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This website publishes administrative rules on their effective dates, as designated by the adopting state agencies, colleges, and universities.

Chapter 164-2 | Clean Ohio Funding

 
 
 
Rule
Rule 164-2-01 | Definitions.
 

For the purposes of Chapter 164-2 of the Administrative Code:

(A) "Commission" means the Ohio public works commission.

(B) "Declaration of restrictions" are real property restrictions supplied by the commission to applicants to be recorded as a deed restriction which can be modified at the discretion of the director as necessary to meet the specific needs of any project but must be compliant with the requirements of the clean Ohio program.

(C) "Director" means the director of the Ohio public works commission appointed under section 164.02 of the Revised Code.

(D) "Local match" are funds or resources to be used as matching funds for the project as set forth in division (A)(6) of section 164.23 of the Revised Code and may not consist of Ohio public works funds.

(E) "Local political subdivision" means a county, municipal corporation, township, conservancy district, soil and water conservation district, lake facilities authority, joint recreation district, park district, or other similar park authority, as set forth in section 164.20 of the Revised Code.

(F) "Natural resources assistance council" or "NRAC" is the council and its members appointed by each district public works integrating committee or the executive committee of the integrating committee pursuant to section 164.21 of the Revised Code.

(G) "Nonprofit organization" means an environmental and conservation organization that is exempt from federal income taxation pursuant to 26 U.S.C. 501(a) and described in 26 U.S.C. 501(c) and formed to protect the natural environment, as set forth in section 164.20 of the Revised Code.

(H) "Ohio public works commission" or "OPWC" means the Ohio public works commission created by section 164.02 of the Revised Code.

(I) "Project applicant" or "applicant" means the local political subdivision or nonprofit organization which submitted a request for financial assistance to a district, that a district has subsequently formally submitted to the director of the Ohio public works commission or to the administrator of the Ohio small government capital improvements commission under section 164.06 of the Revised Code.

(J) "Project application" or "application" means a request for financial assistance formally submitted by a district to the director or to the administrator of the Ohio small government capital improvements commission pursuant to section 164.06 of the Revised Code.

(K) "Reimbursable prepaids" are project expenses paid by the applicant within one year of the date of the project agreement.

(L) "Workswise portal" is the online access maintained by the commission for processing applications and all appurtenant information relating to the programs administered by the commission.

Last updated February 15, 2024 at 2:24 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 164.05, 164.26, Chap. 119
Amplifies: 164.05, 164.20, 164.27
Five Year Review Date: 2/15/2029
Rule 164-2-02 | Access to funds and late infrastructure loan payments.
 

A county, municipal corporation, or township who receives loan funds pursuant to sections 164.01 to 164.16 of the Revised Code shall take all actions necessary to ensure that timely payments are made on their loans as required in the loan documents and in response to biennial invoicing. If a county, municipal corporation, or township fails to make timely payments, it will not receive from the commission disbursements on its active projects and any application for funding for new projects will not be accepted in the workswise portal until payment is received and processed by the commission.

Last updated February 15, 2024 at 2:24 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 164.05, 164.26, Chap. 119
Amplifies: 164.05
Five Year Review Date: 2/15/2029
Rule 164-2-03 | Appraisals.
 

An application for clean Ohio funding must adhere to the commission's standards and procedures for appraisal reporting. An application for funding or an application to exchange real property previously protected by clean Ohio deed restrictions for real property not so restricted, submitted to the natural resource assistance council (NRAC) shall include an independent real estate appraisal prepared by an Ohio licensed real estate appraiser, who is also a prequalified consultant for the Ohio department of transportation. The appraisal report, a restricted appraisal report, or an appraisal review shall set forth the value of the real estate interest to be acquired and if applicable, the value of the real estate interest to be exchanged.

(A) The value of timber (the "timber value") may be used as local match on a property acquired as a bargain sale. A qualified independent forester or timber appraiser may perform a timber appraisal of the real property to be acquired to determine the timber value in accordance with normally accepted valuation criteria. The value of timber generally considers the volume of timber on the property, the species, composition, the quality, and other related factors to determine the current timber value.

If timber value is to be used as local match, it is the applicant's responsibility to provide the timber value to the appraiser. The appraiser shall use the timber value in accordance with normally accepted appraising standards in determining the value of the real property being appraised.

(B) Each NRAC shall specify in their guidance to applicants whether they will accept a restricted appraisal report instead of an appraisal report with the application for funding. If an application for funding is to be funded and the application was supported by a restricted appraisal report, the restricted appraisal report must be converted to an appraisal report as part of the request to proceed submittal to the commission supporting the value of the real estate interest to be acquired.

(C) The applicant's costs for obtaining an appraisal report, a restricted appraisal report, an appraisal review, or a timber appraisal are an eligible cost and reimbursable in accordance with the project agreement's participation ratio.

(D) The appraiser who submits an appraisal report, a restricted appraisal report, or an appraisal review must provide written certification that they have received and have read this rule and include the certification in the appraisal's letter of transmittal. The commission will not approve the request to proceed without this written certification.

If the real property interest to be acquired is a conservation easement, the appraiser may be a member of the appraisal institute who has successfully passed the valuation of conservation easements professional development program.

The commission may approve projects where the purchase price of the real estate interest to be acquired exceeds the appraised value by up to five per cent is validated and approved by the NRAC. A real estate interest to be acquired with a purchase price more than five per cent of its appraised value must be funded by the applicant with funds other than clean Ohio funds.

Last updated February 15, 2024 at 2:24 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 164.05, 164.26, Chap. 119
Amplifies: 164.05
Five Year Review Date: 2/15/2029
Rule 164-2-04 | Carbon credits.
 

Recipients of clean Ohio funds may sell carbon credits available from properties that benefited from clean Ohio funds to third parties. Funds received for the sale of these carbon credits must be accounted for in their receipt and expenditure and maintained for a period of six years for the commission's inspection upon request. The funds may only be expended to benefit properties that have received funding from clean Ohio, and may be held for future expenditure to benefit properties that have received funding from clean Ohio. Eligible expenses are for improvement projects that may be placed on property that has benefited from clean Ohio funds or for the expense associated with the management of properties which have benefited from clean Ohio funds. Management expenses may include necessary equipment, supplies, services received from third parties, and salaries of individuals conducting conservation work on properties that have received funding from clean Ohio and other reasonable expenses approved by the director.

Last updated February 15, 2024 at 2:24 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 164.05, 164.26, Chap. 119
Amplifies: 164.05
Five Year Review Date: 2/15/2029
Rule 164-2-05 | Declaration of restrictions and long-term ownership or control.
 

(A) When clean Ohio funds are expended to purchase the ownership interest of real property, a declaration of restrictions shall be placed upon and recorded for all acquired real property. The declaration of restrictions, which are the principal mechanism for deed restricting the property in perpetuity, must be approved by the director and shall be perpetual and shall be strictly enforced.

(B) When clean Ohio funds are expended to purchase an easement or to make improvements to a riparian corridor or watershed owned by a person or a non-public entity, a conservation easement protecting the easement rights obtained or the improvements made shall be placed upon the real property from which the easement was obtained or upon which the improvements were made, and such easement shall be recorded. The conservation easement shall include the declaration of restrictions and must be approved by the director and shall be perpetual and shall be strictly enforced.

(C) An application for funds for the purchase of ownership interest of real property may include purchase of a conservation easement as a condition of a secondary funding source, for monitoring of the property, or other reasons as approved by the director. However, in such a case, the natural resource assistance council that scores the project application may only provide points for the ownership interest.

Real property interests obtained with clean Ohio funds shall remain in the long-term ownership, or the long-term control by the grant recipient. A transfer of ownership of real property or control of real property or a conservation easement cannot be made until the director has provided written consent to transfer ownership or control. A request to transfer ownership or control of a real property interests obtained with clean Ohio funds shall be made in writing to the director, which requests shall specifically delineate why the request is being made and how the proposed recipient of the real property interests would be able to promote the clean Ohio program through its ownership of the real property interests. If the director concludes that a transfer of a real property interest obtained with clean Ohio funds is not likely to be beneficial to the future use of the property for the purposes of the clean Ohio program, then the director may, in their discretion, deny the request to transfer.

Last updated February 15, 2024 at 2:25 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 164.05, 164.26, Chap. 119
Amplifies: 164.05, 164.22
Five Year Review Date: 2/15/2029
Rule 164-2-06 | Eligible, ineligible items, and activities.
 

The clean Ohio greenspace conservation program's purpose is to promote the preservation, protection, or restoration of the natural environment, natural ecosystems, vegetation, and wildlife.

(A) Eligible improvements and activities are those that achieve or promote these goals or make an open space accessible and usable by the public and have no or minimal impact on conservation. Expenditures that do not achieve these goals are not allowable under this program.

(B) Allowable expenditures for hardscape improvements, including paving, must be designed to have minimal impact to conservation values and cannot exceed twenty-five per cent of the total land area. Administrative costs, including those incurred for grant management, application, and disbursement preparation, are not eligible for funding through the program.

(C) Mark-up costs are costs above what was incurred by the supplier for personal property or services purchased from a third-party and invoiced to the local political subdivision or nonprofit organization and are ineligible for funding.

The commission shall maintain a guidance list setting forth illustrative projects and activities that may or may not be funded by the program, which list may be modified by the director as needed in the director's discretion.

Last updated February 15, 2024 at 2:25 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 164.05, 164.26, Chap. 119
Amplifies: 164.05, 164.22
Five Year Review Date: 2/15/2029
Rule 164-2-07 | Engineering fees.
 

Engineering fees shall be clearly delineated on all applications for funding submitted to the commission that include improvements. If engineering fees are not sufficiently delineated the commission may request the engineer of record to delineate the services more specifically to be provided associated with the engineering fees. The estimate must bear the official seal or stamp and signature of a professional engineer who is registered under Chapter 4733. of the Revised Code attesting to the prudence of the dollar amounts contained in the estimate.

Last updated February 15, 2024 at 2:25 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 164.05, 164.26, Chap. 119
Amplifies: 164.05
Five Year Review Date: 2/15/2029
Rule 164-2-08 | Environmental site assessment (ESA) and suspected environmental contamination.
 

Any application for funding to acquire real property must be based on a good faith belief that the real property is unlikely to be contaminated. If the applicant does not have a good-faith basis to believe that the real property is unlikely to be contaminated, the applicant shall include a phase one ESA under the American society of testing materials (ASTM)1527-21 establishing that the real property is unlikely to be contaminated. Should a natural resources assistance council have a concern that the real property may be contaminated, it shall ask the director to consider requiring the applicant to submit a phase one ESA under ASTM 1527-21 prior to the commission issuing a project agreement which provides the property is unlikely to be contaminated. If a phase one ESA under ASTM 1527-21 concludes that the property is likely to contain contamination, the project application shall be returned to the natural resources assistance council for review.

Last updated February 15, 2024 at 2:26 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 164.05, 164.26, Chap. 119
Amplifies: 164.05
Five Year Review Date: 2/15/2029
Rule 164-2-09 | Farmland preservation.
 

(A) Program funds may not be used for the primary purpose of continuing agricultural activities upon the property to be acquired. Program funds may be used to acquire a real property interest in real property that is currently being used for agricultural activities if:

(1) Any real property, after purchase, is allowed to revert to its natural state; or

(2) The real property is to be used for the demonstration of historical farming activities.

(B) Any application for funding relating to real property upon which agricultural activities are occurring at the time of the submission of the application must set forth, with specificity, the time frame in which such agricultural activities will cease.

It is permissible to use clean Ohio funds to purchase a farming lease interest in real property to permit the cessation of agricultural activities upon the real property.

Last updated February 15, 2024 at 2:26 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 164.05, 164.26, Chap. 119
Amplifies: 164.05, 164.22
Five Year Review Date: 2/15/2029
Rule 164-2-10 | Forest ecosystem and sustainability.
 

A forest management plan may be compatible with the purposes of the clean Ohio fund. Forest management plans, developed by a professional forester, must provide for methods to maintain or improve forest health, sustainability, diversity, and productivity. To achieve these goals, forest harvesting may occur on clean Ohio protected properties if done so in a manner that maintains or enhances the public benefits gained from the property. Under no circumstances shall a harvest be conducted for the primary purpose of generating funds. The commission encourages applicants to include forest management plans with land acquisition project applications submitted to a natural resource assistance council for review and approval. Forest management plans do not apply to lands being restored to native grassland or savanna. If a forest management plan is not available at the time of application, and a forest management plan is later developed, it must be submitted to the commission for approval prior to its implementation. The cost for development of a forest management plan is an eligible expense of the clean Ohio greenspace conservation program. Should an approved applicant intend to undertake forest harvesting, in addition to possession of a forest management plan, they must obtain certification to the principles and criteria of the forest stewardship council, sustainable forest initiative, or recognition in the american tree farm system.

(A) While the commission gives discretion to the landowner on the silviculture method or methods employed in the harvest of trees, even aged and two aged management silvicultural prescriptions may only be undertaken when:

(1) The harvest is designed to specifically benefit a state threatened or endangered species;

(2) The harvest is designed to limit the damaging impacts of a non-native invasive insect or disease;

(3) It is necessary due to significant tree decline, mortality, or damage from severe weather events;

(4) It is necessary to maintain or restore fire-adapted forest species in decline due to fire suppression; or

(5) The harvest is designed to convert or manage monocultural forests through a silvicultural process.

A forest management plan shall only prescribe burns to promote natural regeneration of native tree and plant communities. Any timber harvest upon real property protected by the clean Ohio program may only occur based upon a written contract that contains provisions noting the clean Ohio fund interest in the property and which shall also set forth in detail all measures to be employed to protect relevant clean Ohio conservation values on the property. Any net proceeds derived from timber harvesting are required to be used for the future maintenance of the property. Financial records shall be maintained for a period of six years for the commission's inspection upon request.

Last updated February 15, 2024 at 2:26 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 164.05, 164.26, Chap. 119
Amplifies: 164.05
Five Year Review Date: 2/15/2029
Rule 164-2-11 | Mineral rights, oil, and gas.
 

For any property for which an application is being submitted to receive funding pursuant to the clean Ohio program, which is subject to an existing mineral, oil, gas, or coal lease (collectively a "mineral lease") at the time of submission of the application to the natural resources assistance council, such mineral lease shall be deemed a pre-existing easement over which the applicant does not have control and shall not automatically disqualify the property from clean Ohio funding. A property that received clean Ohio funding may not later be subjected to a mineral lease by the owner. If the property is made subject to a mineral lease through provisions of law such as forced pooling, over which the property owner has no control, such lease shall be permissible.

Funds received by the landowner from a mineral lease, entered into after the expenditure of clean Ohio funds for the benefit of the property, must be accounted for in their receipt and expenditure. The funds must be expended to benefit properties that have received funding from clean Ohio. The funds may be held for future expenditure to benefit properties that have received funding from clean Ohio. Eligible expenses are for improvement projects that may be placed on property that has benefited from clean Ohio funds or for the expense associated with the management of properties which have benefited from clean Ohio funds. Management expenses may include necessary equipment, supplies, services received from third parties, and salaries of individuals conducting conservation work on properties that have received funding from clean Ohio and other reasonable expenses approved by the director.

Last updated February 15, 2024 at 2:26 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 164.05, 164.26, Chap. 119
Amplifies: 164.05
Five Year Review Date: 2/15/2029
Rule 164-2-12 | Natural resources assistance council (NRAC) methodologies.
 

Natural resource assistance councils shall, on an annual basis, create methodologies to be used in evaluating and ranking project applications submitted to the council. These methodologies shall be submitted to the director for review and approval or disapproval. If the director disapproves the submitted methodologies, the director shall communicate the reason(s) for disapproval to the council, and the council shall revise the methodologies and resubmit them to the director for approval. NRAC methodologies must include a two-tier tiebreaker using the methodology's criteria and a minimum score. If a council is not going to change its methodologies, the council shall notify the director that the methodologies will not be changed. NRAC proposed methodologies shall be submitted to the director along with the annual program schedule. The program schedule shall set forth the timing requirements for submission of applications and the processing of applications by the district and shall include a current roster of the NRAC members and their contact information. NRACs shall provide applicants a period of no less than ninety days after the director's approval of their methodologies to accept project applications.

Last updated February 15, 2024 at 2:26 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 164.05, 164.26, Chap. 119
Amplifies: 164.05
Five Year Review Date: 2/15/2029
Rule 164-2-13 | Project signs.
 

Signage is not required on a commission-funded clean Ohio project. However, if a grant recipient elects to erect an entrance sign, then the sign must, at a minimum, contain the green space conservation logo, which shall be obtained from the commission.

Last updated February 15, 2024 at 2:27 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 164.05, 164.26, Chap. 119
Amplifies: 164.05
Five Year Review Date: 2/15/2029
Rule 164-2-14 | Park districts and park authorities project support documentation.
 

Division (C) of section 164.23 of the Revised Code requires park districts or other similar park authorities to consult with the legislative authority of each county, township, and municipal corporation in which the proposed project will be located. Park districts and other similar park authorities must provide a copy of the written solicitation for comments sent to the local governments. Any applications that do not contain this documentation shall be considered incomplete and not be scored by the natural resource assistance council.

Last updated February 15, 2024 at 2:27 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 164.05, 164.26, Chap. 119
Amplifies: 164.23
Five Year Review Date: 2/15/2029
Rule 164-2-15 | Privacy policy.
 

(A) The purpose of this rule is to establish the requirements for regulating access to confidential personal information that is maintained by the commission.

(B) For the purposes of administrative rules promulgated in accordance with section 1347.15 of the Revised Code, the following definitions apply:

(1) "Access" when used in this rule as a noun means an instance of copying, viewing, or otherwise perceiving. Access when used in this rule as a verb means to copy, view, or otherwise perceive.

(2) "Acquisition of a new computer system" means the purchase of a "computer system," as defined in this rule, that is not a computer system currently in place nor one for which the acquisition process has been initiated as of the effective date of the commission rule addressing requirements in section 1347.15 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Computer system" means a "system," as defined by section 1347.01 of the Revised Code, that stores, maintains, or retrieves personal information using electronic data processing equipment.

(4) "Confidential personal information" (CPI) has the meaning as defined by division (A)(1) of section 1347.15 of the Revised Code and identified by rules promulgated by the commission in accordance with division (B)(3) of section 1347.15 of the Revised Code that reference the federal or state statutes or administrative rules that make personal information maintained by the commission confidential.

(5) "Commission" means the Ohio public works commission.

(6) "Employee" means each commission employee regardless of whether the employee holds an elected or appointed office or position within the commission.

(7) "Incidental contact" means contact with the information that is secondary or tangential to the primary purpose of the activity that resulted in the contact.

(8) "Individual" means a natural person or the natural person's authorized representative, legal counsel, legal custodian, or legal guardian.

(9) "Information owner" means the individual appointed in accordance with division (A) of section 1347.05 of the Revised Code to be directly responsible for a system.

(10) "Person" means a natural person.

(11) "Personal information" has the same meaning as defined in division (E) of section 1347.01 of the Revised Code.

(12) "Personal information system" means a "system" that "maintains" "personal information" as those terms are defined in section 1347.01 of the Revised Code. "System" includes manual and computer systems.

(13) "Research" means a methodical investigation into a subject.

(14) "Routine" means commonplace, regular, habitual, or ordinary.

(15) "Routine information that is maintained for the purpose of internal office administration, the use of which would not adversely affect a person" as that phrase is used in division (F) of section 1347.01 of the Revised Code means personal information relating to employees and maintained by the agency for internal administrative and human resource purposes.

(16) "System" has the same meaning as defined by division (F) of section 1347.01 of the Revised Code.

(17) "Upgrade" means a substantial redesign of an existing computer system for the purpose of providing a substantial amount of new application functionality, or application modifications that would involve substantial administrative or fiscal resources to implement, but would not include maintenance, minor updates and patches, or modifications that entail a limited addition of functionality due to changes in business or legal requirements.

(C) Procedures for accessing confidential personal information for personal information systems, whether manual or computer systems.

(1) Personal information systems of the commission are managed on a need-to-know basis whereby the information owner determines the level of access required for a commission employee to fulfill the employee's job duties. The determination of access to confidential personal information shall be approved by the employee's supervisor and the information owner prior to providing the employee with access to confidential personal information within a personal information system. The commission shall establish procedures for determining a revision to an employee's access to confidential personal information upon a change to that employee's job duties including, but not limited to, transfer or termination. Whenever an employee's job duties no longer require access to confidential personal information in a personal information system, the employee's access to confidential personal information shall be removed.

(2) Individual's request for a list of confidential personal information.

Upon the signed written request of any individual for a list of confidential personal information about the individual maintained by the commission, the commission shall do all the following:

(a) Verify the identity of the individual by a method that provides safeguards commensurate with the risk associated with the confidential personal information;

(b) Provide the individual with the list of confidential personal information that does not relate to an investigation about the individual or is otherwise not excluded from the scope of Chapter 1347. of the Revised Code; and

(c) If all information relates to an investigation about that individual, inform the individual that the commission has no confidential personal information about the individual that is responsive to the individual's request.

(3) Notice of invalid access.

(a) Upon discovery or notification that confidential personal information of a person has been accessed by an employee for an invalid reason, the commission shall notify the person whose information was invalidly accessed as soon as practical and to the extent known at the time. However, the commission shall delay notification for a period necessary to ensure that the notification would not delay or impede an investigation or jeopardize homeland or national security. Additionally, the commission may delay the notification consistent with any measures necessary to determine the scope of the invalid access, including which individuals' confidential personal information invalidly was accessed, and to restore the reasonable integrity of the system.

"Investigation" as used in this paragraph means the investigation of the circumstances and involvement of an employee surrounding the invalid access of confidential personal information. Once the commission determines that notification would not delay or impede an investigation, the commission shall disclose the access to confidential personal information made for an invalid reason to the person.

(b) Notification provided by the commission shall inform the person of the type of confidential personal information accessed and the date(s) of the invalid access.

(c) Notification may be made by any method reasonably designed to accurately inform the person of the invalid access, including written, electronic, or telephone notice.

(4) Appointment and duties of a data privacy point of contact.

(a) The director of the commission shall designate an employee of the commission to serve as the data privacy point of contact.

(b) The data privacy point of contact shall work with the chief privacy officer within the Ohio commission of administrative services office of information technology to assist the commission with both the implementation of privacy protections for the confidential personal information that the commission maintains and compliance with section 1347.15 of the Revised Code and the rules adopted thereunder.

(c) The data privacy point of contact shall ensure the timely completion of the "privacy impact assessment form" developed by the Ohio commission of administrative services office of information technology.

(D) Valid reasons for accessing confidential personal information.

Pursuant to the requirements of division (B)(2) of section 1347.15 of the Revised Code, this rule contains a list of valid reasons directly related to the commission's exercise of its powers or duties, for which only employees of the commission may access confidential personal information regardless of whether the personal information system is a manual system or computer system.

Performing the following functions, as part of the employee's assigned duties on behalf of the commission, constitute valid reasons for authorized employees of the commission to access confidential personal information:

(1) Responding to a public records request;

(2) Responding to a request from an individual for the list of confidential personal information the commission maintains on that individual;

(3) Administering a constitutional provision or duty;

(4) Administering a statutory provision or duty;

(5) Administering an administrative rule provision or duty;

(6) Complying with any state or federal program requirements;

(7) Processing or payment of claims or otherwise administering a program with individual participants or beneficiaries;

(8) Auditing purposes;

(9) Licensure or certification processes;

(10) Investigation or law enforcement purposes;

(11) Administrative hearings;

(12) Litigation, complying with an order of the court, or subpoena;

(13) Human resource matters (e.g., hiring, promotion, demotion, discharge, salary/compensation issues, leave requests/issues, timecard approvals/issues);

(14) Complying with an executive order or policy;

(15) Complying with a commission policy or a state administrative policy issued by the Ohio commission of administrative services, the office of budget and management or other similar state agency;

(16) Complying with a collective bargaining agreement provision; or

(17) Research in the furtherance of commission specific programs in so far as allowed by statute.

(E) The following federal statutes or regulations or state statutes and administrative rules make personal information maintained by the commission confidential and identify the confidential personal information within the scope of rules promulgated by this commission in accordance with section 1347.15 of the Revised Code:

(1) 5 U.S.C. 552a. (social security numbers).

(2) 42 U.S.C. 1320d and 45 C.F.R. parts 160 and 164 (protected health information under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act).

(3) 42 U.S.C. 9501 and 42 U.S.C. 10841 (patient records).

(4) 42 C.F.R. 482.13 (patient records).

(5) 42 C.F.R. Part 2 (confidentiality of alcohol and drug abuse patient records).

(6) 42 U.S.C. 1396a(a) (medicaid records).

(7) Sections 5119.27 and 5119.28 of the Revised Code (confidentiality of records).

(8) Sections 2305.24, 2305.25, 2305.251, 2305.252, 2305.253 and 5122.32 of the Revised Code (quality assurance and peer review records).

(9) Section 5122.31 of the Revised Code (patient certificates, applications, records, and reports).

(10) Section 5122.311 of the Revised Code (notification of bureau of criminal identification and investigation of adjudication of mental illness).

(11) Paragraph (I) of rule 5122-1-31 of the Administrative Code (voter registration of consumers and absentee voting assistance in behavioral healthcare organizations of the integrated behavioral healthcare system).

(12) Paragraph (D)(3) of rule 5122-2-25 of the Administrative Code (morbidity and mortality events).

(13) Paragraph (D)(4)(e) of rule 5122-3-13 of the Administrative Code (incident reports).

(F) Restricting and logging access to confidential personal information in computerized personal information systems.

For personal information systems that are computer systems and contain confidential personal information, the commission shall do the following:

(1) Access restrictions.

Access to confidential personal information that is kept electronically shall require a password or other authentication measure.

(2) Acquisition of a new computer system.

When the commission acquires a new computer system that stores, manages or contains confidential personal information, the commission shall include a mechanism for recording specific access by employees of the commission to confidential personal information in the system.

(3) Upgrading existing computer systems.

When the commission modifies an existing computer system that stores, manages or contains confidential personal information, the commission shall make a determination whether the modification constitutes an upgrade. Any upgrades to a computer system shall include a mechanism for recording specific access by commission employees to confidential personal information in the system.

(4) Logging requirements regarding confidential personal information in existing commission computer systems.

(a) The commission shall require commission employees who access confidential personal information within computer systems to maintain a log that records their access.

(b) Access to confidential information is not required to be entered into the log under the following circumstances:

(i) The commission employee is accessing confidential personal information for official commission purposes, including research, and the access is not specifically directed toward a specifically named individual or a group of specifically named individuals.

(ii) The commission employee is accessing confidential personal information for routine office procedures and the access is not specifically directed toward a specifically named individual or a group of specifically named individuals.

(iii) The commission employee comes into incidental contact with confidential personal information and the access of the information is not specifically directed toward a specifically named individual or a group of specifically named individuals.

(iv) The commission employee accesses confidential personal information about an individual based upon a request made under either of the following circumstances:

(a) The individual requests confidential personal information about himself/herself

(b) The individual makes a request that the commission takes some action on that individual's behalf and accessing the confidential personal information is required in order to consider or process that request

(v) For purposes of this paragraph, the commission may choose the form or forms of logging, whether in electronic or paper formats.

(5) Log management.

The commission shall issue a policy that specifies the following:

(a) Who shall maintain the log;

(b) What information shall be captured in the log;

(c) How the log is to be stored; and

(d) How long information kept in the log is to be retained.

(6) Nothing in this rule limits the commission from requiring logging in any circumstance that it deems necessary.

Last updated February 15, 2024 at 2:27 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 164.05, 164.26, Chap. 119
Amplifies: 1347.05
Five Year Review Date: 2/15/2029
Rule 164-2-16 | Project agreement; scope changes.
 

A project agreement based upon an application for grants submitted under sections 164.20 to 164.27 of the Revised Code shall be signed and returned within forty-five days of the date it was issued by the commission. If the project agreement is not signed and returned to the commission within forty-five days, the director may rescind the offer to fund the project. An executed project agreement must be received by the commission prior to the disbursement of funds. Any change in the scope of the project set forth in the project agreement shall require an amendment, which must be approved by the natural resources assistance council. Applications submitted to a NRAC for which there is an existing active project agreement for the same scope or portion of the same scope are not eligible for funding and shall be rejected.

Last updated February 15, 2024 at 2:27 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 164.05, 164.26, Chap. 119
Amplifies: 164.20, 164.21, 164.22, 164.23, 164.24, 164.25, 164.26, 164.27
Five Year Review Date: 2/15/2029
Rule 164-2-17 | Project schedule.
 

An application to fund a project shall provide for a schedule for the closing for acquisition of real property or an easement to be completed within one year of release of the project agreement. If, in addition to, the acquisition of real property or an easement, the project agreement provides for site improvement, restoration, or other work, it must be completed within two years from the date that the real property or easement was acquired. Any project agreement that provides only for site improvement, restoration, or other work, such work shall be completed within two years from the date of the agreement. Requests for an extension must be made to the director in writing who will review the reasons for the delay and determine if an extension will be granted.

Last updated February 15, 2024 at 2:28 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 164.05, 164.26, Chap. 119
Amplifies: 164.05
Five Year Review Date: 2/15/2029
Rule 164-2-18 | Protected real property exchange.
 

While an uncommon practice and discouraged by the commission, a grant recipient who owns real property that is protected by a clean Ohio deed restriction may make an application to the NRAC who approved the grant to remove the clean Ohio deed restrictions from a portion of the property in exchange for placing clean Ohio deed restrictions upon other real property (the "exchange") under the recipient's ownership.

The NRAC shall review the application and may approve the application if it finds all the following:

(A) The appraised value of the real property upon which the clean Ohio deed restrictions are to be placed must be greater than the appraised value of the real property whose clean Ohio deed restrictions are proposed to be removed. The appraisal of the real property that is currently restricted with clean Ohio deed restrictions shall be made without taking into consideration the clean Ohio deed restrictions.

(B) The exchange will not result in an exchange for property of a lesser value proportionate to the original investment of the grant award.

(C) The exchange is not based on the desire of the landowner to profit financially through the removal of the clean Ohio deed restrictions from the currently existing real property.

(D) The exchange will result in the achievement of greater conservation value to the public and provide the public with property that is of greater benefit to the public.

Last updated February 15, 2024 at 2:28 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 164.05, 164.26, Chap. 119
Amplifies: 164.05, 164.22
Five Year Review Date: 2/15/2029
Rule 164-2-19 | Requests to proceed and title insurance.
 

An applicant shall submit a request to proceed for all real property acquisition in fee activities within one year of the project agreement date. The request to proceed shall be submitted to the commission at least thirty days prior to closing, the applicant must include proposed deed restrictions to be placed upon the real property interest being purchased, a purchase contract for the real property interest, an appraisal report for the real property interest, and a title insurance binder or a commitment for title insurance issued by a licensed title insurance agent. If the closing is to be accomplished by escrowing clean Ohio funds with a licensed title insurance agent, the applicant must supply a closing protection letter issued by a licensed title insurance agent and signed escrow agreement with a licensed title insurance agent. If the title information discloses real property interests that could compromise conservation value of the property interest to be acquired, at the director's discretion, the project application will be returned to the NRAC for review and the acquisition costs of the real property interest to be acquired shall not be funded until the NRAC has completed its review.

The commission requires proof of clear and marketable title for real property purchased prior to releasing a notice to proceed to approve commencement with closing. A title insurance binder or a commitment for title, supplied to the commission, in accordance with this rule, shall at a minimum be based upon a forty-two-year chain of title search. All real property purchased shall have a title insurance policy issued to the applicant in the amount of the purchase price by a state of Ohio licensed insurance company.

Last updated February 15, 2024 at 2:28 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 164.05, 164.26, Chap. 119
Amplifies: 164.05
Five Year Review Date: 2/15/2029
Rule 164-2-20 | Resolutions of support, improvements only projects.
 

Resolutions of support are not required for improvements only project applications since the resolution of support requirement was satisfied at the time of the application for the property's acquisition.

Last updated February 15, 2024 at 2:28 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 164.05, 164.26, Chap. 119
Amplifies: 164.05
Five Year Review Date: 2/15/2029
Rule 164-2-21 | Restoration work on clean Ohio property.
 

An applicant may submit a request to the director to perform stream and wetland restoration work on clean Ohio protected property previously purchased under the clean Ohio conservation program.

(A) For such activities to be approved, the applicant must establish that the restoration work will provide an additional conservation benefit to the property in the form of ecological restoration, enhancement, or improved management that is in addition to what would have occurred without the restoration project.

(B) Proposed restoration work must demonstrate an ecological benefit and not be undertaken to offset an offsite legal requirement relating to management of storm or surface water or to resolve an offsite enforcement action.

(C) The applicant must provide documentation demonstrating that the applicant has initiated the process for receiving consent for such restoration work from the Ohio environmental protection agency or the army corps of engineers as is required to comply with the regulatory programs administered by those entities.

(D) The restoration work cannot adversely impact conservation values.

Other funds may be used to restore clean Ohio property, but mitigation of wetland loss funding cannot be used as a match by the applicant for a clean Ohio project and clean Ohio funds shall not be used to fulfill a wetland loss mitigation requirement. No mitigation credit can be received for previous clean Ohio property acquisitions. Any such mitigation credit funds generated by restoration activities must be used for long-term support, management, and stewardship of the protected property, or to fund future restoration projects in the same hydrologic unit codes (HUC)-8 watershed.

Last updated February 15, 2024 at 2:29 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 164.05, 164.26, Chap. 119
Amplifies: 164.05, 164.22
Five Year Review Date: 2/15/2029
Rule 164-2-22 | Revenue-producing activities.
 

Funds received from a revenue-producing activity must be accounted for in their receipt and expenditure and such records shall be maintained for a period of six years for the commission's inspection upon request. The funds must be expended to benefit properties that have received funding from clean Ohio. The funds may be held for future expenditure to benefit properties that have received funding from clean Ohio. Eligible expenses are for improvement projects that may be placed on property that has benefited from clean Ohio funds or for the expense associated with the management of properties which have benefited from clean Ohio funds. Management expenses may include necessary equipment, supplies, services received from third parties, and salaries of individuals conducting conservation work on properties that have received funding from clean Ohio and other reasonable expenses approved by the director.

Last updated February 15, 2024 at 2:29 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 164.05, 164.26, Chap. 119
Amplifies: 164.05
Five Year Review Date: 2/15/2029
Rule 164-2-23 | Stream restoration and property ownership.
 

Clean Ohio funding may be provided for stream restoration projects, if the applicant is otherwise an eligible applicant pursuant to the clean Ohio program. If the project is to be performed on real property, owned by a public entity, the clean Ohio deed restrictions must be recorded on the property prior to providing funding. If the project is to be performed on real property owned by a person or a non-public entity, a clean Ohio easement which shall be in a form acceptable to the director, relating to the project, must be recorded on the property prior to providing funding. The recorded deed restriction or easement shall be provided to the clean Ohio program representative responsible for oversight of the project, before any restoration work commences.

Last updated February 15, 2024 at 2:29 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 164.05, 164.26, Chap. 119
Amplifies: 164.05, 164.22
Five Year Review Date: 2/15/2029
Rule 164-2-24 | Structures.
 

A natural resources assistance council may establish a policy permitting funding to be used to acquire and/or demolish existing structures located upon real property to be acquired with clean Ohio funds. The NRAC's policy must be finalized prior to a funding round and specified within the NRAC's project selection methodology. The existing structures may have future uses as nature and/or outdoor education centers, park offices, and/or storage relating to conservation activities occurring on the property, but under no circumstance shall these structures be used as a residence.

Last updated February 15, 2024 at 2:29 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 164.05, 164.26, Chap. 119
Amplifies: 164.05, 164.22
Five Year Review Date: 2/15/2029
Rule 164-2-25 | Subdivision codes.
 

Prior to the submission of an application for funding to the NRAC, the applicant must request and obtain from the commission an identification code which the commission shall use to identify the applicant. A request for an identification code shall be submitted to the commission by an email to the director from an authorized employee of the applicant. The request shall be made on the applicant's letterhead and shall be signed by such an authorized employee. The applicant must include relevant documentation or an explanation relating to the legal creation of the applicant specifying its form of government or creation as a nonprofit organization, the revised code provisions or federal statutes providing for the entity, and its date of formation.

Last updated February 15, 2024 at 2:29 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 164.05, 164.26, Chap. 119
Amplifies: 164.05
Five Year Review Date: 2/15/2029
Rule 164-2-26 | Surveys.
 

All real property interests acquired with clean Ohio funds shall be described with an accurate survey or recorded plat designation. Surveys shall satisfy the minimum standards for boundary surveys promulgated by the board of registration for professional engineers and surveyors of Ohio and shall also comply with the current local county conveyance standards where the parcel is located.

Last updated February 15, 2024 at 2:30 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 164.05, 164.26, Chap. 119
Amplifies: 164.05
Five Year Review Date: 2/15/2029
Rule 164-2-27 | Utility easements.
 

Utility easements may be granted after the deed restrictions are recorded, if the deed restrictions provide for the specific utility easement being granted.

(A) An applicant may request that the deed restrictions provide for specific utility easements that support permitted uses on the real property pursuant to the clean Ohio program and its application. If a utility easement is sought after the applicant and commission have entered into a project agreement, a request to grant the utility easement may be made to the director for consideration and approval at the director's discretion.

(B) A request for permission, after the recording of the deed restrictions or at a point in time after the project agreement has been entered into by the applicant and the commission, to grant a utility easement must be supported by evidence that the provision of the utility is for the public good and is consistent with the public purpose for acquiring the land, benefits either the community-at-large or a larger scale public purpose, it provides a clear and direct benefit to the property owner/grant recipient, it will have little or no impact on conservation values and/or reparation to the property, and written support is provided from the property owner/grant recipient.

(C) Costs associated with the provision of utility service are not eligible for funding from the clean Ohio program and shall not be a qualified expenditure for the applicant's match funding.

Last updated February 15, 2024 at 2:30 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 164.05, 164.26, Chap. 119
Amplifies: 164.05
Five Year Review Date: 2/15/2029