NORTHEAST OHIO Hearing to examine how anti-flood work impacts water quality

Counties included in the permit area include Trumbull, Ashtabula and Portage.
AVON LAKE -- Ohio EPA will have a public hearing to accept comments on water-quality impacts caused by proposed streambank and shoreline protection projects designed to prevent flood damage in northeastern Ohio.
The hearing will focus on an application by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Buffalo District for a permit to move forward with the projects.
The hearing and public information session will take place at 7 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Avon Lake Public Library, 32649 Electric Blvd.
If approved, the permit would authorize emergency projects within the Lake Erie drainage basin in Ohio. The basin includes Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky, Erie, Lorain, Cuyahoga, Lake, Ashtabula, Williams, Defiance, Paulding, Van Wert, Mercer, Auglaize, Allen, Putnam, Henry, Fulton, Wood, Hancock, Hardin, Marion, Wyandot, Crawford, Seneca, Huron, Richland, Ashland, Medina, Summit, Portage, Geauga and Trumbull counties.
During the information session, EPA representatives will answer questions about the application. During the hearing, the public will be allowed to submit comments for the record regarding the application.
The federal Clean Water Act requires anyone discharging dredged or fill material into waters of the state to obtain a Section 401 water-quality certification from Ohio EPA and a Section 404 permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Ohio EPA's review is to determine whether the application will comply with the state's water-quality standards. Without Ohio EPA's certification, the Army Corps cannot proceed with the emergency protection projects.
What's behind this
The discharge proposed by this application will not exceed chemical-specific water quality standards that protect aquatic life and human health. The additional discharge would, however, result in a change from the current water-quality conditions of the Lake Erie basin.
Therefore, Ohio EPA is required to consider technical, economic, social and environmental aspects of the proposed project.
Ohio EPA will accept written comments on the application through Dec. 11. Anyone may submit written comments or request to be placed on a mailing list for information by writing to: Ohio EPA, Division of Surface Water, Permits Processing Unit, P.O. Box 1049, Columbus, Ohio 43216-1049.
The application and other related materials are available for review at Ohio EPA's Division of Surface Water, 122 S. Front St., Columbus, by first calling (614) 644-2001. To review the application at Ohio EPA's Northeast District Office in Twinsburg or Northwest District Office in Bowling Green, call the same number.