CAMPBELL, Ohio - The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has sent the city of Campbell a second notice of violation, following the last notice from five years ago. The letter details three violations in total, one of them going back to 2009, when the state EPA told the city to map the locations of storm sewer outlets to ensure runoff water safety.

While it has begun the mapping process, Campbell still hasn't complied with that order,  nor other requirements to conduct annual employee training and perform regular inspections of municipal buildings to assess storm water discharges.

The city's storm water consultant says the mapping requirements are difficult for a small city, because the map required is a GIS-level map — much more technical than a paper map. 

“Basically it requires us to open every manhole, every catch basin, [and] determine where the pipes go,” said Chris Tolnar, who provides storm water consulting for Campbell through his work with GPD Group. “So every structure, you look down the street, you see one of those every two or three hundred feet, we're opening up every one of those on every road in the city.”

The Ohio EPA says the storm system maps are important because stormwater can easily pick up pollutants from roads and rooftops before it enters our rivers and lakes, and the agency says it needs to know where that discharge happens. 

“These locations are important to document to allow for monitoring of the stormwater, ensuring these discharges comply with state and federal regulations,” said Lisa Cochran, public information officer for the state EPA.

Campbell started the mapping process after receiving the initial warning letter several years ago. If things go to plan, Tolnar says it could be finished this summer. Even though the city was only given until June 30th to comply with the warning letter, Tolnar says he's not too worried yet about facing penalties. 

“Most of the time with these type of letters, they are the start of the negotiation,” Tolnar said. “We'll negotiate a time frame to meet that goal, and kind of look at what we have money wise, staff wise, you know, what they [the city] commit to that effort.”