Earlier this month Ohio EPA provided notice that it will be issuing a draft general National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for the statewide regulation of storm water associated with industrial activities. The NPDES Statewide Construction Storm Water General Permit (Permit No. OHC000005) is the fifth generation of this general permit. The permit would authorize storm water discharges from construction activity disturbing one or more acres. Also, the permit would authorize some discharges that are not entirely storm water (such as trench dewatering), as well as storm water discharges from on-site concrete and asphalt batch plants. This permit identifies who can apply to be covered, how an entity obtains coverage and how a permittee terminates coverage. The permit contains requirements for permittees to prepare, submit and implement a storm water pollution prevention plan (SWP3). Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on this draft general permit. Comments should be submitted in person or by mail no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 4, 2018. An Ohio EPA public hearing to accept comments on the draft general permit has been scheduled for March 28, 2018 at 2:30 p.m. in the 6th floor Conference Room A at the Ohio EPA Lazarus Government Center, 50 West Town Street, Columbus, OH 43215. If you have questions or comments please contact OMA’s Rob Brundrett. 2/22/2018