US EPA, State of Ohio remove beach closings BUI from Black River Area of Concern
Major improvements spanning the last three decades in the Black River Area of Concern (AOC) result in another removal of a Beneficial Use Impairment (BUI). This is a significant step forward in the ongoing efforts to revitalize and restore the Black River.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) has approved the removal of the Beach Closings (Recreational Use) BUI from the Black River AOC. The decision follows a comprehensive evaluation of conditions showing the area is now in a condition to remove the BUI.
“The progress we’ve made in restoring the Black River AOC over the past few years is truly worth celebrating, and a special congratulations goes out to our partners for their work in achieving the removal of the sixth BUI,” said Joy Mulinex, Executive Director of the Ohio Lake Erie Commission. “After its history of industrial and urban use, the Black River has seen significant improvements in water quality, wildlife habitat and sedimentation that will provide a cleaner, more enjoyable environment for all.”
Earlier this year, The Ohio Lake Erie Commission (OLEC), Ohio EPA, and the local AOC committee requested the removal of the Beach Closings BUI after significant efforts to reduce bacterial contamination at local beaches like Lakeview and Century. These improvements are due to the investments made in understanding the causes and researching planned projects to address this issue, such as reducing contamination sources and enhancing improvements to nearby wastewater infrastructure.
The Black River AOC Advisory Committee identified nine BUIs in 1990 that needed to be addressed. The removal of the Beach Closings (Recreation Use) impairment is the sixth BUI that has been addressed and removed. Each BUI that has been removed is because of the continued restoration goals being met in the lower 15 miles of the Black River and various points in French Creek.
“The Black River beaches are now equivalent to other beaches along the shores of Lake Erie,” said Don Romancek, Black River AOC Advisory Committee Chairman. “This progress highlights our accomplishments in distancing the Black River AOC from its contaminated past while demonstrating the resiliency of nature and community when resources are utilized, and decisions are made with everyone’s needs in mind.”
OLEC and Ohio EPA continue to work toward the removal of the three remaining BUIs with local AOC partners. As each BUI removal goal is met, OLEC, in partnership with Ohio EPA, will notify the community to seek public input and submit additional BUI removal recommendations to U.S. EPA.
More information about the improvements and remaining impairments in the Black River AOC is available online at https://lakeerie.ohio.gov/programs-and-projects/areas-of-concern/03-Bla….
About Ohio Lake Erie Commission: The Ohio Lake Erie Commission was established to preserve Lake Erie’s natural resources, protect the quality of its waters and ecosystem, and promote economic development in the region. The director of the Ohio EPA serves as the Commission’s chairperson. Additional members include directors of the state departments of Transportation, Health, Development, Agriculture, Natural Resources and five additional members appointed by the Governor.
About Ohio EPA: Ohio EPA was created in 1972 to consolidate efforts to protect and improve air quality, water quality and waste management in Ohio. Since then, air pollutants dropped by as much as 90 percent, large rivers meeting standards improved from 21 percent to 89 percent, and hundreds of polluting, open dumps were replaced with engineered landfills and an increased emphasis on waste reduction and recycling.
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