Ohio EPA’s eBusiness Center is a secure portal for online business services. The eBusiness Center is the entry point for the regulated community and consultants to electronically complete and file reports and permit applications, as well as make payments.

What services are available?

• Division of Air Pollution Control - Air Services through the eBusiness Center include:
  • permit applications;
  • permit-related reporting;
  • annual emissions reporting;
  • asbestos certification, licensing, and training applications;
  • demolition project notifications;
  • asbestos abatement notifications; and
  • asbestos training notifications.
• Division of Drinking and Ground Waters
  • Electronic Drinking Water Reports (eDWR) allows public water systems to submit their monthly operating reports and certified laboratories to report chemical and microbiological sample results.
  • Operator Certification (OpCert): Exam applications, renewals and contact hours. Exam and training providers can submit applications and upload grades and attendance records. The ePay system allows users to pay OpCert renewal fees and exam application fees.
  • Minimum Staffing Reporting allows professional operators of record to report their minimum staffing times to document compliance with staffing requirements.
• Division of Environmental Response and Revitalization - hazardous waste biennial reporting for large quantity generators that did not opt into episodic generator provisions; treatment, storage, or disposal facilities; reverse distributors of hazardous waste pharmaceuticals; recyclers of hazardous waste who do not store recyclable materials before recycling them; and recyclers who recycle hazardous waste received from off-site within 72 hours of receipt.
• Division of Materials and Waste Management - licensing and/or registration for the following types of regulated facilities:
  • composting;
  • construction and demolition debris landfill;
  • infectious waste generator or treatment facility;
  • industrial or residual solid waste landfill;
  • municipal solid waste landfill or transfer facility;
  • scrap tire collection, recovery, storage, transporter, or monofill or monocell; and
  • solid or infectious waste incinerator.
• Division of Surface Water
  • Electronic Discharge Monitoring Report (eDMR) system provides the permitted community a reliable and simple method to electronically report sampling data measurements in response to the reporting requirements within their environmental permits.
  • Surface Water Tracking, Reporting, and Electronic Application Management System (STREAMS) allows online submittal of various permit applications and forms, including National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general and individual permits and indirect discharge permits.
  • Minimum Staffing Reporting allows professional operators of record to report their minimum staffing times to document compliance with staffing requirements.
• Office of Environmental Education - Ohio Environmental Education Fund now allows submittal of grant applications and reviews through the eBusiness Center.
• Office of Fiscal Administration - fee payments including:
  • non-Title V notices of violations (NOVs);
  • conference fees;
  • application fees for
    • solid waste;
    • construction and demolition debris (C&DD);
    • infectious waste; and
    • scrap tire registrations and licenses.
  • disposal fees for
    • solid waste;
    • construction and demolition debris (C&DD)
  • licensing fees for public water system license-to-operate, operator certification and others.

Why eBusiness?

The main goal of the eBusiness Center is to provide an easy to use, reliable and secure one-stop shop for Ohio EPA services. The three main features of the Agency’s eBusiness Center are ease of use, reliability and secure data submission and retrieval. Other benefits include improved data collection; rapid verification and updating of data and a unique user personal identification number (PIN) that may be used for all electronic submissions to the Agency. It is recommended that you use Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.

Electronic Reporting Rule

U.S. EPA requires that states electronically collecting environmental reports or applications (Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations) do so through a system that satisfies the Cross-Media Electronic Reporting Regulation (CROMERR). You can review the regulation in the “newsroom” link and other information on U.S. EPA’s CROMERR web page.

Ohio also has an equivalent rule, the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, created under Ohio Revised Code (ORC) Chapter 1306. The eBusiness Center helps ensure that Ohio EPA and the regulated community can meet these requirements by:

• providing the capability to electronically submit environmental reports and applications via a CROMERR-compliant system;
• streamlining the payment process;
• enabling users to apply for new permits and permit modifications electronically; and
• improving the validity, quality, and management of environmental data.

Who uses the eBusiness Center?

eBusiness Center users, including those listed below, receive training and assistance through the Agency’s Answer Place (https://ohioepa.custhelp.com/), individual division/office web pages and contacts and through email.

• Administrative support/data entry technicians
• Construction and demolition debris facilities
• Community and local government officials
• Composting facilities
• Consultants/engineering firms
• Hazardous waste generators and management facilities
• Infectious waste generators and treatment facilities
• Laboratories
• Solid waste landfills
• Owners of small and large businesses
• Scrap tire facilities and transporters
• Utility directors and employees
• Water and wastewater treatment plant operators
• Ohio Environmental Education Fund grant applicants

Advantages of eBusiness Center

In addition to its ease of use, the eBusiness Center has numerous advantages. Users do not need to upgrade their existing computer systems because there is no need to download or install separate data reporting and application software. With the eBusiness Center, users receive immediate verification of successful data submission and can track the status of applications submitted to the Agency. Other benefits to users include:

• secured site with privileged access, account management, integrated functionality and personalization;
• one PIN (Personal Identification Number) for all services;
• flexibility to enter and submit data at any time;
• some services allow data from a previous submission to be copied into the new submission, making the entry process more efficient;
• secure user identification codes and data entry/submission;
• ability to save partially completed applications and reports for later submittal;
• reduced paperwork;
• increased reliability and fewer errors on submission;
• reduced postage and copying costs; and
• ability to create multiple user accounts and assign varying levels of responsibility.

Personal Identification Number

The security of Ohio EPA’s eBusiness Center relies on the assignment of personal identification numbers (PINs) for users. PINs must be secured and used appropriately.

Why is a PIN necessary?

In today’s business world, many transactions take place online. To protect account information, reduce fraud and ensure that these transactions are legitimate, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency requires individuals to obtain a PIN to use as an e-signature in place of a traditional signature on paper.

To ensure that users can securely submit required documents electronically, there must be a way to verify that the information was intentionally submitted by the authenticated person who is authorized to submit the report. In traditional paper documents, this verification was provided by a legally binding authorized signature. An electronic signature with a PIN is as legally binding as a handwritten signature.

Ohio EPA’s eBusiness Center is a secure portal for online business services and the entry point for the regulated community and consultants to electronically complete and file reports and permit applications. In addition to providing security for Ohio EPA’s eBusiness Center portal, PINs and their related security questions and answers are necessary to satisfy U.S. EPA’s Cross-Media Electronic Reporting Rule (CROMERR) e-signature requirements. To learn more about CROMERR, go to epa.gov/cromerr.

When is a PIN necessary?

Although all eBusiness Center users are eligible to apply for a PIN, only submissions requiring a signature by an authorized person require a user to obtain a PIN to electronically sign and submit information. PIN requirements will vary on the level of privileges or access of the individual and may depend on underlying requirements of the program.

How do I get a PIN and verify my identity?

To acquire a PIN, online identity verification can be accomplished quickly - typically within a few minutes of getting an account. However, if a user’s identity cannot be verified online, a slower hardcopy process must be used. Therefore, we recommend allowing at least two weeks to complete the process. For a step-by-step guidance on creating a PIN, refer to the eBiz PIN help sheet. For more PIN-related topics, visit Ohio EPA’s Customer Support Center and search for “PIN” (https://ohioepa.custhelp.com/app/search_for_answers). To get a PIN, go to the eBusiness Center (https://ebiz.epa.ohio.gov/), log in and select Request New PIN under the My Account menu.

Online Identity Verification (Secure, Immediate, and Recommended)

This PIN application option uses LexisNexis, an independent company, for identity validation services which allows a PIN to be generated quickly online once verification is received from the service. To obtain an electronic PIN verification:

1. Log into the eBusiness Center (create an account if you don’t have one), then select Request New PIN under the My Account menu.
2. Complete required steps to request a PIN electronically. User must provide personal information: full name; home address; phone number; date of birth; and the last four digits of his/her social security number.
3. Agree to the terms and initiate the identity verification service provided by LexisNexis.
4. If LexisNexis can confirm your identity, a PIN will be generated immediately. NOTE: If the service is unable to verify identity after three attempts, the hardcopy application process must be used.
5. When you receive the PIN assignment email, log into the eBusiness Center to view and activate the PIN. If necessary, you can print a hardcopy of your PIN while viewing it online using your browser’s print function.
6. If printed, store the PIN and your PIN security questions and answers (created during the account and PIN creation) in a secure location.

Hardcopy Notarized Identify Verification (secure with one to two week processing)

This PIN application option requires mailing, use of a courier or in person delivery of a notarized form to Ohio EPA. To obtain PIN verification via hardcopy:

1. Log into the eBusiness Center (create an account if you don’t have one), then select Request New PIN under the My Account menu.
2. Complete required steps to request a PIN and print the PIN Request/Subscriber Agreement form.
3. Sign the Subscriber Agreement in the presence of a notary and have it notarized.
4. Send the original notarized form to Ohio EPA to the address provided in the Subscriber Agreement instructions.
5. When you receive the PIN assignment email, log into the eBusiness Center to view and activate the PIN. If necessary, you can print a hardcopy of your PIN while viewing it online using your browser’s print function.
6. If printed, store the PIN and your PIN security questions and answers (created during the account and PIN creation) in a secure location.

How do I keep my PIN secure?

All eBusiness Center account information, including your PIN, should be kept in a secure place such as a locked drawer. To further protect your PIN, it is a good idea to keep the account and PIN information in separate secure places to make it more difficult for someone to gain access to both.

May I share my PIN?

NO. The PIN serves as your electronic signature and must not be shared with anyone. The PIN uniquely identifies you and serves as your legally binding signature. Your PIN, like your signature and social security number, must not be shared. A PIN must be kept confidential. Your business may opt to allow multiple users to submit reports, but each individual will need to acquire a personal unique PIN that must be safe-guarded from compromise. It is a violation of both state and federal regulations to allow others to use your PIN.

What if I forget my PIN?

If you have forgotten your PIN, but do not believe it has been compromised, you may log into the eBusiness Center and view it once you have answered a security question you established when requesting it. To view a PIN, log on to the eBusiness Center and select the PIN Management option under the My Account menu and select View PIN.

What if my PIN is compromised?

You are legally obligated to notify Ohio EPA if your PIN is compromised. If you lose your PIN or suspect someone has or may have gained access to it, you should deactivate it immediately. To deactivate a PIN, log into the eBusiness Center and select the PIN Management option under the My Account menu and click Deactivate PIN. You will need to apply for a new PIN by using the Request New PIN menu option after deactivation.

What if I change jobs or companies?

The PIN uniquely identifies YOU and is not assigned to a given company. However, you should update the account and PIN holder information (i.e., address, phone, etc.) whenever changes occur. Once you are no longer authorized the new signatory official is responsible for removing your authorization to submit signed reports on behalf of the company.

Do I need a PIN for each regulatory program?

No. The PIN is assigned to the individual and is recognized as a valid electronic signature device by all of Ohio EPA’s regulatory programs. As each regulatory program integrates their business services into the eBusiness Center, they will adopt the use of the Agency-wide PIN.

Contacts