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ODNR equipment and wetlands credits approved; agency says dozer is life-safety need, credits required by regulators
Summary
The Controlling Board approved ODNR requests for a replacement bulldozer and to purchase wetland mitigation credits for Guilford Lake Dam work; ODNR said the dozer is 26 years old and poses life‑safety issues, and that Army Corps and Ohio EPA permit requirements mandate credit purchases in the same watershed.
The Ohio Controlling Board approved two items from the Department of Natural Resources: funding to replace a heavily used 26‑year‑old bulldozer and to purchase wetland mitigation credits required for Guilford Lake dam rehabilitation work.
Senator Chavez questioned the cost and condition of the bulldozer, noting pictures showed surface rust and a worn paint job. Ryan Frazee, ODNR chief financial officer, told the board the 26‑year‑old dozer has been used heavily and that parks staff described the unit as a life‑safety concern because it cannot be operated correctly. ODNR said the purchase will be paid from capital-budget equipment funds designated for parks and that the machine will be used at Buckeye Lake for dredge and material-relocation work.
On wetlands credits: Chavez said she prefers building new wetlands rather than buying credits, expressing concern that credit markets can send money out of state. James Zoloski (transcript shows Slovsky/Zoloski interchange) of ODNR's Division of Engineering said the credits are being bought from existing wetlands in the same watershed as required by permitting agencies and that the purchases were made through competitive solicitation. “These credits are being purchased from wetlands, existing wetlands that are in the same watershed within Ohio...They identify the areas that these wetlands need to be in place and they need to be in the same watershed so that they offset the impacts from the project locally,” Zoloski said.
Regulatory requirement: ODNR said the purchases are required by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Ohio EPA under 404/401 regulatory permit requirements and that the credits support local permit compliance for the Guilford Lake dam rehabilitation.
Board action: Both items were approved with no objections. ODNR agreed to follow up with Senator Chavez on how H2Ohio funds and ODNR’s H2Ohio work relate to wetland mitigation purchases.
Next steps: ODNR will proceed with equipment procurement for park operations and complete the wetlands-credit purchases to meet permit conditions for Guilford Lake Dam rehabilitation.
