MICHAEL D.

DOVILLA
7TH DISTRICT
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POLICY AND LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT,
CHAIRMAN

FINANCE & APPROPRIATIONS

HIGHER EDUCATION SUBCOMMITTEE

MILITARY & VETERANS AFFAIRS


VERN RIFFE CENTER
77 SOUTH HIGH STREET, 13
TH
FLOOR
COLUMBUS, OH 43215-6111
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T: (614) 466-4895
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F: (614) 719-6957
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REP07@OHIOHOUSE.GOV


Ohio General Assembly
House of Representatives
Columbus

For Immediate Release: Contact: Rachael Carl
August 18, 2014 (614) 466-4895

Representative Dovilla Attends Lake Erie Caucus Forum on Safe Drinking
Water
COLUMBUSState Representative Mike Dovilla (R-Berea) attended a recent forum of the
bipartisan, bicameral Lake Erie Caucus, which met at Maumee Bay State Park in Oregon, Ohio.
Dovilla, a co-chairman of the caucus, jointly convened the forum to receive public testimony on the
public health emergency in the Toledo area where toxic algae in the water system forced nearly
500,000 Ohioans to be without safe drinking water for more than two days.
As one of the co-chairmen of the Lake Erie Caucus, I was particularly pleased with the number of
citizens who presented testimony at our forum on ensuring safe drinking water, said Dovilla. It is
abundantly clear that there is no one way forward quickly and easily to address all of the potential
causes of increased algal blooms in the Western Basin. It should be our goal, as responsible,
responsive policy makers, to address the issues affecting the Lake Erie watershed in a fact-based and
prudent manner.
Earlier in this session of the General Assembly, Representative Dovilla joined his colleagues in
supporting Senate Bill 150, bipartisan legislation to address phosphorus runoff, one cause of
increased algal blooms in fresh water lakes. The Lake Erie Caucus, in concert with House and
Senate standing committees and relevant executive agencies, will continue working to develop
immediate and long-term solutions to this public health challenge.
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