The Northeast Ohio Four County Regional Planning and Development Organization (NEFCO) has released a draft Clean Water Plan that is currently open for comment. The organization, representing Portage, Stark, Summit, and Wayne Counties, released the draft for a 30-day public observation period from September 30 through this day, according to information shared on the Canton City Hall Official NEFCO Website.
As part of its responsibilities as the state-designated water quality planning agency for the region and managing contracts with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA), NEFCO has presented potential updates to the water quality management plan for the fiscal year 2025. The proposal includes adjustments to 55 FPA update areas across approximately 721 parcels. It addresses more minor discrepancies, such as slivers and overlaps, where six regional wastewater management agencies have suggested FPA boundary changes or wastewater treatment options.
NEFCO has taken steps to engage the public with an interactive online draft of the FPA update map, allowing users to have a detailed view of proposed modifications. This digital platform is designed to complement the 32. PDF maps have been released, displaying current and proposed forms for updates. Community members are encouraged to post their feedback directly through the map's comment box or by submitting them via email to NEFCO with the specific update area ID number in question.
The feedback process is overseen by NEFCO's Environmental Resources Technical Advisory Committee (ERTAC), which comprises representatives from the counties above, including various authorities, health departments, planners, and liaisons from the Ohio EPA. After collecting community insights, NEFCO will collaborate with ERTAC to reconcile the input and strategically incorporate relevant changes to the draft.
Following the completion of the public commentary phase, the FY2025 FPA updates outlined in the 208 Plan are slated for deliberation by the NEFCO General Policy Board in December. Board approval would permit the update to be forwarded to the Ohio EPA for state certification, concluding the FPA revision process for the upcoming fiscal period. The concerted effort reflects NEFCO's ongoing commitment to fostering a transparent and participatory approach towards regional water quality management planning and development.
