OEC Praises Ohio EPA Following Denial of Army Corps Request

Kristy Meyer, March 29, 2016

The Managing Director of Natural Resources at the Ohio Environmental Council, Kristy Meyer, released the following statement following the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) denial of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) request to dump dredged sediments from the Cuyahoga River and Cleveland Harbor due to high levels of toxins in the sediments.

“The OEC praises Director Butler and the Ohio EPA for standing up to the Army Corps and keeping northeastern Ohioans safe.

Year after year the Army Corps tries to dump contaminated sediment from the Cuyahoga River and Cleveland Harbor into Lake Erie, even though their own analysis shows high levels of harmful toxins. PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyl) accumulate up the food chain and cause devastating neurological impacts on developing children, including lower IQ, hyperactivity, and delayed development.

The OEC will continue to work with the state administration, Ohio General Assembly, and Ohio’s Congressional members to reign-in the Army Corps and ensure the health of millions of northeastern Ohioans and Lake Erie.”