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Thursday, August 10, 2006

Environment - News from NW Indiana

The state water pollution control board meet in Portage yesterday. The Munster (NW Indiana) Times has two reports, both frm Lauri Harvey Keagle.

"State board adopts new sewer overflow rule: Sewage discharges OK if cities provide long-term control plans" is the headline to the first story. Quotes:

PORTAGE | Communities with combined stormwater and sanitary sewers could get a break if untreated sewage overflows into waterways.

The Water Pollution Control Board on Wednesday approved a rule -- initiated by Senate Enrolled Act 620 in the 2005 legislative session -- allowing for four days of noncompliance with water pollution regulations for municipalities with combined sewer overflows after heavy rains.

In exchange for the pass on the regulations, the state will require the community to submit its long-term plan for preventing the overflows. Cities and towns can qualify for the special designation if they demonstrate their system still cannot meet water quality standards following heavy rains after the implementation of the long-term overflow control plans.

"This is not something every CSO community will want or need to do," Nancy King, an attorney for IDEM, said at Wednesday's meeting at the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission building.

King explained that some communities already have their long-term plans in to the state or have plans to separate the sewers.

There currently are 130 combined sewers in Indiana. Of those, 31 have long-term plans in place, including East Chicago, according to Bruno Pigott of IDEM. Local communities with combined sewers include Crown Point, Gary, Hammond, Lowell, Chesterton and Valparaiso.

Lee Botts, a Gary environmentalist who serves on the board, cast the sole vote against the rule, but said the board was bound by the legislative act creating it.

"No matter how much you might realize that there needs to be other approaches to dealing with CSOs, the dilemma is the Legislature has already acted, so what do we do?" Botts said.

"I'm still not convinced it's going to help with the discharges to Lake Michigan."

David Wagner, a member of the board, said he believes the plan has its benefits.

"It's one more tool for cities and towns to have in the toolbox to address the problem," Wagner said. "Is it good to have a relaxation of the rules? Probably not."

The second story is headlined: "IDEM names new NWI regional director: Commissioner says agency will keep local office." Some quotes:
PORTAGE | After a debate earlier this year on whether a local office was still needed, Indiana Department of Environmental Management Commissioner Thomas Easterly named a new Northwest regional director Wednesday.

Hala Kassis Kuss, an 11-year attorney with the agency, officially began her new duties with the Merrillville-based office on Wednesday.

"There was a question as to whether people in Northwest Indiana cared whether or not we had a Northwest regional office," Easterly said.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on August 10, 2006 09:16 AM
Posted to Environment