Canton Reporter

The Northeast Ohio Four County Regional Planning and Development Organization (NEFCO) has announced the release of a draft update for its fiscal year 2025 Clean Water (208) Plan facilities planning areas (FPA). This draft is open for public review and comment over a 30-day period, starting from September 30, 2024, to October 29, 2024. The update was developed as part of NEFCO's water quality management planning contracts with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA).

The draft includes proposals for boundary modifications and wastewater prescription changes across six wastewater management agencies in the NEFCO region. These proposals are detailed in 32 PDF maps and an interactive online map available at NEFCO's website. The interactive map allows users to view detailed updates and submit comments directly.

Comments on the draft can be submitted via email to Tom LaPlante at tlaplante@nefcoplanning.org, referencing the update area ID number found on both the PDF maps and the online map. NEFCO staff will collect feedback and prepare responses with guidance from its Environmental Resources Technical Advisory Committee (ERTAC), which includes representatives from local counties, health departments, planners, and the Ohio EPA.

The updated plan is scheduled for consideration by NEFCO's General Policy Board in December 2024. If approved, it will be submitted to the Ohio EPA for state certification in January 2025.

NEFCO serves as a regional council of governments representing Portage, Stark, Summit, and Wayne Counties. It functions as the designated water quality planning agency for these areas and receives funding from various sources including grants from the Ohio EPA.