Section 3745.01 | Environmental protection agency created - powers - duties.
There is hereby created the environmental protection agency, headed by the director of environmental protection. The agency, under the supervision of the director, shall administer the laws pertaining to chemical emergency planning, community right-to-know, and toxic chemical release reporting; the cessation of chemical handling operations; the prevention, control, and abatement of air and water pollution; public water supply; comprehensive water resource management planning; products that contain mercury as defined in section 3734.61 of the Revised Code; and the disposal and treatment of solid wastes, infectious wastes, construction and demolition debris, hazardous waste, sewage, industrial waste, and other wastes. The director may do all of the following:
(A) Provide such methods of administration, appoint such personnel, make such reports, and take such other action as may be necessary to comply with the requirements of the federal laws and regulations pertaining to chemical emergency planning, community right-to-know, and toxic chemical release reporting; air and water pollution control; public water supply; water resource planning; and waste disposal and treatment;
(B) Procure by contract the temporary or intermittent services of experts or consultants, or organizations thereof, when those services are to be performed on a part-time or fee-for-service basis and do not involve the performance of administrative duties;
(C) Advise, consult, cooperate, and enter into contracts or agreements, including consensual administrative order agreements, with any other agencies of the state, the federal government, other states, interstate agencies, and persons and with affected groups, political subdivisions, and industries in furtherance of the purposes of this chapter and Chapters 3704., 3714., 3734., 3751., 3752., 6109., and 6111. of the Revised Code;
(D) Establish advisory boards in accordance with section 121.13 of the Revised Code;
(E) Accept on behalf of the state any grant, gift, or contribution made for toxic chemical release reporting, air or water pollution control, public water supply, water resource planning, waste disposal or treatment, or related purposes, and expend it for those purposes;
(F) Make an annual report to the governor and the general assembly on activities and expenditures as well as recommendations for such additional legislation as the director considers appropriate to carry out the director's duties or accomplish the purposes of this section;
(G) Enter into environmental covenants in accordance with sections 5301.80 to 5301.92 of the Revised Code, and grant or accept easements or sell real property pursuant to section 3734.22, 3734.24, 3734.25, or 3734.26 of the Revised Code, as applicable.
The agency shall utilize the laboratory facilities of the department of health and other state institutions and agencies to the maximum extent that the utilization is practicable, economical, and technically satisfactory.
The director shall maintain and keep available for public inspection, at the director's principal office, a current register of all applications filed for permits, leases, licenses, variances, certificates, and approval of plans and specifications and of publicly owned treatment works pretreatment programs under the director's jurisdiction, hearings pending, the director's final action thereon, and the dates on which the filings, hearings, and final actions occur. The director shall maintain and keep available for public inspection at the director's principal office all plans, reports, and other documents required to be filed with the emergency response commission under Chapter 3750. of the Revised Code and rules adopted under it, and all reports and other documents required to be filed with the director under Chapter 3751. of the Revised Code and rules adopted under it, subject to the requirements of those chapters and rules adopted under them for the protection of trade secrets and confidential business information from disclosure to persons not authorized under those laws to receive trade secret or confidential business information.
Available Versions of this Section
- September 10, 2012 – House Bill 487 - 129th General Assembly [ View September 10, 2012 Version ]