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Protect the Ohio - Vote No, ORSANCO! The Ohio River already receives 12 percent of the nation's combined sewer overflows, which means that when local sewer systems are overwhelmed during periods of heavy rain, raw, untreated sewage overflows into the river. Now the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO), the interstate compact designed to protect the Ohio River, has issued a proposal that would further lower water quality standards for the Ohio and allow even more sewage to be released into the river. More than 25 million people live in the Ohio River Basin, more than 3 million of whom rely on the river for their drinking water. Lowering the standards would not only put people's health at risk, but would risk damaging recreation and tourism revenues for river communities as well. The comment period for the proposal has ended and ORSANCO is presently in the process of reviewing a swell of public comment. So many people voiced their opinions that the Commission was forced to delay a vote on the proposal until its October meeting in Cincinnati, Ohio. Please check this site for updates as we approach the next Commission meeting. Take Action! Thank you! Your comments and efforts stopped the adoption of the proposed standards at the June 2006 ORSANCO meeting. However, it's not over yet! The proposed standards are still on the table and will be taken up again soon. We still need you help to protect water quality on the Ohio River. More Actions Please help us express our concern and opposition by contacting your local paper or local officials. Below is a list of talking points and guidelines for how to be an effective activist as well as Commissioner contact information. Talking Points Commissioner Contact Information Tips for Effective Activism Write a Powerful Letter Important News: On August 5, Lynne Cox, world-record holding open-water swimmer, joined local swimmers in crossing the Ohio River to protest lowering water quality standards. Hundreds of people from Cincinnati and surrounding communities showed up to demonstrate their support for a clean, swimmable Ohio. The event was another in a highly successful line of activities organized to prevent ORSANCO from allowing more raw sewage into the Ohio River. View a slideshow of the swim A message from Lynne Cox Swimmer's Mission: Clean River Swimmer Crosses Ohio to Protest Pollution Additional information, from the Ohio Chapter of the Sierra Club: The ORSANCO Campaign: Phase I Public Hearing Announcement Initial Comment Period Summary of Comments and Commissioners Responses Background Summary of Proposed Revisions Comments Received on Wet Weather Proposal Issues for Which Additional Comments are Sought Pollution Control Standards with Appendices Showing Proposed Revisions Q & A on ORSANCO's Standards For more information or to find out how you can help, contact Tim Guilfoile at (859) 331-0565. Up to Top HOME | Email Signup | About Us | Contact Us | Terms of Use | © 2008 Sierra Club