U.S. EPA announced the award of four Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grants totaling over $8.6 million to Ohio, Michigan and Indiana state agencies to protect public health by targeting harmful algal blooms in western Lake Erie. “In the wake of the Toledo-area drinking water ban, EPA quickly convened a meeting with state and federal agencies to identify their most immediate funding needs to reduce pollutants that contribute to harmful algae in western Lake Erie,” U.S. EPA Region 5 Administrator/Great Lakes National Program Manager Susan Hedman said. “EPA’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grants will fund critical projects in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana to expand ongoing efforts to reduce the amount of phosphorus entering Lake Erie.” U.S. EPA.