An Ohio river that empties into Lake Erie made a list of the top ten endangered rivers in the country this week. Grand River ranks as the sixth most threatened, according to the conservation group American Rivers.

Vanessa Pesec is president of the Network for Oil and Gas Accountability and Protection. She says drilling and illegal dumping have been “quietly polluting” the area. She says the first step in saving the river is to hold off on a boom in drilling in Ohio.

Pesec:

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The list doesn’t mean the 10 rivers are the most polluted. But they’re on the list because they’re at a significant crossroads. 

Ohio Senate Bill 315 is the Grand River’s crossroad. The bill passed the Senate Tuesday and includes requirements to disclose most of the chemicals in the waste water used in fracking. The House will consider it next week.

Trent Dougherty is the director of legal affairs for the Ohio Environmental Council.  He says the bill needs amended to help protect the Grand River.

Dougherty:

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Dougherty says he hopes the river’s appearance on the endangered list convinces the Ohio House to make further amendments next week.