Rule 901:10-1-03 | Criteria for decision-making.
(A) Criteria for decision making by the director. The director shall deny, modify, suspend or revoke a permit to install or permit to operate if:
(1) The permit application contains misleading or false information; or
(2) The designs and plans fail to conform to best management practices and to the rules in this chapter or if the owner or operator fails to build the facility in accordance with design plans as approved in the permit to install or in accordance with amended and approved design plans; or
(3) The plans for the manure management plan, the insect and rodent control plan and any other plans governing the operation fail to conform to best management practices and to rules of this chapter; or
(4) The director determines that the designs and plans describe a proposed discharge or source for which a NPDES permit is required under this chapter and that will conflict with an areawide waste treatment plan adopted in accordance with section 208 of the act; or
(5) The facility is not designed or constructed as a non-discharge system or operated to prevent the discharge of pollutants to waters of the state or to otherwise protect water quality; or
(6) The director determines that the applicant or owner or operator has not complied with rule 901:10-1-10 of the Administrative Code.
(B) The director may deny, modify, suspend or revoke a permit to install or permit to operate if the applicant, owner, operator or persons associated in the operation of concentrated animal feeding facilities, have a history of substantial noncompliance with the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, as defined in section 6109.01 of the Revised Code, any other applicable state laws pertaining to environmental protection or environmental laws of another country that indicates that the applicant or owner or operator lacks sufficient reliability, expertise and competence to operate the facility in substantial compliance with Chapter 903. of the Revised Code and this chapter.
In evaluating a history of substantial noncompliance as required, the director may consider all of the following for a period of five years preceding the date of the application:
(1) Any information submitted on ownership and background pursuant to rule 901:10-1-02 of the Administrative Code, including the following:
(a) If the applicant or permittee is a publicly traded corporation, provide the full name, date of birth, and business address of each individual or business concern holding more than twenty-five per cent of the equity in the applicant or permittee; or
(b) If the applicant or permittee is a sole proprietor or any other business concern, provide the full name, date of birth, and business address of each individual or business concern holding more than fifty per cent of the equity in the applicant or permittee;
(c) If the applicant or permittee is a partnership, as partnership is defined in section 1775.05 of the Revised Code, provide the full name, date of birth, and business address of each individual or business concern holding more than fifty per cent of the equity in the applicant or permittee; and
(d) If the applicant or permittee is the recipient of a financial loan to the facility with provisions for the right to control management of the facility or actual control of the facility or the selection of officers, directors, or managers of the facility, identify the full name, date of birth, and business address of each individual or business concern providing the loan.
(2) Any administrative enforcement action (including an administrative order or notice of violation), civil suit, or criminal proceeding that is:
(a) Pending against the applicant or a business concern owned or controlled by the applicant;
(b) Resolved or dismissed in a settlement agreement, in a consent order or decrees, is adjudicated or otherwise dismissed and that may or may not have resulted in the imposition of:
(i) A sanction such as a fine, penalty, payment or work or service performed in lieu of a fine or penalty; or
(ii) Cessation or suspension of operations.
(c) Any revocation, suspension, or denial of a license or permit or equivalent authorization; or
(d) With respect to paragraph (B)(1)(a) of this rule, any explanation that the applicant or owner or operator may choose to submit.
(C) In addition to the criteria set forth in paragraphs (A) and (B) of this rule, the director shall deny, modify, suspend, or revoke an NPDES permit if the director determines::
(1) Discharge from the facility will prevent or interfere with attainment or maintenance of applicable water quality standards adopted under section 6111.041 of the Revised Code and the most current antidegradation policy adopted under section 6111.12 of the Revised Code; or
(2) Discharge from the facility will not achieve compliance with national effluent standards; or
(3) The administrator of the United States environmental protection agency objects in writing to the issuance of the NPDES permit in accordance with section 402(d) of the act; or
(4) The proposed discharge or source will conflict with an areawide waste treatment management plan adopted in accordance with section 208 of the act; or
(5) Forms, notices, or reports required pursuant to the terms and conditions of the NPDES permit are false or inaccurate;
(6) The discharge is of any radiological, chemical, or biological warfare agent or high-level radioactive waste or medical waste; or
(7) The United States army corps of engineers for the district in which the discharge is located objects in writing to the issuance of the NPDES permit as substantially impairing navigation or anchorage; or
(8) Discharge from the facility will not achieve national standards of performance for new sources; or
(9) There is a change in any condition that requires either a temporary or permanent reduction or elimination of the permitted discharge; or
(10) The permitted activity endangers human health or the environment and can only be regulated to acceptable levels by permit modification or termination; or
(11) The applicant or owner or operator is required to obtain a state or other appropriate certification under section 401 of the act and 40 CFR section 124.53 and that certification has not been obtained or waived;
(12) When the imposition of conditions cannot ensure compliance with the applicable water quality requirements of all affected states; or
(13) Discharge from the facility will not achieve and maintain compliance with other requirements of the act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
Supplemental Information