Goosepond (or Goose Pond). Stories today here in the Indianapolis Star and here in the Linton Daily Citizen discuss the potential acquisition of the property (8,000 acres of Greene County wetlands and uplands, located south of Linton) by the State.
Coal mine. According to this story in the Evansville Courier&Press today:
Miners are asking the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to hold off on releasing nearly $500,000 bond money on Peabody's Squaw Creek Mine in Warrick County until they get more answers about hazardous waste dumped at the mine. Alcoa, which owns the land, and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management are continuing to work out details of what kind of additional testing and cleanup may need to be done, said Lynette Schrowe, the state project manager for the site.Air Pollution. "Spoiling the Dunes" is the headline of this story today in the Gary Post-Tribune (story accessible only today) that includes these quotes:
In the tiny lakefront community of Ogden Dunes, the problem is perhaps its most visible. Steel mills, a power plant and other assorted heavy industries loom from a few hundred yards to a few miles from upscale beach homes. With so many smokestacks, it’s difficult to tell just where problems are originating.Posted by Marcia Oddi at July 8, 2004 05:17 PMOn Tuesday, West presented a baggie with black particles he wiped from his grill to Coleman, a member of the town’s environmental advisory committee. Coleman will pass the sample on to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management so its contents can be analyzed and, the men hope, its owner identified. * * *
Both Coleman and West said they believe IDEM and the EPA are not doing all they can to protect the lakefront town. Coleman said the community has to push both agencies to get them to reply to complaints and do anything about them.
An example, said Coleman, is Amrox, a steel-waste processor near the town that was cited by the EPA in 2001 for operating illegally. Coleman said the town is still waiting to hear from the EPA about what penalties and corrective action will be handed down to Amrox, and is concerned the EPA may lower its standards to help the company.
Brent Marable, the EPA Illinois and Indiana enforcement section chief in Chicago, said the agency issued a violation notice to Amrox and is in confidential negotiations with the company. Marable said he understands residents are frustrated, but the agency is trying to quickly resolve the problem. Marable said the company will have to follow the rules like all other companies.
“There are sources of air pollution in the Ogden Dunes area,” Marable said. “We have done a number of inspections and investigations in the area. Citizen complaints are something we give great attention to and appreciate receiving here.”
Paul Dubenetzky, IDEM chief of the permit branch in air quality in Indianapolis, said he probably will issue a permit to Amrox after he gets a time frame for compliance from the company. Dubenetzky said Amrox must make sure its hydrochloric acid comes in contact with more water before it leaves the smokestacks, and that the water mist doesn’t come out of the stacks.
Phil Perry, IDEM air compliance branch chief in Indianapolis, said the state agency has received a number of complaints from residents in Ogden Dunes, ranging from odors to breathing and health problems. Perry said he is not surprised, because the town is an isolated community surrounded by heavy industry. * * *
Perry said IDEM is trying to get more sampling canisters into Ogden Dunes so air can be collected when it is questionable. Also, IDEM will take any samples collected by residents and analyze the particles, Perry said. He noted IDEM’s strategy is to meet with complainants, provide canisters, continue inspections and seek more compliance from violators.