State Rep. John Boccieri wants to strengthen a bill about contaminated drinking water

Staff report

COLUMBUS

State Rep. John Boccieri is calling for ways to strengthen the state’s response protocols in cases of drinking- water contamination.

Boccieri, of Poland, D-59th, will offer three amendments to House Bill 512, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency’s midbiennium review legislation, aimed at fixing the public notification process for lead contamination that contributed to the village of Sebring’s public health crisis earlier this year.

The House Energy and Natural Resources Committee will convene today to consider amendments to the bill and potentially vote to report the legislation to the full House.

“While this legislation is a step in the right direction toward preventing future lead contamination and improving the state’s public notification system, we can and must do more to ensure a water crisis similar to the one that devastated Sebring does not happen again,” said Boccieri. “The common-sense amendments I have prepared will hold the EPA accountable and ensure the public is notified in a timely manner should lead be found in their drinking water.”

Boccieri’s amendments to strengthen the bill would:

Require local health departments, local Emergency Management Agencies and water systems to create a joint plan for public notification of contaminated water. The plan, to be approved by the EPA, would help augment the public notification process.

Require the EPA to notify the public of lead-contaminated drinking water within two days if the local water system fails to complete such public notification. HB 512 currently allows the EPA to notify the public within eight days should the local water system fail to properly notify the public of water contamination within two days.

Require that the same civil and criminal penalties that apply to water systems for failing to notify the public also apply to the EPA director when he or she does not comply with the public notification requirements in the bill.

Also, state Rep. David Leland of Columbus, D-22nd, will offer a fourth amendment drafted by Boccieri to require all local water fountains to be built by U.S. companies.