Washington, D.C. – Senator Portman (R-OH) is demanding answers on behalf of Cleveland, its residents, and all those concerned about preserving Lake Erie for future generations of Ohioans.  Portman, as chairman of U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), sent a letter last week to Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter requesting information regarding the Army Corps of Engineers’ (Corps) efforts to dredge the Cleveland Harbor.  PSI will examine allegations that the Corps deliberately reduced its budget for the harbor project to ensure it would be unable to dispose of material in a manner required by law.  It has been reported that the Corps cut its own budget by roughly $3 million—to less than it actually needs to dispose of the dredged material safely.

“I want answers and will use every tool available to make sure our Great Lake is protected,” Sen. Portman said.

Highlights from the coverage of the Senator’s letter to the Secretary are below:

WKYC – TV, Cleveland:

U.S. Sen. Rob Portman said the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations will probe the Army Corps of Engineers' funding of and resistance to the preferred method of dredging the Cleveland Harbor.

Crain’s Cleveland:

Portman indicated that his subcommittee “will examine allegations that the Corps deliberately reduced its budget for the Cleveland Harbor project in order to render itself unable to dispose of material in a manner required by law.”

He noted that the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has determined “that the dredged material is not safe for open lake placement and disposing of the dredged material by dumping it in Lake Erie could pose a threat to both the city of Cleveland’s water supply and Lake Erie’s ecosystem.”

Cleveland Plain Dealer:

"Part of the frustration with the Corps is that it's not forthcoming with information," [Will Friedman, head of the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority] said. "I'm pleased Sen. Portman is using the authority of his committee to figure out what's going on."

Craig Butler, head of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, also praised Portman for taking a "substantial action" against the Corps rather than just talking about it.

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