October 2011

The Diesel Emission Reduction Grant program (DERG) funds clean diesel projects, including diesel exhaust retrofits, engine repowers and replacements.  The program is intended to provide voluntary funding to reduce diesel emissions to assist Ohio in meeting federal air quality standards. 

The more voluntary reductions for vehicles the less reductions are needed from industry to meet

Rumors abound that the Kasich Administration is seriously considering totally overhauling the Clean Ohio brownfield grant program.  Multiple sources have indicated that the Administration is discussing internally making the next round of Clean Ohio the last for the program in its current form.

During the transportation engineers conference in Columbus, Governor Kasich made remarks that

One of the issues that can complicate a clean up is if multiple environmental regulatory programs apply to the site.  Even the same type of contamination may be required to be addressed under different programs and different processes.

A prime example of this issue in Ohio is the disconnect between Ohio’s Voluntary Action Program (VAP)

The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) has entered into a settlement with U.S. EPA to fix its combined sewer overflow issues (CSOs).  Included in the settlement is a provision which requires NEORSD to spend $42 million in eight years to eliminate 44 million gallons of storm water from entering its sewer system.  This portion