Agricultural Pollution

The Division of Soil and Water Conservation has the authority to establish standards for a level of management and conservation practices in farming and animal feeding operations. The purpose of these standards is to reduce pollution of waters of the state by soil sediment, animal manure and residual farm products. This authority is granted through Ohio Revised Code Chapter 939.
Enforcement of these regulations is typically performed through a complaint process. If the Division of Soil and Water Conservation receives a complaint alleging that an agricultural operation is not in compliance with these standards, then the Division will investigate. If the Division of Soil and Water Conservation determines that the agricultural operation is in violation of the law, then the Division will seek to find a cooperative solution to return the operation to compliance. ODA may require corrective actions. If these corrective actions are not completed, ODA has the authority to issue a civil penalty of up to $10,000.
- 901:13-1-01 General provisions
- 901:13-1-15 Administrative procedures
- 901:13-1-16 Operating procedures
- 901:13-1-17 Director's orders
- 901:13-1-18 Grants
Statewide
Common violations of these rules include:
- Overflow and discharge from animal manure collection, storage or treatment facilities,
- Manure contaminated runoff from feedlots and manure management facilities,
- Pollution from other waste waters, such as milk house waste water or silage leachate,
- Excessive erosion
- Pollution occurring from the land application of manure
- Improper composting of animal mortality
- 901:13-1-02 Overflow and discharge from animal manure collection, storage or treatment facilities
- 901:13-1-03 Seepage from animal manure management facilities
- 901:13-1-04 Manure contaminated runoff from feedlots and manure management facilities
- 901:13-1-05 Other waste waters
- 901:13-1-06 Flooding of animal feeding operations
- 901:13-1-07 Sheet and rill erosion
- 901:13-1-08 Gully erosion
- 901:13-1-09 Wind erosion
- 901:13-1-11 Land application of animal manure
- 901:13-1-12 Placing and sloughing
- 901:13-1-13 Composting of animal mortality
Watershed in Distress
The Grand Lake St. Marys watershed was designated as a watershed in distress on January 18, 2011.
Within this area, there are additional requirements on farming and animal feeding operations. Four of the rules in Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 901:13-1 have provisions that apply specifically to an area designated as a watershed in distress:
- 901:13-1-11 Land application of animal manure
- 901:13-1-19 Nutrient management planning requirements for watersheds in distress
- 901:13-1-20 Designating watersheds in distress
- 901:13-1-99 Civil penalties
Western Lake Erie Basin
Complaints
More on Agricultural Pollution Complaints