ORSANCO sets Pollution Control Standards for industrial and municipal waste water discharges to the Ohio River, and tracks certain dischargers whose effluent can seriously impact water quality. The standards designate specific uses for the Ohio, and establish guidelines to ensure that the river is capable of supporting these uses. To keep pace with current issues, ORSANCO reviews the standards every three years. As part of the review process, workshops and public hearings are held for public input. For frequently asked questions about the Pollution Control Standards, click here: FAQ's
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2012 REVISIONS TO POLLUTION CONTROL STANDARDS
VARIANCE APPLICATION AND REVIEW PROCESS
The Commission may allow variances to certain provisions of its Pollution Control Standards, including its Prohibition on Mixing Zones for Bioaccumulative Chemicals of Concern (Chapter 4.F) and its Wastewater Discharge Requirements (Chapter 5). A Variance Application and Review Process was adopted by the Commission at its February, 2013 Commission meeting. This document contains the information necessary to apply for a variance.
Please click on the following link to obtain the document:
Variance Application and Review Process (.pdf)
Variance for Pollution Control Standards Fact Sheet (.pdf)
PPG INDUSTRIES VARIANCE
The Commission granted a conditional variance to PPG Industries (Natrium, WV facility) at its regularly scheduled meeting on October 11, 2012. The impact of this variance is to require PPG to continue its work to reduce its mercury discharges to the Ohio River. This variance requires PPG to achieve mercury discharge levels which are approximately one third of their discharges when they started the process of evaluating discharge reduction possibilities as required by the variance process. The variance will allow PPG to continue to have a mixing zone for its discharge of mercury for a five-year period after the Commission’s prohibition on mixing zones for bioaccumulative chemicals of concern takes effect on October 16, 2013. Click below for more specifics on this variance.
PCS STANDARDS- Archived Standards
The Commission conducts a review of its Standards every three years. Each review consists of the following steps:
1. An initial comment period, in which comments are sought an all aspects of the Standards.
2. Consideration of the comments received and formulation of responses, including proposed revisions to the
Standards.
3. Public review and comment on proposed revisions.
4. Consideration of comments on proposed revisions and Commission adoption of revisions.
Because the Commission carefully considers all comments received, in collaboration with its member states through several committees and technical work groups, the entire process usually takes approximately 20 months.