3745-5-02 Purpose and applicability.

(A) The purpose of this chapter is to establish a voluntary statewide water quality trading program that:

(1) Facilitates watershed-based approaches to improving water quality;

(2) Improves water quality and minimizes the costs of achieving and maintaining water quality standards;

(3) Provides economic incentives for voluntary pollutant reductions from point sources and nonpoint sources; and

(4) Achieves additional environmental benefits beyond pollutant reductions.

(B) This chapter applies to any person that participates in water quality trading activities.

(C) The director may consider whether water quality trading activities have met the purpose of this chapter when determining if the rules should continue without change, be amended or be rescinded.

(D) Incorporation by reference.

[Comment: Incorporation by reference. This chapter includes references to certain acts and regulations in which the text of the specified act or regulation is not included. Those statutes and regulations are hereby incorporated by reference into this chapter and made a part of this chapter as if fully rewritten therein. For statutes and regulations subject to change, only the specific version specified in the rule are incorporated. Except for subsequent annual publication of existing (unmodified) Code of Federal Regulation compilations, any amendment or revision to a referenced document is not incorporated unless and until this rule has been amended to specify the new dates.

(1) Availability. The acts and regulations incorporated by reference are available as follows:

(a) Acts of the United States Government. Information and copies may be obtained by writing to: “Superintendent of Documents. Attn: New Orders, PO Box 37954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954.” The full text is also available in electronic format at http://www.epa.gov/water/laws.html laws. A copy of federal acts are also available for inspection and copying at the state library of Ohio and most public libraries.

(b) Federal regulations (“Code of Federal Regulations” or “C.F.R.”). Information and copies may be obtained by writing to: “Superintendent of Documents. Attn: New Orders, PO Box 37954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954.” The full text is also available in electronic format at http://www.epa.gov/water/laws.html laws. Compilations are also available for inspection and copying at the state library of Ohio and most public libraries.]

Effective: 01/01/2007

R.C. 119.032 review dates: 01/01/2012

Promulgated Under: 119.03

Statutory Authority: 6111.03, 6111.04

Rule Amplifies: 6111.03, 6111.04