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, 2009. On May 19, 2009 the Division of Sewerage and Drainage submitted revisions to Chapter 1145 to the OEPA for review. The OEPA approved these revisions on February 1, 2012. Furthermore the Columbus City Attorney's Office has reviewed and approved these changes to Chapter 1145.
This complete revision of Chapter 1145 will comply with Ohio Administrative Code 3745-3 (Streamlining Rule) and incorporate various Director Rules that have been adopted over time.
The proposed changes include the following key areas:
Slug Control Requirements
Noncompliance
Best Management Practices
Sampling
Signatory Requirements
Alternative National Categorical Standards
Mid-tier Categorical Industrial Users
Waiver Monitoring
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact to these revisions. However, it should be noted that the industrial customers that are monitored under this program pay an extra strength charge which is part of the rate structure with Columbus City Code, 1959, Section 1147.
Title
To amend Chapter 1145 of the Columbus City Codes 1959, to enact new Regulation of Sewer Use to become effective October 1, 2012, and to repeal the existing Sections being amended.
Body
WHEREAS, 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 and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus was granted approval of a Pretreatment Program July 1, 1985 and the section that implements the program is within the Division of Sewerage and Drainage. The Pretreatment Section has administrative responsibilities to 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 test discharges from 102 industrial customers and
WHEREAS, 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 and
WHEREAS, 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, and
WHEREAS, 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, 2009. On May 19, 2009 the Division of Sewerage and Drainage submitted revisions to Chapter 1145 to the OEPA for review. The OEPA approved these revisions on February 1, 2012. Furthermore the Columbus City Attorney's Office has reviewed and approved these changes to Chapter 1145, and
WHEREAS, this complete revision of Chapter 1145 will comply with Ohio Administrative Code 3745-3 (Streamlining Rule) and incorporate various Director Rules that have been adopted over time, and
WHEREAS, City Council finds that these revisions to Chapter 1145 are necessary to meet current Ohio Administrative Codes and recognize to grant the City of Columbus, Division of Sewerage and Drainage, Pretreatment Section flexibility in carrying out its administrative responsibilities under Chapter 1145, now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That effective October 1, 2012, Section 1145.00 through 1145.99 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, be and is hereby amended to read as follows:
(SEE ATTACHED).
Section 2 That existing Sections 1145.00 through 1145.99 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959 be and are hereby repealed.
Section 3. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.