DSW Policy Documents

Background

Ohio Revised Code 3745.30 requires that the Ohio EPA maintain a centralized compendium of all policies used to implement environmental regulations. Each Ohio EPA Division is responsible for such a document which is on file at Central Office program locations and District Offices.

The purpose of a policy is to clarify and explain specific aspects of regulations (Ohio Administrative Code, OAC) and law (Ohio Revised Code, ORC) so that Ohio EPA and external parties have a common understanding of how environmental regulations are carried out in Ohio. The policies promote consistency and provide savings of both technical and administrative staff resources when dealing with the application of rules. In other words, all staff can consult the same set of written materials and time is saved by having the applicable background and rule explanation readily available.

Further information about the DSW policy documents can be obtained by using the contact information listed at the end of each policy.

Policy Reviews

DSW conducted extensive reviews of it's policy documents in 2003, 2006, 2011 and 2016, resulting in the removal of all but one policy. The policies were removed because they either: did not meet the requirements of a policy as stated in Ohio Revised Code 3745.30; were outdated; or were incorporated into rule, guidance or a general permit.

Read about the policy document reviews in the dated tabs below.

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In conformance with Ohio Revised Code 3745.30, the Division of Surface Water recently completed its review of the following sections of the DSW Policy Manual:

  • 0100 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)

The Agency removed one policy from section 0100 because it was incorporated into rule. 

Summary of changes to the manual

Policy Removed

DSW-0100 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)

  • 0100.022 Procedure for submitting requests to obtain approval to use recirculating water, boiler water and non-contact cooling water (NCCW) system additives (Removed, 4/11/19)

In conformance with Ohio Revised Code 3745.30, the Division of Surface Water recently completed its review of the following sections of the DSW Policy Manual:

  • 0100 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
  • 0500 Pretreatment

The Agency removed one policy in sections 0100 and 0500 because it was incorporated into rule. 

Public notice

Summary of changes to the manual

Policy Removed

DSW-0100 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)

  • 0100.008 Pretreatment and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System: Toxic Organics Management Plan (Removed, 12/22/16)

DSW-0500 Pretreatment

  • 0500.008 Pretreatment and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System: Toxic Organics Management Plan (Removed, 12/22/16)

In conformance with Ohio Revised Code 3745.30, the Division of Surface Water recently completed its review of the following sections of the DSW Policy Manual:

  • 0100 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
  • 0500 Pretreatment

The Agency removed one policy in section 0100 because it was out of date. 

Public notice

Summary of changes to the manual

Policy Removed

DSW-0100 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)

  • 0100.028 Ohio's Sewage Sludge Rules: Chapter 3745-40 of the Ohio Administrative Code (Removed 12/29/2011)

In conformance with Ohio Revised Code 3745.30, the Division of Surface Water completed its review of the following sections of the DSW Policy Manual:

  • 0100 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
  • 0500 Pretreatment
  • 0700 General

The Agency removed all but three of the policies in these sections because they either: did not meet the requirements of a policy as stated in the above Revised Code section; were outdated; or were incorporated into rule or permit. 

The removal of these policies is for the reason stated and should not be interpreted to be evidence of a substantive concern with any specific policy content. As a follow up to the policy review and removal process, the Division of Surface Water will either schedule future rulemaking based on policies that previously articulated standards, or will incorporate the material into guidance documents as appropriate. In some instances, the substance of certain policies is outdated and will not migrate either to rule or guidance.

The documents that were reviewed and removed from the Policy Manual are listed below. 

Public notice

Summary of changes to the manual

DSW-0100 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)

  • 0100.003 Small Discharger Final Effluent Limitations (Removed 12/21/2006) 
  • 0100.005 Discharges to State Lakes (Removed 12/21/2006) 
  • 0100.006 Thermal Discharge Requirements (Removed 12/21/2006) 
  • 0100.011 Phosphorus in Lake Erie Basin (Removed 12/21/2006) 
  • 0100.013 Wastewater Treatment Plant Certified Operator (Removed 12/21/2006) 
  • 0100.016 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System: Tiered Permits (Removed 12/21/2006) 
  • 0100.024 Effluent Limitations and Monitoring Requirements for Petroleum Bulk Storage Facilities (Removed 12/21/2006) 
  • 0100.027 NPDES; Wastewater Discharges Resulting from Clean-up of Response Action Sites Contaminated with Volatile Organic Compounds (Removed 12/21/2006) 

DSW-0700 General

  • 0700.003 301(c) Variance - Modification of Timetable (Removed 12/21/2006) 
  • 0700.006 Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) (Removed 12/21/2006) 
  • 0700.007 Additivity Factor Equation for Carcinogens (Removed 12/21/2006) 
  • 0700.008 Assigning Stream Use Designations for the Protection of Recreational Uses (Removed 12/21/2006) 
  • 0700.010 Water Quality Modeling Field Manual (Removed 12/21/2006) 
  • 0700.014 Analysis of Unimpacted Stream Data for the State of Ohio (Removed 12/21/2006) 
  • 0700.015 CONSWLA - Conservative Substance Wasteload Allocation Program: User's Guide (Removed 12/21/2006) 
  • 0700.016 Predicting the Reaeration Coefficient for Ohio Streams (Removed 12/21/2006) 

In conformance with Ohio Revised Code 3745.30, the Division of Surface Water completed its review of the following sections of the DSW Policy Manual:

  • 0200 Permits To Install
  • 0300 Enforcement
  • 0400 Design Criteria 
  • 0500 Pretreatment

The Agency removed all but one of the policies in these sections because they did not conform to the definition of a policy or meet the requirements of a policy as stated in the above Revised Code section. The removal of these policies is for the reason stated and should not be interpreted to be evidence of a substantive concern with any specific policy content. As a follow up to the policy review and removal process, the Division of Surface Water will either schedule future rulemaking based on policies that previously articulated standards, or will revise the Division of Surface Water Guidance Manual as appropriate. In some instances, the substance of certain policies is outdated and will not migrate either to rule or guidance.

The one policy in these sections that was not removed is 0500.008 (Pretreatment and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System: Toxic Organics Management Plan). The documents that were reviewed and removed from the Policy Manual are listed below.

Public notice

Summary of changes to the manual

DSW-0200 Permits to Install

  • 0200.001 Procedures for Submittal of Plans for Public Sewage Treatment Systems (Removed, 04/30/03) 
  • 0200.002 Procedures for Submittal of Plans for Pretreatment Systems (Removed, 04/30/03) 
  • 0200.003 Holding Tank Installations (Removed, 04/30/03) 
  • 0200.004 Professional Engineer Requirement (Removed, 04/30/03) 
  • 0200.005 Procedures for Submittal of Plans for Coal Preparation Plants (Removed, 04/30/03) 
  • 0200.006 Installation of Surge Tanks (Removed, 04/30/03) 
  • 0200.007 Policy for Addressing Wastewater Facilities at Camp Sites (Removed, 04/30/03) 
  • 0200.008 Policy for Addressing Wastewater Facilities at Food Service Operations (Removed, 04/30/03) 

DSW-0300 Enforcement

  • 0300.001 Enforcement Management System (Removed, 04/30/03) 
  • 0300.002 Penalty Policy (Removed, 04/30/03) 
  • 0300.003 Verified Complaint Procedure (Removed, 04/30/03) 
  • 0300.004 Quarterly Noncompliance Report Procedure (Removed, 04/30/03) 
  • 0300.005 Formation of County Sewer Districts (Removed, 04/30/03) 

DSW-0400 Design Criteria

  • 0400.001 Sewage Collection, Treatment, and Disposal Where Public Sewers are Not Available (Green book) (08/01/88) - Updated and moved to Guidance Manual
  • 0400.002 Isolation Requirements (Removed, 04/30/03) 
  • 0400.003 Experimental Wastewater Treatment Systems (Removed, 04/30/03) 
  • 0400.004 Rotating Biological Contactors (Removed, 04/30/03) 
  • 0400.006 Small Diameter Gravity Sewers (Removed, 04/30/03) 
  • 0400.007 Beneficial Use of Nontoxic Bottom Ash, Fly Ash and Spent Foundry Sand, and Other Exempt Wastes (Removed, 04/30/03) 
  • 0400.008 Waste Pickle Liquor Disposal (Removed, 04/30/03) 
  • 0400.009 Brine Disposal (Removed, 04/30/03) 
  • 0400.010 Sludge Management (Removed, 08/23/02) 
  • 0400.011 Septage Disposal (Removed, 04/30/03) 
  • 0400.012 Wastewater from Car Washes (Removed, 04/30/03) 
  • 0400.013 Filter Sand Testing and Approval (Removed, 04/30/03) 
  • 0400.014 Land Application of Domestic Wastewater (Removed, 04/30/03) 
  • 0400.015 New Lift Station Overflows (Removed, 04/30/03) 
  • 0400.016 Hydrogeologic Evaluations of Surface Impoundments, Dedicated Land Application Sites, On-site Leaching Systems, Disposal Sites of Non-toxic Fly Ash, Bottom Ash, Foundry Sand, and Other Exempted Solid Wastes (Removed, 04/30/03) 
  • 0400.017 Hydrogeologic Evaluations on Surface Impoundment Sites (Removed, 04/30/03) 
  • 0400.018 Composted Sludge (Removed, 08/23/02) 
  • 0400.019 Sewers/Well Fields (Removed, 04/30/03)
  • 0400.020 Combined Sewers and Overflows (Removed, 04/30/03) 
  • 0400.021 Sludge Give-Away (Removed, 08/23/02) 
  • 0400.022 Lime Sludge Disposal (Removed, 04/30/03) 
  • 0400.023 Wastewater Treatment Lagoons (Removed, 04/30/03) 
  • 0400.024 Waste Management for Water Treatment Plants (Removed, 04/30/03) 
  • 0400.026 Recommended Standards for Wastewater Facilities, 1990 Edition (Removed, 04/30/03) 
  • 0400.027 Use of Blast Furnace and Steel Slag (Removed, 04/30/03) 
  • 0400.028 Disposal of Non-Toxic Bottom Ash, Fly Ash and Spent Foundry Sand, and other Exempted Wastes (Removed, 04/30/03) 

DSW-0500 Pretreatment

  • 0500.001 Adding/Deleting Program (Removed, 04/30/03) 
  • 0500.002 Approved Program Modification (Removed, 04/30/03) 
  • 0500.003 Indirect Discharge Permit Program: Non-Targeted Industrial User Self-Monitoring Frequency Requirements (Removed, 04/30/03)