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Tuesday, June 15, 2004

Economic Development; Environment - State Official Promises "One-Stop Permitting" and More

"State measure addresses ozone rules" is the headline of this story today in the Louisville Courier Journal. Some quotes:

INDIANAPOLIS - Lt. Gov. Kathy Davis announced three new initiatives Monday meant to ease hassles for businesses when dealing with state government, including a state-run Web site to help companies cope with new rules for counties not in attainment of ozone standards.

The site (www.emissionscred it.in.gov) will go live today and will be a forum for businesses to advertise pollution credits they can sell to other companies. [Note: The site mentioned was not available at 9:00 a.m. However, this site about Indiana's Emission Credit Registry is available via IDEM.]

As part of the nonattainment designation, which takes effect today, any new business entering Vanderburgh and Warrick counties must show that it will offset new air pollution it will create in order to get permits. This provision kicks in automatically, according to Janet McCabe, Indiana Department of Environmental Management assistant commissioner for the office of air quality.

Often established businesses reduce air pollution but don't notify the state, McCabe said. Now they can and perhaps reap some rewards by selling their credit for achieving reductions to new businesses hoping to locate in the counties. "It's sort of like a dating service," McCabe said.

In addition, Davis reports efforts will be made to reduce the NPDES permit renewal backlog. (Those familiar with this issue may experience deja vu on hearing this. And there is no mention in the story of expediting applications for new permits, essential to relocation.) Quotes from the story:
Davis also committed the administration to eliminating the backlog of IDEM wastewater permits. About 200 large businesses in Indiana have permits to release wastewater. The companies have to reapply for these permits every five years, and if the state does not decide on the permit within 180 days, it leaves the business in limbo as far as certainty for the future.

Indiana Department of Environmental Management Commissioner Lori Kaplan said staff would be shifted from other duties, asked to work overtime and vacant positions would be filled to meet the goals.

The Indianapolis Star also has a report in its business section, headlined: "State streamlines permit process to boost growth: Sole point of contact centerpiece of program designed to help firms through agency maze."
A single point of contact for state government will be launched to help companies navigate various agencies, said Lt. Gov. Kathy Davis.

The issuance of permits will be streamlined, backlogs of unprocessed permit applications will be whittled down, and permit applications will be put on the Internet. And an online site will allow companies to buy or swap unused "ozone" credits in order to help companies expand in problem areas.

"This is an issue we have heard about from the business community regularly, that they need a single point of contact, that they need to know every single thing that is going to be expected of them, ahead of time, and that all the agencies are working together," she said. * * *

By September, businesses will be able to learn about needed permits through an Internet site. Backlogs of certain types of permit applications at the Indiana Department of Environmental Management hope to be eliminated by December 2005 by shifting internal staff, filling some staff vacancies and asking staff members to work overtime.

The Star story also quotes a dissenting voice:
But Tom Frampton, who manufactures ceiling fans in Zionsville, said he wasn't impressed. The owner of Fanimation said he is skeptical the changes can make much difference in the thicket of regulations he encountered when he moved the company from Lebanon recently. Even within Boone County, regulations varied, sometimes widely, between the two communities. "My guess is it won't work," Frampton said. "You're still going to have to talk to everybody."

Posted by Marcia Oddi on June 15, 2004 08:58 AM
Posted to Environmental Issues | Indiana economic development