(A)

(1) An applicant seeking a grant or loan for a brownfield cleanup or remediation project from the clean Ohio revitalization fund created in section 122.658 of the Revised Code shall request an application form from the appropriate integrating committee with geographical jurisdiction over the project for which a grant or loan is sought. The applicant shall complete the application and include all of the information required by sections 122.65 to 122.658 of the Revised Code and policies and requirements established under section 122.657 of the Revised Code.

(2) In addition to the information that is required to be included in the application under division (A)(1) of this section, an applicant shall include an affidavit signed by the authorized representative of the applicant certifying that the applicant did not cause or contribute to the release of hazardous substances or petroleum at the brownfield that is the subject of the application.

No person shall submit a false affidavit under division (A)(2) of this section.

(3) After completion of the application, but prior to the submission of the application to the integrating committee under division (B) of this section, the applicant shall conduct a public meeting concerning the application and the proposed cleanup or remediation. Not later than forty-five days prior to conducting the public meeting, the applicant shall provide notice of the date, time, and location of the public meeting in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the property that is the subject of the application is located. In addition, not later than forty-five days prior to the hearing, the applicant shall post notice of the date, time, and location of the public meeting at the property on a sign that measures not less than four feet by four feet or, if the political subdivision in which the sign is to be posted prohibits a sign of that size, the maximum size of sign permitted by that political subdivision.

In addition, not later than forty-five days prior to the public meeting, the applicant shall provide a copy of the application to a public library in the vicinity of the property for public review. The submission of the application and the location of the public library shall be included in the notice required under this division. The general public may submit comments to the applicant concerning the application prior to and at the public meeting.

(B) An applicant shall submit a completed application, all required information, and an application summary to the appropriate integrating committee. Based on a review of the application summaries submitted to it, an integrating committee or, if required under division (C) of this section, the executive committee of the integrating committee shall prioritize all applications in accordance with criteria and procedures established pursuant to section 122.657 of the Revised Code. The integrating committee shall choose not more than six applications annually that it determines merit funding and shall forward those applications and all accompanying information to the clean Ohio council. In prioritizing and choosing applications under this division, an integrating committee or, if required under division (C) of this section, the executive committee of the integrating committee shall consult with local and regional economic development agencies or resources, community development agencies or organizations, local business organizations, and other appropriate entities located or operating in the geographic jurisdiction of the integrating committee.

Notwithstanding this division or division (C) of this section, if an integrating committee receives only one application in any given year, the chair of the integrating committee or, if required under division (C) of this section, the chair of the executive committee of the integrating committee may forward that application to the clean Ohio council as the district's top priority project for that year without a vote of the full integrating committee or executive committee, as applicable. However, the chair of the integrating committee or chair of the executive committee, as applicable, shall provide written notice of the chair's intent to forward the application to each member of the integrating committee or executive committee, as applicable, not later than fiftenn days prior to forwarding the application.

(C) For purposes of division (B) of this section, all decisions of an integrating committee that is required to be organized in accordance with division (A)(5) or (6) of section 164.04 of the Revised Code shall be approved by its executive committee that is required to be established under division (A)(7) or (8) of that section. The affirmative vote of at least seven members of an executive committee established under division (A)(7) of section 164.04 of the Revised Code, or of at least nine members of an executive committee established under division (A)(8) of that section, is required for any action taken by an executive committee for purposes of division (B) of this section. A decision of an executive committee may be rejected by a vote of at least two-thirds of the full membership of the applicable integrating committee not later than thirty days after the executive committee action. If an executive committee is required under this division to prioritize applications under division (B) of this section, only applications that are approved by the executive committee may be submitted to the clean Ohio council for purposes of sections 122.65 to 122.659 of the Revised Code.

(D) The clean Ohio council shall supply application forms to each integrating committee.

Effective Date: 07-26-2001; 2007 HB119 09-29-2007 .