(A) A proposed filling of a category 1 or a category 2 isolated wetland of one-half acre or less shall require a general state isolated wetland permit and be subject to level one review requirements established under division (B) of this section.

(B) Level one review shall apply only to the filling of a category 1 or a category 2 isolated wetland as described in division (A) of this section requiring a general state isolated wetland permit. A level one review shall require the submission of a pre-activity notice that includes an application, an acceptable wetland delineation, a wetland categorization, a description of the project, a description of the acreage of the isolated wetland that will be subject to filling, site photographs, and a mitigation proposal for the impact to the isolated wetland.

(C) The proposed filling of an isolated wetland that is subject to level one review is authorized by a general state isolated wetland permit unless the director of environmental protection notifies the applicant within thirty days after receipt of a pre-activity notice that the filling of the isolated wetland will result in a significant negative impact on state water quality. An applicant that receives such a notice may apply for an individual state isolated wetland permit in accordance with the procedures and requirements established under section 6111.023 of the Revised Code.

(D) Mitigation for the proposed filling of an isolated wetland that is subject to level one review shall be conducted in the following preferred order:

(1) Without the objection of the director and at the discretion of the applicant, either on site mitigation, mitigation at a wetland mitigation bank within the same United States army corps of engineers district as the location of the proposed filling of the isolated wetland, or off-site mitigation;

(2) In-lieu fee mitigation.

The director, at the director's discretion, may allow an applicant to deviate from the preferred order established in division (D) of this section. If the proposed filling of an isolated wetland will be mitigated by in-lieu fee mitigation, an applicant shall provide documentation to the director that demonstrates that the applicant evaluated the mitigation alternatives established in division (D)(1) of this section.

(E) A person that has submitted a pre-activity notice for coverage under a general state isolated wetland permit under this section shall complete the filling within two years after the end of the thirty-day period following the receipt of the pre-activity notice by the director. If the person does not complete the filling within that two-year period, the person shall submit a new pre-activity notice in accordance with this section.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.115, SB 294, §1, eff. 9/5/2012.

Effective Date: 07-17-2001 .