Columbus, OH — The Ohio House voted today to approve House Bill (HB) 175, a bill designed to remove protections for an estimated 36,000 miles of ephemeral streams in Ohio, opening them up to pollution and degradation. You can find OEC Action Fund’s opposition testimony here.
In response, the following quote can be attributed in full or part to Pete Bucher, Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund Director of Water Policy:
“Not only does HB 175 fail to protect the important ecological qualities of Ohio’s ephemeral streams, it also fails to protect the drinking water of millions of Ohioans who rely on water resources fed by these streams.
“The bill purposely ignores the science in favor of a legislative interpretation that lines the pocketbooks of polluters. As a result, Ohio families will likely see rising water bills given increased treatment needs. Taxpayer investments in programs designed to protect and improve drinking water quality, like the state’s H2Ohio program, will be directly undercut.
“Dirty water legislation is dangerously close to becoming law in Ohio. The OEC Action Fund now strongly urges members of the Ohio Senate to vote no on HB 175. Ohioans’ drinking water depends on it.”
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Press Contact: ebacha<at>theoec.org
The OEC Action Fund seeks to protect and enhance the environment, economic viability, and health of all Ohio communities by expanding access to public lands, advancing critical environmental priorities, holding policy makers accountable, and electing environmental champions.