The Ohio Senate passed Senate Bill 1 today, sponsored by State Senators Bob Peterson (R-Washington Court House) and Randy Gardner (R-Bowling Green), which continues the state's effort to fight toxic algae in Ohio waterways and ensure clean drinking water for Ohioans. 

The legislation helps the state more effectively monitor and respond to water quality issues and bans the application of fertilizer on frozen and over-saturated ground in vulnerable water basins. 

Senate Bill 1 also requires the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to designate a coordinator of harmful algae management and response to oversee statewide coordination. 

"This is a comprehensive bill that takes a science-based, holistic approach to the factors contributing to algal bloom growth," said Peterson. "I appreciate the partnership of the lake, agriculture and environmental communities to get this done."
 
The bill also contains, for the first time, an emergency clause to allow Senate Bill 1 to become effective on the day Governor John Kasich signs it.

Governor Kasich issued an executive order last week to protect against the Army Corps of Engineers' open-lake disposal of Cuyahoga River dredge material into Lake Erie. 

Senate Bill 1 now goes to the Ohio House of Representatives for further consideration.