S.B. 1 Bill to Protect Lake Erie

Last Thursday, at Maumee Bay State Park in Oregon, Gov. John R. Kasich signed S.B. 1, the legislation that should protect Lake Erie and Ohio’s water quality.

The Greater Cleveland Partnership closely monitored the development of this legislation supporting the final version passed by the General Assembly.

Highlights of the bill include:

• Restricting open lake disposal of dredge material;
• Additional phosphorus monitoring at wastewater treatment facilities;
• Clear penalties for those who violate the law.

“Enhancing the civic and economic benefit of our Great Lakes is essential to our prosperity as a region. SB 1 will be an important tool to accomplishing this,” said Marty McGann, the GCP’s senior vice president of advocacy. 

The GCP will continue to urge the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in ensuring timely post-winter dredging of the Cuyahoga River and that the dredged material is not dumped into Lake Erie. With key businesses along the river that rely on it to transport goods, a delay will have a negative impact on economic activity.

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