The Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission’s (ORSANCO) latest proposed Pollution Control Standard (PCS) recommendations are a thinly veiled effort to continue the push to eliminate these critical standards. These standards are necessary to protect the Ohio River, which 5 million people rely on for drinking water. ORSANCO’s proposal would make subtle changes to the language that would have serious impacts and leave key pollution control standards on the cutting room floor.
The draft PCS would eliminate the current mandate for states to adopt the PCS, making these protections optional. Currently, we are able to use the Compact to pressure state Governors and the commissioners that they appoint to do the right thing and protect the Ohio River and the drinking water of 5 million people. If the Compact PCS become voluntary, our elected officials will be able to point to the voluntary nature of the Compact to avoid discussions and actions to improve the health of the Ohio River. ORSANCO will decide the fate of the Ohio River on June 6th. The Ohio River is recovering and needs protection!
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Making the adoption of pollution controls voluntary for states will eliminate accountability and put our health at risk.
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Any future pollution control standards should REQUIRE state adoption to protect the drinking water of 5 million people and recovering Ohio River ecosystems.
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States should be allowed to deviate from the standards ONLY with supporting scientific reasoning and a fully transparent public participation process including public hearings.
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ORSANCO should continue to evaluate discharge permits issued by the states and develop an annual report to summarize the findings for the public. Good government depends on transparency.
What can you do? Call your Governor Today!
Ohio Governor DeWine: (202) 688-5432
Script: Hello, my name is _______ and I live in _______. The Ohio River is recovering. Our state commissioners should support MANDATORY Ohio River pollution controls. Our Drinking Water Depends on it.
For more information visit: http://kftc.org/blog/orsanco-hearing-erlanger or contact Emily Obringer at emily.obringer@sierraclub.org.