Portman lauds Omnibus Appropriations provisions supporting Lake Erie protection efforts

U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) recently lauded the inclusion of two provisions in the Senate Omnibus Appropriations bill that will help protect Lake Erie, including funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) and prevention of dredged material disposal.

“GLRI has been an incredibly successful tool for Lake Erie protection and restoration efforts, and I’m pleased that we were able to secure this funding,” Portman said.

Through one of Portman’s provisions, introduced with U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) the GLRI will receive $300 million in funding to continue its work of addressing ecological and economic threats to the Great Lakes, such as invasive species and pollution. The funding is consistent with 2015’s appropriations. Portman’s second provision blocks the use of federal funding for dredge material dumping operations carried out by the Army Corps of Engineers in Lake Erie, unless Ohio grants approval.

“We must protect our Great Lakes not only for their environmental well-being, but also for the economy of our region and I will continue to work to protect and preserve Lake Erie,” Portman said. “This includes preventing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from disposing of dredged material in Lake Erie until it is deemed safe by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.”