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Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Environment - Stories today on CAFOs, tire fire, gravel pit protest
CAFOs. The South Bend Tribune has a story today by James Wensits headed "Dairy permits threatened: County Council could enter controversy over farm proposal." Some quotes:
County Commissioner Steve Ross, D-District 2, said Tuesday he will seek a moratorium on building permits needed to establish a dairy farm for up to 3,500 head of cattle proposed for southern St. Joseph County.Tire Fire. Seth Slabaugh of the Muncie Star-Press reports today:The comments came after David Schrock, a partner in the proposed Walnut Grove Dairy operation, made what he saw as a courtesy presentation of his plan to St. Joseph County Council members Tuesday.
Ross, who said he believes the proposal has become a land use issue, announced that he has asked a deputy county attorney to write an ordinance that could be presented to the council, possibly at its April meeting.
Ross said he is concerned about the location of the proposed farm, a portion of which, Ross said, is located in a flood plain.
"I'm not building in a flood plain," Schrock told Ross. "Stop saying that."
The commissioner said one aspect of the ordinance would be to establish a "Farmer's Board," similar to the county drainage board, that could "review projects of this size and make recommendations to we city folks."
Schrock, who is focusing on the permitting process required by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, said the council has nothing to say about his proposal.
"I need nothing from them," he said following the close of the council presentation. * * *
Schrock and partner Peter van der Vegt hope to build the dairy operation on 103 acres Schrock owns on Riley Road, west of Ironwood Road.
Unlike traditional farms where dairy cows roam outdoor pastures, cows at the Walnut Grove farm would stay inside a huge, climate-controlled building that Schrock maintains will be a healthier environment.
Schrock also proposes to grow corn and hay to feed the animals as well as partnering with local farmers to provide feed.
According to Schrock, everything he has proposed is legal and permission to proceed is up to IDEM, not the county. He came to the council only because he was invited, he said.
MUNCIE -- The owners of the burned-out CR3 tire recycling business expressed regret, embarrassment, and a desire to clean up the site Tuesday before a judge sentenced them.Gravel Pit Protest. The Morgan County Reporter-Times had a story yesterday by Aaron Blevins headed "IDEM considers public hearing request: Proposed operation pits residents against mining company." Some quotes:Delaware Circuit Court 3 Judge Robert Barnet Jr. accepted a plea agreement requiring Michael and William Gruppe III to pay $500,000 to clean up their business, which was destroyed by a major waste-tire fire in August 2003.
The agreement also calls for the Gruppes to pay $100,000 into the state's waste-tire management fund and $10,000 to compensate the Indiana Department of Environmental Management for investigative costs. * * *
The two brothers pleaded guilty to a class B misdemeanor charge of filing a false annual tire summary with IDEM. On behalf of CR3, William Gruppe also pleaded guilty to a class D felony charge of illegally storing waste tires in 55 semitractor-trailers, each capable of holding up to 1,000 tires.
In exchange, prosecutors dismissed six class D felony charges, which had accused the Gruppes of creating a fire hazard, open dumping and storing waste tires without a permit.
Waverly. U.S. Aggregates, Inc. is trying to open a second plant in the area near Ind. 144. The company already mines for minerals at 10351 North Mann Road. The proposed plant would be located at, or near, 7201 East Centenary Road unless the residents have it their way.Loretta Robinson lives near the proposed location and has been very adamant about her opposition to being a neighbor to another gravel pit. She said that since she has moved in to the area, six more gravel pits have commenced operations. * * *
Residents such as her have voiced their opinions to basically every agency that deals with the mineral extraction business. Their concerns range from lowered property values to an increase in mosquitoes.
The primary concern is dust. Water is used to control such a matter, but residents say the dust is still visible outside the company’s property lines, which violates Indiana code.
Another big complaint revolves around ugliness. Residents do not want to wake up in the morning, grab a cup coffee, sit down at their dining room table and watch a gravel pit in action. They are also concerned that it might affect the real estate value of their home.
But Nelson Shaffer, the head of the coal and industrial mineral section of the Indiana Geological Survey, said that those concerns are simply unimportant, citing the area near Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion as proof that reclamation of gravel pits can net positive results.
“I tell you, some of these probably improve property values,” he said. “It’s a temporary thing really.” He said the biggest problem for neighbors is most likely the trucks.
However, some area appraisers said that the residents’ concerns may be warranted, but the concerns would be property-specific.
Aside from the other concerns the residents had, Shaffer said mineral extraction is high-dollar business in Indiana. * * *
[B]oth entities in this conflict are heavily armed with information and opinions. IDEM has a complicated decision on its hands. The public had until Monday to request a public hearing. IDEM said that many residents have contacted them.
U.S. Aggregates, Inc. has filed for all the proper permits from IDEM and, most likely, the rest of the governing bodies who issue such permits. The county commissioners amended an ordinance in August that placed restrictions on mining operations in the county.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on March 1, 2006 07:21 AM
Posted to Environment