Yesterday, Governor Kasich signed Ohio S.B. 294 into law. It will become effective within 90 days. Under the bill, amendments were made to Ohio’s Wetland laws (ORC 6111.02 through .035). The amendments (1) provide a preferred order for isolated wetland mitigation projects, (2) allows the establishment of an isolated wetland in-lieu fee program, (3) allows the ODNR to establish wetland mitigation banks, and (4) creates a “surface water improvement fund” that can be used by the OEPA to complete water quality protection and restoration projects. Find the S.B. 294 text here.
