Rep. Marcy Kaptur asks EPA to declare that western Lake Erie is "impaired"
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Toledo Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur and a Michigan colleague on Tuesday asked U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to designate western Lake Erie "impaired" under the Clean Water Act.
That designation would aid remediation of the lake's harmful algae blooms that threaten drinking water.
The letter from Kaptur and Michigan Democrat Debbie Dingell notes that Michigan included Lake Erie on a list of impaired waters it submitted to the EPA, but Ohio didn't.
They say the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's failure to declare the western lake "impaired" could keep EPA from using the Clean Water Act to develop a plan to stop phosphorous from getting into the lake and fostering algae growth.
Read more: http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2016/11/rep_marcy_kaptur_asks_epa_to_d.html