130th Ohio General Assembly
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H. B. No. 133  As Introduced
As Introduced

125th General Assembly
Regular Session
2003-2004
H. B. No. 133


Representative Olman 



A BILL
To amend sections 4906.06, 4906.10, 4906.98, and 4906.99 and to enact section 4906.97 of the Revised Code to change the standard for modifying the time when a certificate application can be filed with the Power Siting Board; to state the Board's continuing jurisdiction to enforce a certificate from the date of issuance through the period of the facility's initial operation; to authorize the Board or its chairperson to order the suspension of an activity during the Board's consideration of a complaint about the activity; and to authorize the Board to impose a forfeiture for a violation of power siting law.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That sections 4906.06, 4906.10, 4906.98, and 4906.99 be amended and section 4906.97 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec. 4906.06.  (A) An applicant for a certificate shall file with the office of the chairman chairperson of the power siting board an application, in such form as the board prescribes, containing the following information:
(1) A description of the location and of the major utility facility to be built thereon;
(2) A summary of any studies which that have been made by or for the applicant of the environmental impact of the facility;
(3) A statement explaining the need for the facility;
(4) A statement of the reasons why the proposed location is best suited for the facility;
(5) A statement of how the facility fits into the applicant's forecast contained in the report submitted under section 4935.04 of the Revised Code;
(6) Such other information as the applicant may consider relevant or as the board may by rule or order may require. Copies of the studies referred to in division (A)(2) of this section shall be filed with the office of the chairman chairperson, if ordered, and shall be available for public inspection.
The application shall be filed not less than two years, except one year in the case of transmission lines, nor more than five years prior to the planned date of commencement of construction. Such Either period may be waived by the board for unforeseen emergencies good cause shown.
(B) Each application shall be accompanied by proof of service of a copy of such application on the chief executive officer of each municipal corporation and county, and the head of each public agency charged with the duty of protecting the environment or of planning land use, in the area in which any portion of such facility is to be located.
(C) Each applicant shall within seven days of the filing of the application give public notice to persons residing in the municipal corporations and counties entitled to receive notice under division (B) of this section, by the publication of a summary of the application in newspapers of general circulation in such area. Proof of such publication shall be filed with the office of the chairman chairperson.
(D) Inadvertent failure of service on, or notice to, any of the persons identified in divisions (B) and (C) of this section may be cured pursuant to orders of the board designed to afford them adequate notice to enable them to participate effectively in the proceeding. In addition, the board may, after filing, may require the applicant to serve notice of the application or copies thereof or both upon such other persons, and file proof thereof, as the board considers appropriate.
(E) An application for an amendment of a certificate shall be in such form and contain such information as the board prescribes. Notice of such an application shall be given as required in divisions (B) and (C) of this section.
(F) Each application for certificate or an amendment shall be accompanied by the application fee prescribed by board rule. All application fees, supplemental application fees, and other fees collected by the board shall be deposited in the state treasury to the credit of the power siting board fund, which is hereby created. The chairman chairperson shall administer and authorize expenditures from the fund for any of the purposes of this chapter. If the chairman chairperson determines that moneys credited to the fund from an applicant's fee are not sufficient to pay the board's expenses associated with its review of the application, he the chairperson shall request the approval of the controlling board to assess a supplemental application fee upon an applicant to pay anticipated additional expenses associated with the board's review of the application or an amendment to an application. If the chairman chairperson finds that an application fee exceeds the amount needed to pay the board's expenses for review of the application, he the chairperson shall cause a refund of the excess amount to be issued to the applicant from the fund.
Sec. 4906.10.  (A) The power siting board shall render a decision upon the record either granting or denying the application as filed, or granting it upon such terms, conditions, or modifications of the construction, operation, or maintenance of the major utility facility as the board considers appropriate. The certificate shall be conditioned upon the facility being in compliance with standards and rules adopted under sections 1501.33, 1501.34, and 4561.32 and Chapters 3704., 3734., and 6111. of the Revised Code. The period of initial operation under a certificate shall expire two years after the date on which electric power is first generated by the major utility facility is first placed in service. During The board has continuing jurisdiction to enforce all conditions of a certificate from the date of its issuance to the end of the period of initial operation. Additionally during that period, the facility shall be subject to the enforcement and monitoring powers of the director of environmental protection under Chapters 3704., 3734., and 6111. of the Revised Code and to the emergency provisions under those chapters. If a major utility facility constructed in accordance with the terms and conditions of its certificate is unable to operate in compliance with all applicable requirements of state laws, rules, and standards pertaining to air pollution, the facility may apply to the director of environmental protection for a conditional operating permit under division (G) of section 3704.03 of the Revised Code and the rules adopted thereunder. The operation of a major utility facility in compliance with a conditional operating permit is not in violation of its certificate. After the expiration of the period of initial operation of a major utility facility, the facility shall be under the jurisdiction of the environmental protection agency and shall comply with all laws, rules, and standards pertaining to air pollution, water pollution, and solid and hazardous waste disposal.
The board shall not grant a certificate for the construction, operation, and maintenance of a major utility facility, either as proposed or as modified by the board, unless it finds and determines all of the following:
(1) The basis of the need for the facility. In the case of a major utility facility described in division (B)(1) of section 4906.01 of the Revised Code to be constructed on or after the effective date of this amendment October 5, 1999, the board shall presume the need for the facility as that need is stated in an application pursuant to division (A)(3) of section 4906.06 of the Revised Code.
(2) The nature of the probable environmental impact;
(3) That the facility represents the minimum adverse environmental impact, considering the state of available technology and the nature and economics of the various alternatives, and other pertinent considerations;
(4) In the case of an electric transmission line, that the facility is consistent with regional plans for expansion of the electric power grid of the electric systems serving this state and interconnected utility systems and that the facility will serve the interests of electric system economy and reliability;
(5) That the facility will comply with Chapters 3704., 3734., and 6111. of the Revised Code and all rules and standards adopted under those chapters and under sections 1501.33, 1501.34, and 4561.32 of the Revised Code. In determining whether the facility will comply with all rules and standards adopted under section 4561.32 of the Revised Code, the board shall consult with the office of aviation of the division of multi-modal planning and programs of the department of transportation under section 4561.341 of the Revised Code.
(6) That the facility will serve the public interest, convenience, and necessity;
(7) In addition to the provisions contained in divisions (A)(1) to (6) of this section and rules adopted under those divisions, what its impact will be on the viability as agricultural land of any land in an existing agricultural district established under Chapter 929. of the Revised Code that is located within the site and alternative site of the proposed major utility facility. Rules adopted to evaluate impact under division (A)(7) of this section shall not require the compilation, creation, submission, or production of any information, document, or other data pertaining to land not located within the site and alternative site.
(8) That the facility incorporates maximum feasible water conservation practices as determined by the board, considering available technology and the nature and economics of the various alternatives.
(B) If the board determines that the location of all or a part of the proposed facility should be modified, it may condition its certificate upon that modification, provided that the municipal corporations and counties, and persons residing therein, affected by the modification shall have been given reasonable notice thereof.
(C) A copy of the decision and any opinion issued therewith shall be served upon each party.
Sec. 4906.97.  (A) Upon a finding by the power siting board that there are reasonable grounds to believe that a person has violated a provision of section 4906.98 of the Revised Code, the board shall fix a time for hearing such complaint and shall notify the person. The notice shall be served not less than fifteen days before hearing and shall state the matters that are the subject of the complaint. Parties to the complaint are entitled to be heard, to be represented by counsel, and to have process to enforce the attendance of witnesses.
(B) The power siting board by order, or its chairperson with written notice to the person, may require that any activity that is the subject of a complaint under division (A) of this section be suspended for the duration of the board's consideration of the complaint.
(C) After notice and opportunity for hearing in accordance with division (A) of this section and upon a finding by the board that a person has violated a provision of section 4906.98 of the Revised Code, the board by order may assess a forfeiture of not more than ten thousand dollars for each day of the violation. In determining the amount of any forfeiture, the board shall consider the nature of the violation.
(D) The attorney general, upon written request of the board, shall bring a civil action to recover any forfeiture assessed under division (C) of this section but not paid, or to seek other appropriate relief, including injunctive relief. The action shall be brought in the court of common pleas of Franklin county. The court shall give precedence to the action over all other cases.
(E) All forfeitures collected under division (C) or (D) of this section shall be deposited into the state treasury to the credit of the general revenue fund.
Sec. 4906.98. (A) No person shall willfully construct a major utility facility without first obtaining a certificate.
(B) No person shall willfully construct, operate, or maintain a major utility facility other than in compliance with the certificate he the person has obtained.
(C) No person shall fail to comply with any order issued pursuant to this chapter or with a suspension otherwise required under division (B) of section 4906.97 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 4906.99.  Whoever violates any provision of section 4906.98 of the Revised Code shall may be fined not less than one thousand dollars nor more than ten thousand dollars for each day of violation, or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.
Section 2. That existing sections 4906.06, 4906.10, 4906.98, and 4906.99 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.
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