Ohio Lawmakers Finalize Phosphorus Restrictions

Lake Erie Nutrient StewardshipState lawmakers on Wednesday congratulated themselves for finalizing new rules designed to curb toxic algal blooms on Lake Erie, calling them a major step forward in addressing the problem, reports Northeast Ohio Media Group’s Jeremy Pelzer via Cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer.

But Ohio House and Senate leaders couldn’t quantify exactly how much new rules would help reduce the blooms, which led Toledo to ban drinking water for three days last summer.

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And they defended that it took months for lawmakers to craft the new restrictions, which now head to final votes in the Ohio House and Senate.

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The measures, which include regulations on fertilizer and manure spreading, limits on dredging material dumping in Lake Erie, and regular wastewater treatment testing, are intended reduce the amount of phosphorus flowing into the lake, which the algae feed on.

State Sen. Randy Gardner, a Bowling Green Republican who introduced Senate Bill 1, said the new rules would be “meaningful” and “another step in the right direction.”

But he added that it’s impossible to quantify exactly how much they will reduce phosphorus runoff.

“Until you tell me what the temperatures are, what the wind direction is, what the rainfall events are, it’s impossible to know just what kind of impact this may have on the lake,” he said.

Lawmakers also noted that phosphorus also enters Lake Erie from neighboring states, as well as Ontario. They raised the idea of convening a regional conference with Ohio’s neighbors to discuss a comprehensive plan to curb algal blooms.

Read the full story on Cleveland.com.

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