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Wednesday, February 02, 2005

Environment - Several recent stories

The LaPorte Herald Argus reports:

LAPORTE — The state of Indiana has stepped up pressure on Srilata Verma, owner of the former Allis-Chalmers powerhouse.

Two weeks ago the Indiana Attorney General’s Office filed a motion in LaPorte against Verma, who lives in India, asking the court to rule against her in the city’s effort to clean up the deteriorating structure.

A number of steps have been taken that led up to the court system finally getting involved in the matter. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) issued a notice of violation in July 2001 because the structure emitted pollution, it contained solid waste that was a threat to public health and the environment, and Verma didn’t identify seven drums of unknown waste on the property.

IDEM entered into an agreed order for Verma to correct the situation, but nothing was done. The next step was a petition for civil enforcement, followed by January’s order for summary judgment in LaPorte Circuit Court.

"Open dump owner ignores IDEM" is the headline to this story by Seth Slabaugh in the Muncie StarPress. Sme quotes:
The alleged owner of an open dump that sickened a county health department inspector has not responded to a notice of violation issued a year ago by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. IDEM delivered the notice of violation to Arthur Hicks Jr., a retired business agent for the Teamsters union, on Feb. 10, 2004. * * * IDEM spokesperson Amy Hartsock [said] "We later provided a a proposed agreed order to try to negotiate a settlement, but he has not responded to that. We also sent a letter telling him what our next step would be if we decided to take it: a commissioner's order." * * * The notice of violation gave Hicks 60 days to try to negotiate a settlement of the complaint or face a commissioner's order and a civil penalty.
"Courthouse air fixes could cost $320,000: Morgan County officials will discuss report on problems blamed for illnesses" is the headline to this story in today's Indianapolis Star. We've posted a number of earlier entries about the Morgan County Courthouse "sick-building" problems. Some quotes from the Star story:
MARTINSVILLE, Ind. -- The Morgan County Courthouse air-handling system needs an overhaul costing up to $320,000, according to a report released Tuesday by an independent consulting firm.

American Consulting's analysis of the air-handling system, which has been blamed for people getting sick, concluded that little or no fresh air made it to the offices in the basement and that a closed damper kept outside air from entering the Superior 3 Courtroom -- where complaints originated in July.

Enough outside air was entering the building, the Indianapolis-based firm's report said, but it needed to be distributed better.

The downtown Martinsville building has been vacant since August. County employees have moved to the basement of the nearby administration building. * * *

The cost does not include the cleaning of bird droppings and other contaminants in the building's attic, which will be done separately.

"Waste violations targeted" was the headline to this story in the Richmond Palladium-Item several days ago. Senate Bill 123 was heard in the Senate Environmental Affairs committee last week. Some quotes:
[The bill's author, Sen. Allen Paul, R-Richmond] said he was approached about a bill by Randolph County residents in his district who want more state control over confined animal feeding operations.

"It's unusual to have people come to you with bills. Usually we're approached by lobbyists. It's time to talk about this issue. You can't let these things blow in the wind," Paul said.

The bill was heard by the Senate Energy and Environmental Affairs Committee Monday. The committee didn't vote on the bill, but agreed to work with Paul on the bill.

IDEM will be providing some ideas on language for the bill that will be acceptable to the agency, Paul said. He's hopeful those changes will be ready by the second week of February so the committee can proceed, he said.

"I'm willing to put forth the extra effort for this bill," Paul said. "I want to get it right the first time. If the (final version) of the bill doesn't do anything, I'll kill it myself."

Posted by Marcia Oddi on February 2, 2005 07:18 PM
Posted to Environment