What is the function of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources in relation to ammonia incidents?

• A. They investigate incidents of high ammonia concentrations in water due to fertilizer transport accidents or manure spills.
• B. They regulate drinking water standards.
• C. They monitor fish populations.
• D. They issue fertilizer application guidelines.

Answer: (A)

Ammonia in water from fertilizer transport accidents or manure spills is a water-quality issue that requires a natural-resources response. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is the agency tasked with investigating environmental incidents affecting natural resources, so it would assess high ammonia concentrations in water, determine the source and extent of the release, and help coordinate cleanup and prevention. This fits their role in protecting and managing the state’s natural resources and responding to environmental emergencies.

Regulating drinking-water standards is primarily handled by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, not ODNR. Monitoring fish populations is a wildlife-management activity within ODNR, but it isn’t the specific response to ammonia incidents. Issuing fertilizer application guidelines comes from extension services and regulatory bodies, not typically ODNR.