New Ohio EPA legislation to address phosphorus discharges

Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) has announced that it intends to introduce legislation to impose a discharge limit on municipal and industrial dischargers of wastewater to Ohio’s surface waters. The proposed limit of one milligram per liter of total phosphorus is part of Ohio EPA’s goal of improving surface water quality by reducing discharges of phosphorus from agricultural runoff and wastewater treatment plants. The legislation additionally seeks to expand the definition of “agricultural pollution” to include fertilizer and directs the Ohio Department of Agriculture to establish rules for “watersheds in distress” caused by fertilizer. The legislation, which will also address various other environmental issues, is currently in draft form and is expected to be introduced in the Ohio House in the near future.