ODNR Office of Coastal Management - Regulatory


Logo: Ohio Coastal Management Program

Office of Coastal Management
105 West Shoreline Drive
Sandusky, OH 44870

419-626-7980
1-888-OhioCMP
Fax: 419-626-7983

coastal@dnr.state.oh.us

ohiodnr.com/coastal 
website inquiries




Timeline for:

Merrill vs. State of Ohio |  Ohio's Submerged Lands Leasing program

A general history of the state of Ohio's Submerged Lands Leasing program and major filings in the Merrill vs. State of Ohio case are listed in reverse chronological order below. Events are current as of September 1, 2012. Please contact coastal@dnr.state.oh.us if you have any questions.


2012


August 27 - The Lake County Common Pleas court issues a ruling on the Ohio Supreme Court’s remand of the case to the trial court for pending claims.
Download a PDF copy

2011







September 14 - The Ohio Supreme Court releases a decision in the Merrill case. Download a PDF copy.

February 1 - Oral arguments are presented before the Ohio Supreme Court in the Merrill case. Ohio Supreme Court entries for this case can be viewed as a PDF files on the court's Webpage (case No.
2009-09-1806). Watch the achieve video of the oral arguments at:
http://supremecourtofohiomedialibrary.org/Media.aspx?fileId=128853

2010










November 29 - The Ohio Supreme Court issues a notice that oral arguments are scheduled for February 1, 2011. (read notice in case No. 2009-09-18060).

March 3 - The Ohio Supreme Court grants jurisdiction in the Merrill vs. State of Ohio cases and agrees to hear the appeal and cross-appeal. Each of these Ohio Supreme Court entries for this case can be viewed as a PDF files on the court's Webpage for this case
No. 2009-09-1806.

Feb. 1 - Since the first appeals were filed on October 7, 2009, at least 35 additional entries have been filed for the case of Merrill vs. State of Ohio in the Ohio Supreme Court. Each of these entries can be viewed as a PDF file on the Ohio Supreme Court's Webpage for this case
No. 2009-09-1806.

2009



















Oct. 7, 2009 The Ohio Attorney General's Office and the ODNR file a joint notice of appeal in the Ohio Supreme Court to the District Appellate Court decision in the case of Merrill vs. State of Ohio (Case No. 2009-09-1806 ). The parties filed a joint notice of appeal but separate Memoranda in Support of Jurisdiction.


Oct. 7 -
Second notice of appeal of National Wildlife Federation and Ohio Environmental Council (
PDF)
  • Memorandum in support of jurisdiction of National Wildlife Federation and Ohio Environmental Council (PDF)
Aug. 24 - Ruling issued by the 11th District Appellate Court in the case of Merrill vs. State of Ohio (Case No. 2008-L-007).

2008








September 2008 - Meetings held to present the draft OAC rules for 1501-6. Feedback received from more than 230 people.

August 2008 - Public meetings announced to present and receive feedback on the final draft rules.

January through August 2008 - The original version of the proposed draft OAC rules is updated and reviewed to reflect applicable court rulings, and concerns voiced by littoral property owners, members of the Ohio Lakefront Group, local decision makers, the general public, and others who have an interest in Lake Erie.

2007











December 11 - Ruling issued in Lake County Common Pleas Court Case No. 04CV001080 by Judge Eugene A. Lucci (click here)

September through November - ODNR OCM receives feedback from many groups/individuals and continues to revise draft rules.

August - ODNR OCM begins working with the Coastal Resources Advisory Council to draft revised OAC rules for 1501-6.

July 13 - Gov. Strickland issues new regulatory policy for Submerged Lands Leases

June 21 -
SB 189 is introduced to change ORC 1506.



2005 April 19 - HB 206 and SB 127 are introduced to change ORC 1506.

2004





November 30 - ODNR files draft rules to amend OAC 1501-6 with the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR). After a public hearing in January 2005, ODNR pulls the draft rules.
May 28 - Lawsuit is filed in Lake County Common Pleas Court against the State of Ohio and ODNR (Case No. 04cv001081)


2003





December 10 - Am HB 218 is passed by the Ohio House
September 16 - HB 276 is introduced to change ORC 1506.
June 10 - HB 218 is introduced to change ORC 1506.


2002








May 16 - HB 583 is introduced to change ORC 1506.
May 15 - ODNR announces that it will create an Office of Coastal Management to administer the Ohio Coastal Management Program. The creation of the office marks the first time in state history that the administration of the permitting and leasing programs for shore structures built along Ohio's coast will be in the same office. The Office of Coastal Management is located in Sandusky, adjacent to Lake Erie, to further promote efficiencies in effectively serving coastal residents and communities.

1998

June 1 - Ohio's Coastal Erosion Area Program begins (see CEA Permits)

1997

May 16 - The Ohio Coastal Management Program is federally approved.

1989


March 15 - ODNR is given the responsibility for administering the Submerged Lands Lease program in accordance with Ohio Revised Code §1506 and Ohio Administrative Code §1501-6.

1982

The Ohio Department of Administrative Services assumes the responsibility for administering Submerged Lands Leases.

1955




The Ohio Department of Public Works assumed responsibility for administering all Submerged Lands Leases in the state.

The ODNR Division of Shore Erosion begins issuing Shore Structure Permits.


1917 Submerged Lands Leases are first administered in Ohio. Originally, most leases were administered by communities along Ohio’s 312-mile coast.