Ohio Administrative Code › Title 3745 - Ohio Environmental Protection Agency › Chapter 3745-4 - Surface Water Monitoring and Assessment › Section 3745-4-01 - Purpose and applicability

Current through all regulations passed
			 and filed through July 1, 2024
(A) The purpose of this chapter, credible
			 data rules, is to establish criteria for three levels of credible data for a
			 surface water quality monitoring and assessment program established by the
			 director and to establish the necessary training and experience for persons to
			 submit credible data, thereby increasing the information base upon which to
			 enhance, improve and maintain water resource quality in Ohio.
			 All data submitted under the credible data program that
			 meet the specified requirements, shall be stored and made accessible to both
			 the public and other state agencies in a computerized data base. Except
			 as provided in paragraph (D) of this rule, persons collecting
			  and submitting
			 data to
			 Ohio EPA for consideration as credible data must have status as a qualified
			 data collector (QDC) as provided in rule
			 3745-4-03
			 of the Administrative Code.
(B)
			 Participation in this program is voluntary except for the requirement under
			 section 6111.54 of the Revised Code that
			 each state agency in possession of surface water quality data shall submit the
			 data to Ohio EPA in a format designated by
			 the director. No later than March thirty-first of each
			 year, state  agencies shall
			 submit surface water quality data for the preceding
			 year to Ohio EPA .
(C)
			 This chapter establishes requirements for study plan design, sample collection,
			 analytical methods, data assessment, and quality assurance and quality control
			 procedures that are associated with credible data at level 1, level 2 and level
			 3.
(1) Level 1 data are collected and
			 submitted to Ohio EPA for purposes of public awareness and educational
			 activities. The specifications associated with level 1 data are commensurate
			 with the training and methods associated with established science education
			 programs and 
									citizen monitoring programs.
(2) Level 2 data are collected and submitted
			 to Ohio EPA for the purposes of evaluating the effectiveness of pollution
			 controls for point sources and nonpoint sources and initial screening of water
			 quality problems to determine if additional study is needed. Level 2 data may
			 also serve the purpose of public awareness and educational activities. The
			 specifications associated with level 2 data are commensurate with a higher
			 degree of training and more rigorous test methods than level 1.
(3) Level 3 is the highest level of credible
			 data that are used for a variety of regulatory purposes specified in section
			 6111.52 of the Revised Code, and
			 may also serve those purposes associated with level 1 and level 2 data. The
			 specifications associated with level 3 data are commensurate with the training,
			 skills and test methods used by Ohio EPA and by other professional
			 environmental organizations. These high standards are necessary to ensure that
			 level 3 data are of the caliber necessary to make and defend regulatory and
			 management decisions involving surface water resources in Ohio.