In 2013, OEC partners, group members, individual donors, volunteers, and other supporters helped us achieve so much for Ohio.

1. 2013: Year in Review

2. Horizontal Fracking
 Introduced the SAFER GAS Act (Safeguarding
Appalachian Families with Environmental
Regulation of Gas And Shale) calling for:
 stronger safeguards against air and water pollution from oil and
gas drilling;
 stepped up enforcement and
transparency by the Ohio DNR
Ohio EPA;
 greater industry and government
accountability, including permit
appeal rights for affected citizens;
and
 stronger consumer protections for
landowners who lease their land for drilling.
and

3. Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy
 Fended off another attempt by lawmakers
and utilities such as FirstEnergy to repeal
Ohio’s energy efficiency standard, which is
reducing harmful air pollution,
saving wasted energy,
growing new clean
energy jobs, and saving
consumers money.

4. Wetlands
 Worked for nearly a year with partners and
community groups to find a common-ground
solution that would meet all parties' interests to
save the Sawmill Wetlands Education Areas,
nearly 18 acres of
rare, forested, urban
wetlands in Central
Ohio.

5. Forests
 Helped convince the Ohio
Department of Forestry NOT to
drop the special designation of
the Shawnee Backcountry
Area, which would have reopened
forest roads and start intensive
logging in 8,000 acres of
unbroken state forest land.

6. Farmland, Rivers & Open Space
 Secured $52 million in funding for the
Clean Ohio Fund which works to develop
recreational trails and preserve family
farmland, river corridors, and open space.
 This appropriation maxes out
the $400 million bond that Ohio
voters gave the state permission
to borrow.

7. Lake Erie & Ohio River Basin Protection
 Working with citizens, scientists, agency
officials, and lawmakers to clean up our
waterways, eliminate the nutrient
pollution fueling the
growth of toxic algae,
and stop the spread of
dangerous non-native
species.

8. Ohio Environmental Law Center
 Celebrated 10 years of Ohio’s only
environmental public interest law firm,
which provided legal analysis, legal
education, and legal advocacy to protect
and conserve Ohio’s human and natural
resources.

9. New Interactive Website
 Launched a new, more interactive website
that provides timely updates on OEC’s
legislative and policy work,
easy ways for visitors to
take action, and the latest
news on issues important
to Ohioans.

10. Outstanding Fiscal Responsibility
 The OEC has a proven
track record of
success.
 For the 6th year in a
row, Charity Navigator
has awarded the OEC
a 4-star rating – its
highest rating – putting
the OEC in the top 5%
of all U.S. charities for
fiscal management.

11. Join Us Now
Please join our environmental-conservation community!
As a member of the Ohio Environmental Council, you will:
 receive great member benefits, and
 become part of the community working to restore,
protect, and strengthen the quality of life for families
and communities—from the air we breathe and the
water we drink to the food we eat and natural
resources we enjoy.
Donate today at www.theOEC.org