"House Passes Bill To Fight Toxic Algae in the Great Lakes"

"The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday approved legislation that orders the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to fight the toxic algal blooms that tainted drinking water from Lake Erie last summer.

Congress decided to act after Toledo's water was rendered undrinkable for several days when lake algae produced dangerous levels of a toxin called microcystin. EPA doesn't yet have standards that say what levels of the toxins are unsafe.

The bill sponsored by Bowling Green GOP Rep. Bob Latta was approved by a 375 to 37 vote margin. It gives EPA 90 days to develop and submit a "strategic plan" to Congress to assess and manage the risks from algal toxins in drinking water. It requires EPA to compile a list of dangerous algal toxins and their harmful effects, suggest ways to treat the water, and provide technical help to states and public water systems."

Sabrina Eaton reports for the Cleveland Plain Dealer February 24, 2015.