by Joe Moore, Founder, Erosion Construction Solutions, CPESC, IECA Board
Environmental leadership is not built through slogans. It is built through action, and attention to the details.
As a state, Ohio can be identified as one of the most meaningful environmental success stories in the history of our country.
Just over 50 years ago, images of the Cuyahoga River burning became a national symbol of environmental neglect, and ultimately resulted in the establishment of the Federal EPA as well as the Clean Water Act. Fast forward to today, a world in which the state of Ohio is restoring those same waterways, supporting aquatic life that some thought would never again exist, and stocking steelhead trout(one of the most oxygen dependent fish species) in rivers that were once considered beyond repair.
That kind of progress does not happen by accident. It happens because agencies, communities and industries continue to advance, share information, improve standards, apply lessons learned, and make thoughtful changes. Even when those changes are buried deep within a technical specification, Ohio acts on them.
In April, Ohio EPA revised Chapter 7.3, Sediment Barrier, of its Rainwater and Land Development Manual. The updated filter sock guidance is an important example of what continued environmental leadership looks like. The revision recognizes three things our industry needs more of:
1. Standardized performance testing
By referencing ASTM D7351, the specification places greater emphasis on measurable, independently verified performance instead of relying solely on generic product descriptions or material categories.
2. Manufacturer installation and maintenance requirements
Products should be installed and maintained in the same configuration in which they were designed and tested. Recognizing manufacturer requirements helps close the gap between laboratory results and real-world field performance.
3. Clear maintenance expectations
Even the best sediment-control device will fail without proper inspection and maintenance. Clear expectations for sediment removal, repair and replacement provide contractors and inspectors with a more consistent and enforceable standard.
This is what responsible regulatory evolution looks like.
It means maintaining strong environmental protections while allowing standards to advance alongside testing, technology and field experience.
Specifications should not simply preserve the way things have always been done. They should help engineers, contractors, manufacturers and regulators identify the right solution, and give that solution the best opportunity to succeed.
Ohio’s record as an environmental champion was not created by one major decision or one major event. It was built through decades of action, accountability and attention to details exactly like these.
Thank you to Ohio EPA for continuing to lead and move our industry forward. For paying attention to the details, and for continuing to be leaders nationally.
Clean Water. Clean World. Meaningful Control Measures.
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