News

Water quality working group provides input

Following 7 meetings of the Director’s Ag Nutrients and Water Quality Working Group, the Directors at the Ohio EPA, Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Ohio Department of Agriculture now have 36 pages of suggestions to go over as they prepare their recommendations to Governor Kasich designed to improve water quality in the state.

“We have plenty of suggestions, some of them we will take, some of them we’ll attach as suggestions, but there’s going to be some things done,” said James Zehringer, Director of the ODNR.

Audio: James Zehringer, Director, Ohio DNR (2:35 MP3)

Scott Nally, Director of Ohio EPA tells Brownfield he feels good at what’s been accomplished by the working group.

“I’m not hearing any surprises,” Nally said. “Obviously we all know we need to step up to the plate, we know that we have 48 percent of the waters impacted in the State and obviously the ag community wants to do their piece, so I think just getting everybody to the table and having that discussion was huge.”

Audio: Scott Nally, Director, Ohio EPA (3:45 MP3)

Mike Bailey with the Ohio Department of Agriculture has facilitated the meetings of the working group and says that even though the group has put their suggestions together to present to the Directors, Bailey says the momentum needs to continue.

“Clearly the momentum has to keep going,” said Bailey. “We’ve got to use all the experts, all the great organizations involved in this effort, moving forward even beyond this February 1 timeline, when the three directors are going to submit their recommendations.”

Audio: Mike Bailey, Ohio Department of Agriculture (3:05 MP3)

Those who would like to provide input have until this Friday, January 27th to submit comments to Mike Bailey at the Ohio Department of Agriculture. The recommendations from the three directors to the Governor are due February 1.