The Following Matters Are the Subject

The following matters are the subject of this public notice by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. The complete public notice, including any additional instructions for submitting comments, requesting information, a public hearing, filing an appeal, or ADA accommodations may be obtained at: https://epa.ohio.gov/actions or Hearing Clerk, Ohio EPA, 50 W. Town St. P.O. Box 1049, Columbus, Ohio 43216. Ph: 614-644-3037 email: HClerk@epa.ohio.gov Draft Section 401 WQC & Public Hearing Regional General Permit NRCS 200 N High St Rm 522, Columbus, OH 43215 Facility Description: Regional General Permit NRCS Receiving Water: Surface Waters, Streams, Lakes ID #: DSW401249740A Date of Action: 05/31/2024 Public notice is hereby given that the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) Division of Surface Water (DSW) has received an application for and has begun to consider whether to issue or deny a Clean Water Act Section 401 water quality certification for the proposed Regional General Permit (RGP) for the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), as announced in the US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Public Notice on April 24, 2024. The RGP would be solely for NRCS use for Emergency Watershed Protection and Farm Bill activities outlined in the Corps public notice. The application was submitted by the Huntington District Corps. The projects may be in any county in the state. The Huntington District Corps Public Notice Number for this project is LRH-2024-00304. The Ohio EPA ID Number for this project is 249740A. Discharges from the activity, if approved, would result in degradation to, or lowering of, the water quality of surface waters of the state, including wetlands, streams, and lakes. Ohio EPA will review the application, and decide whether to grant or deny the certification, in accordance with OAC Chapters 3745-1 and 3745-32. In accordance with OAC rule 3745-1-05, an anti- degradation review of the application will be conducted before deciding whether to allow a lowering of water quality. No exclusions or waivers, as outlined by OAC rule 3745-1-05, apply or may be granted. Starting approximately May 31- June 3, 2024, Copies of the application and technical support information may be inspected on Ohio EPA-DSW website: https://epa.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/ epa/divisions-and-offices/surface- water/permitting/water- quality-certification-and-isolated- wetland-permits Ohio EPA will hold a public information session and public hearing relative to issues of lower water quality on July 18, 2024 at 2:30 p.m. at in the 6th Floor Summer Conference Room at the Ohio EPA Lazarus Government Center, 50 West Town Street, Columbus OH 43215. The public hearing will end when all interested parties have had an opportunity to provide comments. The hearing may also be attended virtually by registering at this link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/ register/8983582184397741149 All interested persons are entitled to attend or be represented and give written or oral comments on the proposed project. The purpose of the hearing is to obtain additional information that will be considered by Ohio EPA prior to any further action on the application. Ohio EPA will continue to accept written comments on the application through the close of business on July 25, 2024. Comments received after this date may not be considered as part of the official record of the hearing. Anyone may submit written comments or requests to be placed on a mailing list for information by email to epa.dswcomments@epa.ohio.gov. To request a reasonable accommodation due to a disability, visit: https://epa.ohio.gov/ada 5-31/2024