Explanation
BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the amendment of Chapter 1145 of the Columbus City Code, 1959, Regulation of Sewer Use. These amendments will take effect October 1, 2012. Chapter 1145 provides legal authority that enables the City to operate and enforce its approved pretreatment program.
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) notified the City of Columbus as part of the Clean Water Act and CFR 403.08 and 403.9 (b) that a pretreatment program must be prepared to prevent the introduction of hazardous materials into the wastewater collection and treatment systems. The City of Columbus was granted approval of a Pretreatment Program July 1, 1985 and the section is within the Division of Sewerage and Drainage. The Pretreatment Section has administrative responsibilities to prevent and monitor industrial customers who produce extra strength wastes into the wastewater system and to ensure compliance with Chapter 1145. Currently the Pretreatment Section monitors and tests the discharges from 102 industrial customers.
Ordinance Number 2706-90 passed to amend Chapter 1145 to comply with pretreatment regulations. On February 1, 2007 the Ohio Administrative Code 3745-3 was amended to include new federal pretreatment requirements including the "Streamlining Rule". These changes affected all publically owned treatment works with pretreatment programs approved by OEPA.
The Streamlining Rule was designed to reduce the overall regulatory burden on both industrial users and control authorities without adversely affecting environmental protection. The rule provides the Division of Sewerage and Drainage, Pretreatment Section the flexibility to reduce the burden of technical and administrative requirements without undermining the environmental objectives of the pretreatment program.
The Division of Sewerage and Drainage conducted stakeholder outreach to discuss the revisions to Columbus City Code, 1959, Chapter 1145 between the dates of April 14-17...
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