GOGLSM RESPONDS to the Firing of
OH Dept. of Agriculture, David Daniels
General InformationContact Information:
Guardians of the Grand Lake St. Marys
Kate Anderson – trout@columbus.rr.com, 614-558-3105
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: (10/24/18)
Guardians of Grand Lake St. Marys Applaud Governor’s Action to Hold State Agriculture Director Accountable for Unchecked Pollution in Ohio’s Waterways
The Guardians of Grand Lake St. Marys (GOGLSM) issued a statement today applauding Governor John Kasich’s decision to dismiss Ohio Department of Agriculture Director David Daniels as an important first step in holding state officials accountable for the unchecked pollution of Ohio’s waterways. However, more accountability is needed, the group warned, in order to restore the public’s faith in the state’s ability to both take the pollution seriously and significantly curb the ongoing assault on the state’s water supplies:
“Director Daniels has unquestionably been complicit in the pollution of Ohio’s waterways, but he has not acted alone. The list of those who have failed to take action is long, and accountability for their failures is long overdue. Officials from Ohio’s Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Agency and the Attorney General’s office have all played a role in allowing the tainting of our state’s waterways to go unaddressed and unresolved. Those agencies and individuals deserve Governor’s Kasich’s scrutiny and discipline as well.
Countless government ‘studies,’ bogus projects and misinformation campaigns have attempted to give the public the impression that state officials are working hard to clean-up Ohio’s waterways. As those attempts to sugar coat the truth are rolled out, the state has been slow to act on Freedom of Information Act requests for manure management plans that would actually shed light on any steps being taken to begin to address the problem.”
In 2010, Grand Lake St. Marys (GLSM) experienced a lake-wide blue-green algae bloom. Despite repeated calls from residents and environmental protection groups, there has been no full disclosure of the cause of the heightened contamination levels in the lake. While state officials have said nearly $40 million has been invested in cleaning up the lake, those funds appear to have been spent on projects with little chance of improving water quality.
“Governor Kasich still has time to take decisive action and leave a lasting legacy of environmental stewardship and the protection of Ohio’s waterways,” the group said. “He should begin by promising to veto any legislation to repeal the state’s ‘frozen ground legislation,’ which has shown some promise in addressing waterway pollution. As Governor, he should also exercise his authority to identify and designate troubled waterways and require proper testing and clean-up solutions for those that are contaminated. By doing so, Governor Kasich will send a strong message to the people of Ohio that he intends to use his remaining days in office to champion public health and hold accountable those who have turned their backs on the residents who rely on these waterways each and every day.”
Guardians of the Grand Lake St. Marys
Kate Anderson – trout@columbus.rr.com, 614-558-3105
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: (10/24/18)
Guardians of Grand Lake St. Marys Applaud Governor’s Action to Hold State Agriculture Director Accountable for Unchecked Pollution in Ohio’s Waterways
The Guardians of Grand Lake St. Marys (GOGLSM) issued a statement today applauding Governor John Kasich’s decision to dismiss Ohio Department of Agriculture Director David Daniels as an important first step in holding state officials accountable for the unchecked pollution of Ohio’s waterways. However, more accountability is needed, the group warned, in order to restore the public’s faith in the state’s ability to both take the pollution seriously and significantly curb the ongoing assault on the state’s water supplies:
“Director Daniels has unquestionably been complicit in the pollution of Ohio’s waterways, but he has not acted alone. The list of those who have failed to take action is long, and accountability for their failures is long overdue. Officials from Ohio’s Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Agency and the Attorney General’s office have all played a role in allowing the tainting of our state’s waterways to go unaddressed and unresolved. Those agencies and individuals deserve Governor’s Kasich’s scrutiny and discipline as well.
Countless government ‘studies,’ bogus projects and misinformation campaigns have attempted to give the public the impression that state officials are working hard to clean-up Ohio’s waterways. As those attempts to sugar coat the truth are rolled out, the state has been slow to act on Freedom of Information Act requests for manure management plans that would actually shed light on any steps being taken to begin to address the problem.”
In 2010, Grand Lake St. Marys (GLSM) experienced a lake-wide blue-green algae bloom. Despite repeated calls from residents and environmental protection groups, there has been no full disclosure of the cause of the heightened contamination levels in the lake. While state officials have said nearly $40 million has been invested in cleaning up the lake, those funds appear to have been spent on projects with little chance of improving water quality.
“Governor Kasich still has time to take decisive action and leave a lasting legacy of environmental stewardship and the protection of Ohio’s waterways,” the group said. “He should begin by promising to veto any legislation to repeal the state’s ‘frozen ground legislation,’ which has shown some promise in addressing waterway pollution. As Governor, he should also exercise his authority to identify and designate troubled waterways and require proper testing and clean-up solutions for those that are contaminated. By doing so, Governor Kasich will send a strong message to the people of Ohio that he intends to use his remaining days in office to champion public health and hold accountable those who have turned their backs on the residents who rely on these waterways each and every day.”
Gov. John Kasich is speaking out about why he fired the former director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture last week.
David Daniels says he was surprised when he was called into Kasich’s office last week and fired. But Kasich says it came down to protecting Lake Erie.
“I feel very strongly about the lake and as we get into transition, I want to make sure I have somebody there who is fully on board with that and sometimes change is necessary,” Kasich says.
Kasich says he’s disappointed lawmakers and farmers want to just look into actions that might help stop algae blooms in the lake. He says it’s been studied and he wants action, and that it’s unacceptable to continue to allow it to be polluted with runoff from farms. Daniels says he joined farmers in their reservations about an executive order Kasich signed this summer that created tougher rules on fertilizer and nutrient runoff.
Source: Morning Ag Clips
_____________________________________________
Two more quit as Kasich makes final stand on algae
By
Randy Ludlow
The Columbus Dispatch
Posted Oct 23, 2018 at 5:07 PM
Updated at 5:54 AM
With less than three months remaining in office, a frustrated Ohio Gov. John Kasich is making a final stand in his bid to rid Lake Erie of algae blooms.
The governor fired Ohio Department of Agriculture Director David Daniels on Friday, and followed with a swipe at fellow Republicans in the General Assembly on Tuesday over their opposition to his move for more dramatic action to clean the lake of sickly green algae that imperils drinking water and recreation.
The departures at the top of the Agriculture Department were not limited to Daniels.
After Daniels was fired, deputy director Janelle Mead and chief legal counsel Dustin Calhoun submitted their resignations effective Nov. 1. Mead joined the department in 2011 and oversaw legislative, communication and marketing efforts. Calhoun joined the department as its top lawyer in 2016 after serving as chief counsel at the Department of Youth Services.
They could not be reached to comment Tuesday. Their resignation letters did not state their reasons for departing.
Kasich issued an executive order in July, asking that eight watersheds that drain into western Lake Erie be declared in distress to allow tougher limits to be imposed on farmers’ use of fertilizers that ultimately drain into the lake and fuel algae blooms. A state panel has yet to act on his request, but could vote Nov. 1.
“I feel very strongly about the lake and as we get into transition (to the next governor), I want to make sure I had somebody there who is fully on-board with that. Sometimes, change is necessary,” Kasich said of the firing of Daniels.
Daniels, who was surprised by his firing, said he believes Kasich’s directive is misguided. He said he wanted to pursue less-intrusive ways of containing fertilizer runoff to allow farmers to continue to feed their crops as they see fit. The Ohio Farm Bureau and other groups have objected to the governor’s moves.
Kasich expressed frustration with having to use an executive order because the General Assembly failed to act to lessen Lake Erie algae blooms.
“The fact is this is not against agriculture, but the truth is we also cannot continue to damage Lake Erie — it’s one of our crown jewels,” the governor said.
“We know this garbage flows into that lake and we’re saying, ‘farmers, let’s come up with a plan, let’s figure this out.’ It’s not like we’re trying to shut you down or anything.”
Deputy Agriculture Director Tim Derickson, a former state lawmaker, was named interim director of the department by Kasich upon Daniels’ departure.
A task force of the Ohio Soil and Water Commission that is considering Kasich’s request to approve distressed watershed designations, is scheduled to meet Thursday.
Fred Cash, chairman of the task force, said recommendations, studies and public comments will be discussed. The full commission will meet Nov. 1 to either vote on Kasich’s request or continue the matter for further study, he said.
rludlow@dispatch.com
@RandyLudlow
NOTE: SEE GOGLSM RESPONSE ON TODAY'S BLOG!