Posted on May 23, 2022
Responding to the Ohio Lake Erie Commission’s recommendation from earlier this year, the U.S. EPA has agreed to remove the “Restrictions on Navigational Dredging Activities” Beneficial Use Impairment (BUI) from the Black River Area of Concern (AOC), according to a news release.
Beneficial Use Impairments identify specific problems that can prevent a waterbody from meeting its water quality targets.
In 1987, the International Joint Commission designated the Black River as one of 43 areas of concerns in the Great Lakes basin.
In 1992, the Black River Area of Concern advisory committee identified nine Beneficial Use Impairments which were of concern, causing a degrading of the Black River, and needed to be addressed.
Black River sediment had been heavily contaminated by discharges predominately from historical steel production, the release said.
Sediment remediation in the river and other cleanup work at industrial sites in the Black River Area of Concern led to improvements in the sediment.
“The removal of this BUI demonstrates the continuing improvements in water quality in the Black River,” Ohio Lake Erie Commission Executive Director Joy Mulinex said. “This milestone recognizes the improved conditions and will allow greater use of the river.”
Research and data evaluations found that the sediment in the Lorain Harbor Federal Navigation Channel has the potential to be beneficially used and meets the restoration targets, the release said.
Sediment conditions in the navigation channel of the river have improved significantly over the last 25 years, prompting the Ohio Lake Erie Commission and Ohio EPA to request that this impairment designation be removed in coordination with the Black River Advisory Committee and U.S. EPA, the release said.
This significant milestone was achieved through restoration actions in and adjacent to the Black River with the collaborative efforts of dedicated local, state and federal partners, according to the release.
In March 2022, the Ohio Lake Erie Commission and Ohio EPA issued an invitation for public comment as part of the removal recommendation process.
Evaluation and final completion of actions are underway to remove the five remaining Beneficial Use Impairments.
As each Beneficial Use Impairment removal goal is met, the Ohio Lake Erie Commission and Ohio EPA will notify the community, seek public input and submit additional Beneficial Use Impairment removal recommendations to U.S. EPA.
More information about the improvements and remaining impairments in the Black River Area of Concern are available at https://www.blackriveraoc.com/.
