You've recently moved to Northeast Ohio or else you're a longtime resident. Either way, you're someone who wants to know more about the world around you and how we interact with it. Below are some quick links to help you get involved in making the region a better place to live, work and raise a family.
The complete list of Northeast Ohio resources follows. It's one of the most comprehensive tools available to help you better explore your world. But you may know of additional resources. Please help us enhance this list by emailing your suggestions.
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The Cleveland Lakeshore plant owned by CEI is one of many utility plants that once spewed mercury into the air, mercury that's now lingering in the environment and working its way through the food web from fish to people.
See Also: The Mercury Controversy (90.3 WCPN Special Section) |
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Dike 14 is one of several offshore islands made from contaminated sediments dredged from the Cuyahoga River. Under the Cleveland Lakefront Plan, residents hope to turn this undeveloped land into a nature preserve with new public access to the lake.
See Also: Movement on Dike 14 (90.3 WCPN Feature Story - Aired June 13, 2005) |
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Ohio's first successful wind farm has been in operation at Bowling Green for more than a year. A wind monitor was placed on a water crib off the Cleveland shoreline the summer to determine the feasibility of commercial wind power over Lake Erie. Wind is also being monitored on tall towers around the state for future wind turbine development.
See Also: The Answer is Blowing in the Wind (7th Generation Feature Story - Aired November 9, 2004) |
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Scientists have spent several summers investigating the return of dead zones to Lake Erie with the help of the U.S. EPA's research ship, the Lake Guardian.
See Also: Aboard the Lake Guardian (90.3 WCPN Feature Story - Aired June 24, 2002); Great Lakes Restoration Funding (90.3 WCPN Feature Story - Aired November 18, 2005); Lake Erie & Land Use (90.3 WCPN Feature Story - Aired December 2, 2005) |
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A private company in Akron hopes to rebuild a hydro-electric plant on the old Edison Gorge Dam on the Cuyahoga River in Cuyahoga Falls, a proposal strongly opposed by most local and state environmental agencies and organizations.
See Also: Hydro-Electric Plant Proposed for Summit County Metropark (90.3 WCPN Feature Story - Aired July 21, 2005) |
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The state of Ohio recently purchased most of North Bass Island with the idea of returning it to its native state. Officials hope restoring the island from its previous use as a vineyard will improve habitat for island species.
See Also: Return of the Native - Restoring North Bass Island (7th Generation Feature Story - Aired July 22, 2004) |
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The barrier beach of Sheldon Marsh State Nature Preserve in Erie County is a breeding ground for the endangered piping plover. It's also an example of how manmade shoreline structures can change the land. Sheldon Marsh and nearby Cedar Point are both losing their beaches to shoreline erosion.
See Also: Preserving Sheldon Marsh (90.3 WCPN Feature Story - Aired July 9, 2001) |
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Lake Erie is a prime stopover for migratory birds along the Mississippi Flyway. Among the many location for bird watching is Kelleys Island, declared an important bird area by the Audubon Society.
See Also: Kellys Island - Important Bird Area (90.3 WCPN Feature Story - Aired November 8, 2002); Citizen Science: Christmas Bird Count (7th Generation Feature Story - Aired December 28, 2004) |
Who to Call listing provided
by the Cleveland Public Library. |
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- You find an injured or an ailing wild animal.
An Ohio Wildlife Officer can direct you to a Wildlife Rehabilitator in your county. Contact a Wildlife Officer in your county through the Department of Natural Resources here. A list of Wildlife Rehabilitators is available here.
- You think you see damage to trees or plants caused by Gypsy Moth, Emerald Ash Borer or other invasive species.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Ohio Department of Agriculture have fact sheets about many of these types of pests, infestations, and diseases. If these pests are doing damage to trees, locate a service forester by calling 1-877-247-8733; or choose from a list of service foresters here. If the pests are damaging plants contact the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Plant Pest Control section at (614) 728-6270.
- You find shoreline bird kills or large numbers of dead fish.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife would be very interested to know of any bird kills or fish kills. Fish kills can be reported to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife by calling 1-800-Wildlife. For bird kills, an incomplete list of contacts by county can be found here. If you can't locate a contact on that site, contact an Ohio Wildlife Officer in your county here.
Complaints about any of the following pollution control issues should be reported to the Ohio EPA. Reports of environmental emergencies or spills can be reported by phone to 1-800-282-9378. Otherwise, a district office should be contacted. Each district office covers several counties in the state of Ohio. A map of the counties covered by each of the district offices can be viewed here. A phone number for each of the 5 district offices is given here: Central District Office 1-800-686-2330, Northeast District Office 1-800-686-6330, Northwest District Office 1-800-686-9630, Southeast District Office 1-800-686-7330, or the Southwest District Office at 1-800-686-8930.
According to the Ohio EPA Resource Guide, it is helpful to specify a division within each district office when filing a complaint. A complete list of divisions including contacts for waste programs, water programs, and air programs is given on pages 27-30 of the Ohio EPA Resource Guide.
- You suspect someone is illegally dumping or handling trash, chemicals, or other pollutants.
Call your Ohio EPA district office. If the dumping is abandoned drums, ask for the Division of Hazardous Waste Management. If the dumping is hazardous waste, ask for the Division of Hazardous Waste Management. If it is in regard to a landfill, ask for the Division of Solid & Infectious Waste Management.
- You believe a factory or utility plant is guilty of air pollution.
Contact an Ohio EPA District Office and ask for the Division of Air Pollution Control.
- You smell a persistent, strong, non-natural odor in a particular locality.
Contact an Ohio EPA District Office and ask for the Division of Air Pollution Control.
- You think a local water resource is being polluted by a sewer outfall or some other source.
Call your Ohio EPA district office. If the source is agricultural or involves industrial wastewater discharge, ask for the Division of Surface Water. If it involves streams, wetlands or septic tanks ask for the Division of Surface Water. If it involves well water or public drinking systems, consider asking for the Division of Drinking & Ground Waters.
- You suspect gas or oil may be leaking into groundwater or wells.
Contact your Ohio EPA district office and ask for the Division of Drinking and Ground Waters. Otherwise, you may want to report this as an environmental emergency by calling 1-800-282-9378.
- You think septic systems in your neighborhood are leaking into groundwater or streams.
Contact your Ohio EPA district office and ask for the Division of Surface Water.
- You believe an animal operation is polluting water or air.
According to "How do I make a complaint?" published on the Web by the Livestock Environmental Permitting Program, two agencies are primarily responsible for the oversight of farms in Ohio. If the farms consist of less than 1,000 animal units, contact the Ohio Division of Natural Resources in conjunction with the local Soil and Water Conservation District. A list of Ohio soil and water conservation districts is available by county.
If the farming operation has greater than 1000 animal units, The Ohio Department of Agriculture has regulatory authority.
Finally, farms, regardless of size, that discharge wastewater or have a history of problems related to discharging or run-off of manure may be required to have a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. This is a federal permit, but the Ohio EPA has authority to require and enforce it. The U.S. EPA can also inspect and enforce this permit.
For a larger farm, a complaint can be filed with the Ohio Department of Agriculture either in writing or to the Ohio Department of Agriculture's Livestock Environmental Permitting Program, 8995 East Main Street, Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068 or by telephone at 1-800-282-1955. For a smaller farm, call the appropriate county office of the Division of Soil and Water Conservation or call 1-614-265-6610. For a complaint of air pollution, contact your Ohio EPA district office and ask for the Division of Air Pollution Control.
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