Panel appointed to study health of Lake Erie (via Norwalk Reflector)

COLUMBUS, Ohio — After a state panel at least temporarily shelved Gov. John Kasich's move to have nearly half of Lake Erie's western basin watershed declared distressed, legislative leaders have appointed a panel to study the pollution problem.

Half of the task force's 14 members hail from northwest Ohio, including state Rep. Mike Sheehy (D., Oregon), who voiced concern that this is yet one more task force that won't lead to action.

"That was my concern in the first place, that this was an opportunity for leadership in both houses to take a hot issue and talk about it for a while until public interest goes away," he said. "We'll have another bad year with algal blooms in the western basin of Lake Erie...read more.