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 Abandoned Mine Lands, as announced in the US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Public Notice on June 4, 2025. The RGP is for use by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to authorize projects associated with Abandoned Mine Lands and acid mine drainage reclamation 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-2023-00423. The Ohio EPA ID Number for this project is 251455A1. 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 antidegradation 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 July 22, 2025, 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 September 10, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. 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/5364950888143442013 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 September 17, 2025. Comments received after this date may not be considered as part of the official record of the hearing. Anyone may submit written comments at https://ohioepa.commentinput.com?id=PYGhUVx2WE or by email to epa.dswcomments@epa.ohio.gov. To request a reasonable accommodation due to a disability, visit: https://epa.ohio.gov/ada.

Ohio EPA is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs, and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws. To request a reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact Naquetta V. Porter, ADA Coordinator, 440.975.6801 (call or text) or naquetta.porter@epa.ohio.gov, as soon as possible before the event.