Environmental Review Appeals Commission seeks $745,000 to maintain operations, upgrade e‑filing

Melissa Schilling, chair of the Environmental Review Appeals Commission, told the House Natural Resources Committee that the commission’s biannual budget request is $745,000 and that the agency relies on the General Revenue Fund to carry out its quasi‑judicial appellate work.

"The Environmental Review Appeals Commission has exclusive original jurisdiction over specified final actions taken by the director of Ohio EPA, the director of the Department of Agriculture, State Fire Marshal, State Emergency Response Commission, and approved county and local boards of health," Schilling said, outlining the commission’s role. She told the committee the commission is a three‑member body appointed by the governor, handles technically complex cases, and that its docket currently reflects 64 cases with no backlog.

Schilling described the commission’s reliance on e‑filing since 2018 and said planned upgrades will strengthen security and streamline functionality for stakeholders, reducing processing times and protecting data. She said the commission has a small staff (an executive director and a program administrator/staff attorney) and argued the requested appropriation is necessary to satisfy statutory duties and maintain current service levels.

Committee members did not ask follow‑up questions during the hearing. Schilling said the commission has no program expenses that should be altered and that no other funding sources are available to offset the commission’s expenses.

The hearing did not include a committee vote on the commission’s budget request.