Dear Marie, Thanks for your email about Clermont County`s application for an NPDES surface water discharge permit. I understand your concerns about this proposed new wastewater treatment facility and hope I can provide clarification regarding communications with agency staff. I spoke with Ron to better understand his conversations with you and clarify what commitments he made. I`ve cc`d him on this email, as well as Richard Shoemaker, his supervisor, so that everyone is aware of what is discussed. In your email, you said Ron committed to meet with you and your engineer at the proposed and alternative sites to discuss your observations and recommendations from the civil engineer. Indeed he did commit to this, but after he discussed it with his supervisor, it became clear that such a meeting would be premature since we still don`t have a complete application and all the alternatives are not on our table. I`m sorry for the miscommunication. As you know, one of the biggest concerns regarding any proposed wastewater treatment plant is the selection of the site for the plant. Ohio EPA does not choose the location of the plant. According to Ohio law, the applicant (Clermont County) must choose the location(s). Our agency has the responsibility then to assess if the location meets our criteria for flood protection and isolation. Your concerns regarding plant siting can best be addressed in discussions with Clermont County. We are more than happy to meet with you and other citizens about the Loveland-Miamiville proposed new wastewater treatment plant and answer questions you have. Perhaps we could meet with you after Dr. Pruel has completed his study, however I don`t want to mislead you: Dr. Pruel`s findings may or may not have an impact on the agency`s decision on the county`s application, especially since Clermont County`s application is not considered complete at this time. Please let me know if I can clear up any misunderstanding here. Also, you wanted to know who the decision makers are on this NPDES application. There are numerous decision makers in Ohio EPA`s permitting process. As permit reviewer, Ron Ware is the primary technical expert and decisionmaker. His work is reviewed by his supervisor, Richard Shoemaker, as well as Jim Simpson, manager of the Division of Surface Water, Southwest District Office and others, including technical experts in the Central Office, Columbus and the Director Chris Jones. As you know, we are still in the initial stages of the typical NPDES permitting process.** We always welcome comment, though there are some stages (public comment periods/hearings) when citizen comments have the most legal weight: Step 1 Ohio EPA receives NPDES application. Step 2 Ohio EPA public notices receipt of application in newspaper, allowing for public comments and for public to request a hearing. Step 3 Ohio EPA holds public hearing. [**WE ARE HERE and won`t move to step 4 until a decision is made regarding the completeness of the Clermont Co application] Step 4 Ohio EPA public notices the draft permit or proposed denial and public hearing, if requested. Step 5 Ohio EPA holds public hearing. Step 6 Comment period ends on draft permit or Ohio EPA issues proposed denial. Step 7 Final Action - Ohio EPA director issues draft permit or the permit is denied. It`s pertinent to note that there is communication between these various steps. Sometimes we request more information from the applicant. Sometimes we add conditions and limits to the permit. Sometimes we have no further requests. In the case of Clermont County`s submittal, Ohio EPA has requested more information. This will likely lengthen the permitting process. It`s impossible to speculate when a decision would be made on the completeness of the application, or on a future draft or final action on the permit. We will certainly keep you posted though, as to the status and progress. Marie, I hope this is helpful to you. I just mailed you a copy of the Jan `04 Responsiveness Summary from the August `03 hearing. Let me know if you have any questions on it. I also understand you`ve rallied the forces and done a bang-up job to mobilize your group since the August hearing, which means we may need to coordinate future communications with you to make sure we can address the diverse concerns of your MCA membership. I look forward to talking with you soon. Take care. Sincerely, Susan Aman Public Involvement Coordinator Public Interest Center Ohio EPA P.O. Box 1049 Columbus, OH 43216-1049 614.644.2160 614.644.2737 susan.aman@epa.state.oh.us >>> "Brown, Marie" 01/21/04 03:43PM >>> Hi Susan, We are getting close to the wire on a decision from your group on Clermont County`s application for a discharge permit. Ron Ware had previously committed to me that he would meet with me and our engineer at the proposed and alternative sites to discuss our observations and recommendations from the civil engineer. Last week he told me that he will not come down, based on a decision made by his supervisor to only consider the application before them, and not engage in a conversation with our group regarding the sites. Obviously our concern is not only with the point of discharge and the negative impact that will have on the quality of the water in our aquifer, which is located right at the proposed point of discharge. The second major concern we have is that once the discharge permit is issued we will not be able to prevent Clermont County from building on the same location. Please inform me of who Ron Ware`s immediate supervisor is, and the next two in the chain of command above him. I have Tom Winston, and Bruce Smith`s names, but not sure who is the top decision maker. Will you please clarify for me also who the final decision makers are in the application process? You may also want to be on the lookout for a large packet of signatures and letters from concerned citizens, along with an engineers report. We will be sending it to Ron. Would you like a copy, and who else`s attention should we send it to? Thanks Susan. Marie A. Brown President Miamiville Civic Association (513) 936-7907