPA's environmental assistance resources; that can assist communities to become more sustainable.
     

    Presenters: Bill Narotski and Frank Basting, OCAPP, DEFA

Upcoming Webinars

Presenters and webinar dates will be provided in the near future.

  • Environmental Regulations of Businesses in Your Community – Many environmental regulations affect businesses in your community. Ohio EPA regulates sources of air pollution, waste handling, wastewater and storm water discharges, and more. This webinar will provide an overview of the environmental regulations affecting both large and small businesses in your community, and explain Ohio EPA's permitting, inspection and enforcement procedures.
  • Home Septic Systems in Your Community – Onsite wastewater treatment systems (i.e., septic systems) are used to treat wastewater and include residential, commercial, and community systems. If not maintained, septic systems can contaminate groundwater and harm the environment by releasing bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants into local waterways. This webinar will explain what a septic system is and how it functions; how to properly maintain a septic system; how septic systems are regulated across the state; and what technical and financial assistance is available for your community.
  • Nuisance Waste Sites, Illegal Dumping, and Scrap Tires in Your Community – Hidden dump piles, trash strewn property, abandoned buildings filled with junk, and tire piles left by the roadside – community leaders make discoveries like these all the time. Recycling efforts that start out with good intentions and get out of hand with flat markets and poor planning are sometimes to blame; however local officials are often left to clean up the mess. Community leaders will want to join this webinar to learn about how to recognize and address these nuisance waste situations and find out about the tools that are available to help. Attendees will hear about nuisance waste sites for materials like shingles, scrap tires, electronic and other recyclable commodities, and how Ohio EPA can help your community address these nuisance dumping situations.
  • Ohio EPA's Encouraging Environmental Excellence in Communities (E3C) Recognition Program – Ohio EPA is starting a new program to recognize communities in the Buckeye State for their exceptional achievements in environmental stewardship. Any local government of Ohio can be recognized for its commitment to environmental excellence. In preparation for the first awards cycle, DEFA is offering a free webinar that will discuss how to apply for an E3C award, including how to put together a successful online application and steps organizations can take to apply, types of information Ohio EPA needs to complete the review process, successful components of applications and requirements for each level, and how DEFA can help organizations complete successful applications.
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