"Residents see more soot from steel mill" is the headline to this story today in the Gary Post-Tribune. Some quotes:
OGDEN DUNES — Longtime residents say pollution from nearby steel mills has been worse than normal this year. Community members are launching an educational campaign, bringing the Indiana Department of Environmental Management into the community to make a presentation to residents."CAFO control OK'd by Blackford County" is the headline to this story today in the Muncie Star-Press. Some quotes:Some, like Mike Frankovich, have also spoken to the Portage Port Authority. “The boats were getting very, very dirty,” Frankovich said. “Everybody at the marina was complaining.”
Richard Holm also boats near the mills, and on Thursday he gave photos to the Port Authority of pollution on his boat, which he is having trouble cleaning off. “When you clean it, there’s still some kind of residue,” Holm said.
The residents have only been able to quantify the increase in pollution anecdotally. IDEM spokeswoman Laura Pippenger said the ozone standards were not exceeded in Porter County this year, and she knew of no other excesses.
HARTFORD CITY - Blackford County Commissioners approved a zoning amendment Monday that would subject confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) to the authority of the Board of Zoning Appeals.Posted by Marcia Oddi at November 16, 2004 08:03 AMThe 3-0 vote occurred less than two weeks after a Netherlands couple applied to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management for a permit to build and operate a 2,000-head dairy CAFO two miles northest of the city.
Hartford City, Montpelier and Shamrock Lakes must also approve the amendment before it takes effect.
"We went this route because it gives local residents a chance to voice their opinions, whether pro or con, at the local level, compared to (commenting) just with IDEM," said Larry Hile, one of two farmers on the board of county commissioners. * * *
Oolman Dairy would be Vreba-Hoff Dairy Development's fourth dairy CAFO in East Central Indiana and 13th in Indiana. Wauseon, Ohio-based Vreba-Hoff helps Dutch and other European farmers relocate to Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.
Opponents are concerned about water, air and noise pollution; decreased property values, and a breakdown in their quality of life. Proponents say the $12-million dairy will create new opportunities for feed production, calf and heifer raising, veterinarian services, milk hauling, farm repair, farm equipment and other services.
"This is a very, very poor location for a dairy because of the flooding," said Elizabeth Thomas, a legal assistant. "We have water that stands out there four to six weeks at a time (up to) three times a year."
The ground near the proposed dairy is so saturated that it requires pumping stations to keep it drained, she said.
"Our concern is water pollution," said Pam Bolt, a library bookkeeper. "We've read about different instances at Vreba-Hoff dairies where they've had leaks - and streams have been contaminated. We operate off of a (drinking-water) well."
Vreba-Hoff-affiliated DeGroot Dairy in Huntington County recently paid the state $45,000 to settle a complaint that it contaminated a waterway. The settlement did not require DeGroot to admit any wrongdoing.
"The major concern I have is just having all the manure there," said Pat McAtee, owner of a fabrication shop, referring to millions of gallons of manure that will be stored in a lagoon and applied as fertilizer to farm land every year.