« Ind. Courts - Indiana trial court cameras shuttered | Main | Courts - More on: Kentucky fen-phen lawyers ordered to jail »

Monday, August 13, 2007

Environment - Governor Daniels asks former dean of SPEA to conduct 6 weeks study of Indiana's IDEM's BP permit [Updated]

In a press release just issued by the Govenor's office, headed "Governor asks former Indiana University SPEA dean to lead review of IDEM permit process," the operative pargraph seems to be:

The governor has asked Barnes to:
  • Conduct a review of the current federal and state laws concerning Great Lakes water quality and permitting, including assessment of whether these laws are sufficiently protective of the Great Lakes system.
  • Assess IDEM’s actions to implement those laws in BP’s permit, both in the form of discharge limits and other requirements such as monitoring, biological testing and assessment.
  • Evaluate the impact of BP’s proposed discharge on Lake Michigan’s quality and uses as a source of drinking water, recreation, and aquatic life.
Daniels asked Barnes to complete the review within six weeks. Barnes said he will contact other experts, as needed, to help him conduct the review.
Re James Barnes:
Barnes is the former dean of the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University where he currently teaches. He has testified and consulted on a number of environmental matters and currently serves as the chair of the EPA’s Environmental Finance Advisory Board. He helped form the EPA, was the first chief of staff to then Administrator Bill Ruckelshaus, and later served the agency in other capacities. He previously was the vice president of America’s Clean Water Foundation as well as a trustee of the National Institute for Global Environmental Change (NIGEC).
[Updated 8/14/07] Here is today's coverage of the announcement in the Indianapolis Star and the NWI Times. Both pretty much follow yesterday's press release.

According to the Gov's press secretary yesterday, "Mr. Barnes will begin this assignment next week. He is traveling and not available to speak to reporters."

Posted by Marcia Oddi on August 13, 2007 03:24 PM
Posted to Environment