Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
ODNR officials outline certification, funding and recommend code updates during committee testimony
Summary
Officials from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources testified to the House General Government Committee about licensing and certification duties across Forestry, Mineral Resources Management, and Wildlife, noting certification counts, modest fees, a ~$3 million mine-safety budget, and recommendations to remove outdated certifications from the Ohio Revised Code.
Officials from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources told the House General Government Committee that the department’s licensing and certification programs are designed to balance public safety, resource protection and sustainable use across Ohio.
Greg Gess, Assistant Chief of the Division of Forestry, said the certified prescribed fire manager program issues about 25 new certifications annually, renews roughly 40 certifications each year and has over 200 active certified managers statewide. He said there is no cost for initial certification or renewal but that the division charges an $80 fee for its instructional course; alternative training is acceptable if it meets the requirements of OAC 1501:13-01. “Approximately 25 certifications are issued annually and 40 certifications are…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
