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Sunday, February 12, 2006

Ind. Gov't. - Bill would exempt DNR from several laws

According to a story today by Drew Laird in the Bloomington Alternative, SB 354 was originally:

intended to improve the popular classified forest program, but the Daniels Administration added two troubling provisions to the bill.

One sentence buried deep in the bill’s final paragraphs would exempt logging on public lands from the provisions of the Indiana Environmental Policy Act. This law requires that the DNR conduct environmental assessments of timber harvest operations.

The Indiana Forest Alliance filed a lawsuit three years ago, arguing that the DNR is breaking the law by ignoring IEPA. Currently, the Indiana Forest Alliance, Heartwood, the Hoosier Environmental Council, and Sassafras Audubon Society are preparing to file a lawsuit against Gov. Mitch Daniels’ plan to increase logging on state forests based on the IEPA violations.

DNR Director Kyle Hupfer admitted in the Senate Natural Resources Committee hearings that the provision was added specifically to kill the lawsuit filed against the DNR.

The other troubling provision eliminates the 14-inch diameter requirement of merchantable timber on public lands. This means that all sizes of trees can be sold off state properties, thus opening the state forests to clear-cutting operations.

The report continues that Rep. Jerry Denbo, D-French Lick, "and State Rep. Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington, have agreed to propose an amendment to the bill to eliminate the IEPA exemption provision."

The bill has already passed the Senate and is currently in the House Natural Resources Committee. The story indicates the committee is meeting Tuesday. No committee shcedules currently are posted on the General Assembly site.

For background, see this Sept. 26, 2005 ILB entry (2nd item), where environmental impact statements are discussed.

They are also discussed in this Jan. 25, 2006 ILB entry about the new hotel DNR intends to build on the Dunes State Park beach.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on February 12, 2006 05:05 PM
Posted to Indiana Government