OREGON, Ohio (Oct. 20, 2014 – Welcoming the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regional administrator to Toledo, Congresswoman Kaptur invited the agency to join a partnership to design a comprehensive attack on harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie.

Administrator Susan Hedman announced $12 million in new federal funding for a variety of initiatives aimed at helping restore the lake to health. Most of the funding is to agricultural producers for such activities as soil testing and analysis for fertilizer recommendations, conservation practices such as cover cropping and controlled drainage structures and construction of manure storage and roofed feedlots.

Kaptur singled out another initiative for emphasis: enhanced tributary monitoring on Lake Erie tributaries.
“I appreciate the steps that U.S. EPA is taking to help meet our 40 percent nutrient reduction target. But much, more needs to be done to ensure safe drinking water and recreational water conditions,” Kaptur said.

Kaptur has called for a strong, federally-led, organizing structure to guide the watershed effort to address the challenge of toxic algae in the lake. An outbreak of toxic algae in the lake’s western basin in early August culminated in the city of Toledo imposing a three-day water ban for 500,000 residents of the service area.

“I appreciate agency efforts meeting this crisis head-on,” Kaptur said. “However, I believe that a piecemeal response invites inefficiencies and overlooks opportunities for public and private partnership. We need a comprehensive approach that deals with all contributing factors based on scientific principles.”

Kaptur cited several areas that need additional consideration:
 

• Establishing a drinking water standard: Kaptur has requested an expedited review process for a setting a microcystin standard for drinking water. She introduced the Safe and Secure Drinking Water Act, which directs the USEPA to publish a microcystin drinking water advisory and report on the review process for establishing permanent guidance.
   
• Designating an EPA-certified water testing laboratory: Kaptur has asked the USEPA to establish a near-proximity testing facility to assist water treatment plant operators along Lake Erie’s coast.
   
• Ending open-lake disposal of dredged material: Kaptur is co-sponsor of the Protecting Our Great Lakes Act that prohibits open-lake disposal of sediment.
   
• Developing a watershed-based nutrient reduction strategy: Kaptur has called for a unified approach to watershed planning that would bring agencies and other stakeholders to the table to work collaboratively on watershed initiatives.
   
• Requiring proper manure management: Kaptur has supported a ban on spreading manure on frozen ground, additional review of livestock numbers on the watershed, and manure regulations for large Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs).
   
• Improving infrastructure: Kaptur has called for efforts to identify additional funding for research, new technologies and upgrades for wastewater treatment facilities, infrastructure and drinking water treatment facilities.
   
• Sampling by citizens: Kaptur has worked with citizens groups to engage the public throughout the watershed on a water-sampling initiative to enlarge the data set for the region.
   
• Addressing septic system failure: Kaptur has supported a review of funding and enforcement to address failure of septic systems throughout the watershed.

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