What Hemoragghic Fever? Deer Ohio EPA No internal disccussions or contingency plans?

Another set of Freedom of Information Act requests have returned from the Ohio EPA. The questions were so broad as to include discussions and plans as far back as records have been kept. No beginning and ending dates. You would think the response was "too many records, please limit scope."

Only one discussion / document was found.

It is as if the virus magically showed up a few weeks ago.

I report. You decide.
merlo out.

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To: Bouder, Richard <richard.bouder@epa.ohio.gov>
Subject: FOIA REQUEST

To whom it may concern...

I am making a records request under the Freedom of Information Act.

I am requesting records of any and all Ohio EPA internal communication concerning the Hemoragghic Fever / Disease affecting the deer population

I am requesting records of any and all internal communication discussing whether the disease falls under the purview of the Ohio EPA or ODNR.

I am requesting any and all internal records discussing the impact of Hemoragghic Fever may have on the water system in Ohio.

I am requesting any and all internal records discussing whether infected deer can contaminate any water supplies..

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The State of Ohio is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Provider of ADA Services.


From: Barnswell, Kristopher <Kristopher.Barnswell@epa.ohio.gov>
Sent: Thursday, October 10, 2024 11:43 AM
To: Poffenbarger, Thomas <Thomas.Poffenbarger@epa.ohio.gov>; Williams, Justin <Justin.Williams@epa.ohio.gov>; Jackson, Joby <joby.jackson@epa.ohio.gov>
Cc: Smaili, Alex <Alex.Smaili@epa.ohio.gov>
Subject: RE: EHD (Whitetail Deer) Brief



Justin,


I spoke to Mark about EHD this morning. He said we should refer the citizen to the ODNR Division of Wildlife where they can report their observations. There is some general information about EHD on this webpage (Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (Deer) | Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ohiodnr.gov) that addresses a few of your questions.


My comments are highlighted below.


Joby any additional thoughts?



From: Poffenbarger, Thomas <Thomas.Poffenbarger@epa.ohio.gov>
Sent: Thursday, October 10, 2024 11:18 AM
To: Williams, Justin <Justin.Williams@epa.ohio.gov>; Barnswell, Kristopher <Kristopher.Barnswell@epa.ohio.gov>
Cc: Smaili, Alex <Alex.Smaili@epa.ohio.gov>
Subject: RE: EHD (Whitetail Deer) Brief



Thanks Justin! Unfortunately, I have no answers to the questions.


Tom





From: Williams, Justin <Justin.Williams@epa.ohio.gov>
Sent: Thursday, October 10, 2024 11:13 AM
To: Barnswell, Kristopher <Kristopher.Barnswell@epa.ohio.gov>
Cc: Smaili, Alex <Alex.Smaili@epa.ohio.gov>; Poffenbarger, Thomas <Thomas.Poffenbarger@epa.ohio.gov>
Subject: EHD (Whitetail Deer) Brief



Good morning,



This email is a follow-up to our discussion yesterday (Wednesday, October 9, 2024) at the section meeting regarding calls I have received outside of work hours from family and friends of mine in the hunting community that are concerned about EHD in whitetail deer, generally in the areas of Defiance, Paulding, and Putnam Counties. From our meeting yesterday it was also noted that one of our DSW staff did receive a call at work regarding EHD citizen concerns in Paulding County. It was indicated to me during my conversations that approximately 90 deer were found deceased on one farmer's property(ies), up to 35 deceased deer were found on another property, up to 30 deer were found dead in or along a river in the area, and up to 8 deer were found dead in or around a resident's private pond; all separate instances. During these conversations I have indicated that Ohio EPA DSW does not have authority over the removal or disposal of dead deer in or along bodies of water. During these conversations I have recommended that concerned citizens contact ODNR-Wildlife (as the regulatory control authority), ODA (veterinary expertise), and ODH (virus/disease expertise) regarding their concerns of carcass removal and EHD testing, their concerns regarding the transmissibility of EHD from whitetail deer to livestock, other wildlife, aquatic life, humans, and their concerns regarding the consumption of meat from an affected animal.



During the calls I have received, the following questions and concerns (generalized and condensed) were expressed to me:

1. Does Ohio EPA consider deceased deer carcasses in waterways and their bodily fluids in the waterways to be pollution, and if so, what is the agency's plan to monitor and remediate the situation? Is this something ODNR Wildlife would monitor?
2. Does Ohio EPA have any water quality data in the area to show that there isn't some other water quality issue, such as fertilizer or pesticide use, or chemical spills that could be causing a whitetail deer die off? This is very unlikely since outbreaks are associated with drought conditions, which we've had. However we could ask the water quality staff to look into this when they have time.
3. If Ohio EPA can test for Coronavirus (Covid-19) in wastewater, would Ohio EPA consider testing for EHD in waterways since Ohio EPA regularly samples waterways throughout the State? Since EHD does not pose a serious threat to livestock or risk to humans, and is relatively isolated, I doubt we would consider testing for EHD in waterways.
4. Is EHD transmissible to livestock and other wildlife?
5. Is EHD transmissible to aquatic life?
6. How long can EHD survive in a waterway or pond?
7. Are there any concerns with a human or pet contacting an animal (alive or deceased) that is infected with EHD?
8. Are there any concerns regarding the consumption of meat from an EHD infected animal? (Hunter harvests an animal that appears to be healthy but is later determined to be infected with EHD).
9. Can EHD be transferred from water (ponds or waterways) by birds such as cormorants? (This concern is in reference to agricultural concerns of birds spreading viruses such as the bird flu from farm pond to farm pond when the farm ponds are used as agricultural water supply).

Please let me know if you have any responses for the first three questions and please consider passing the remaining questions and concerns along to our sister agencies if you deem it appropriate. As noted above, I have advised that the majority of these concerns are outside of Ohio EPA's regulatory authority and have referred concerned citizens to other State agencies. As we are only two weeks into a deer hunting season that will not end until the beginning of February 2025, I would expect that as more hunters enter the woods to participate in the 2024-2025 deer hunting season, I or the Agency may receive additional calls from concerned citizens in the hunting community as well as other landowners. Please let me know if you have any guidance on how to respond to future calls/conversations beyond what I am already doing.

 

I can tell you with one hundred per cent sureness that if the ohio EPA had a report of 100 dead fish floating down the Maumee River towards Lake Erie they would be testing the water. They let 100's of dead deer rot away because it's not their job. The Ohio EPA, DNR, Wildlife are all headed by woman that were appointed by DeWine just because they were woman. DEI at it's best. The woman that led the health department was forced to quit because of her covid mandates. It's time to put qualified people in charge but that won't happen when you have government employees that are unionized.

Just read this memo that was sent internally in the Ohio EPA and their lack of answers even to themselves let alone the public.