Thursday, July 19, 2007
Environment - More on efforts to reopen Mitchell Generating Plant
In this entry yesterday, the ILB quoted from a NWI Times story that:The state's top environmental regulator has told NIPSCO it will be subject to the U.S. EPA's most stringent environmental standards if it wants to reopen the Dean H....Posted by Marcia Oddi on Thursday, July 19, 2007
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Environment - Another view on ethanol [Updated]
An earlier ILB entry today cited a NY Times story about how the demands of new ethanol distilleries is driving up the price of corn and thus inevitably increasing retail prices of meat, poultry and dairy products. Today's Wall Street...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Saturday, January 06, 2007
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Environment - Another Mallard Lake decision
The Anderson Herald Bulletin has a report today by Justin Schneider:A ruling by Michael D. Keele, a judge in Marion Superior Court Environmental Division, has returned a landfill permit to J.M. Corp. This week, Keele agreed that environmental law Judge...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Ind. Gov't. - Dunes Inn idea is a bust - no bids received; more
The Gary Post-Tribune reports today, in a story by Diane Krieger Spivak:It looks like private investors won’t be building a hotel at Indiana Dunes State Park. But that doesn’t mean the state won’t look into putting one up. By Wednesday’s...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Thursday, June 01, 2006
Monday, February 13, 2006
Environment - Cleanup of former Indiana Army Ammunition Plant underway in Clark County
The Louisville Courier Journal reports today, in a story by Alex Davis:The first phase of a $53 million environmental cleanup at the former Indiana Army Ammunition Plant is nearly complete, bringing it a step closer to realizing its potential as...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Monday, February 13, 2006
Monday, October 03, 2005
Environment - Indianapolis sewers rates and water quality in the headlines
"Sewer rate may nearly double: Mayor to propose $435 million fix for system" is the headline to a front-page story by Brendan O'Shaughnessy in today's Indianapolis Star. Some quotes:Sewer and storm water rates would nearly double over the next three...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Monday, October 03, 2005
Sunday, January 09, 2005
Indiana Law/Environment - Lawmakers to address environment
"Lawmakers to address environment" is the headline to an informative AP story by Rick Callahan, that appears in the Louisville Courier Journal. Some quotes:INDIANAPOLIS — With a new governor and a new direction for Indiana's environmental agency on the horizon,...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Sunday, January 09, 2005
Sunday, October 24, 2004
Environment - Construction runoff the focus of several Courier-Journal stories today
"MSD slow to stop construction runoff muddying waterways: Agency defends methods, and results," is the headline to the lead story in the Local/Regional Section of the Louisville Courier-Journal today. The MDS is the Louisville Metropolitan Sewer District. Some quotes:Jim Bartley...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Sunday, October 24, 2004
Saturday, October 23, 2004
Environment - More EPA CWA violations at dairy farms reported
At the beginning of October the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported "EPA cites five Ohio dairies for violations." Read the ILB entry here. At the time, the paper reported:They are among 10 northwest Ohio dairies the EPA inspected in November 2003....Posted by Marcia Oddi on Saturday, October 23, 2004
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
Environment - Non-native species in Lake Michigan
"No snakeheads, but other critters surface" is the headline to this story in the Chicago Tribune this morning. Some quotes:The first sweep of Burnham Harbor for the voracious snakehead fish today turned up seven species that are not native to...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Wednesday, October 20, 2004
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
Environment - Mandatory septic system inspections
"Floyd closer to mandatory septic system inspections" is the headline to this story today in the Louisville Courier-Journal. Some quotes:The Floyd County Plan Commission voted unanimously last night to require county inspections of septic systems when homes are sold and...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Tuesday, October 19, 2004
Monday, October 18, 2004
Environment - Stories today
"Environmental issues get little attention: Presidential campaign is dominated by Iraq war and struggling economy" is the headline to this story today in the Chicago Tribune. The Chesterton Tribune (my home town) had a story on last week's Porter County...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Monday, October 18, 2004
Sunday, October 17, 2004
Environment - Barrel and drum recycler allegedly abandons site
The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette reported yesterday, in a story headlined "Thousands of industrial barrels found: EPA cleans up abandoned firm," that:A NIPSCO worker trying to remove a gas meter for non-payment discovered a mountain of rusting industrial barrels filling...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Sunday, October 17, 2004
Saturday, October 16, 2004
Environment - 2004 Indiana Environmental Statutes
In answer to recent inquiries, I still have a number of copies of the handy, soft cover, 546-page 2004 Indiana Environmental Statutes available for purchase - check here for information....Posted by Marcia Oddi on Saturday, October 16, 2004
Friday, October 15, 2004
Environment - Odor in New York City too!
The ILB has pointed to a number of stories about odor problems in Indiana, from both farms and industrial plants. The most recent is this AP story published yesterday that begins:ANGOLA, Ind. -- A state inspection found that a factory...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Friday, October 15, 2004
Thursday, October 14, 2004
Environment - Recent stories
"Hog-farm trespass conviction upheld" is the headline to this story today in the Muncie Star-Press. The report is apparently about a Not for Publication decision of the Court of Appeals, as I have not seen it. Some quotes from the...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Thursday, October 14, 2004
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
Environment - Report criticizes feds enforcement efforts
"Group Says Bush Easy on Polluters: Government lawsuits against violators have dropped sharply, critics complain. The EPA says it is working to settle existing actions." That is the headline to this story today in the LA Times that begins:During the...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Wednesday, October 13, 2004
Tuesday, October 12, 2004
Environment - Indianapolis Star presses for debate on environmental issues
In an editorial today, the Indianapolis Star states:Our position is: Environmental issues that affect the health, quality of life and economy of Indiana deserve debate in the gubernatorial campaign. A discussion of how best to protect Indiana's environment has been...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Tuesday, October 12, 2004
Monday, October 11, 2004
Environment - Stories today
A front-page, above-the-fold story today in the Indianapolis Star today by Star environmental reporter Tammy Webber focuses on the role of the environment in Indiana's governor's race. The headline: "Governor's race: Pollution concerns are taking back seat." Some quotes:Most urban...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Monday, October 11, 2004
Wednesday, October 06, 2004
Environment - Coal ash is an issue again, this time in Marion County
"Critics: IPL's plan to use ash as fill is risky: Utility disputes the charge that putting coal ash in a flood plain could foul waterways," is the headline to this story today in the Indianapolis Star. Some quotes from the...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Wednesday, October 06, 2004
Tuesday, October 05, 2004
Environment - Stories today
"Dairy CAFO permit contested" reports the headline to this story in the Muncie Star-Press. Some quotes:WINCHESTER - Members of Environmentally Concerned Citizens of Randolph County announced Monday they would appeal the state's issuance of a permit to Tony Goltstein to...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Tuesday, October 05, 2004
Sunday, October 03, 2004
Environment - Stories this weekend
The Ft. Wayne Journal Gazette has a really excellent (and lengthy) piece today on the conflict between pollution and economics, titled "The black cloud over power." Here are some quotes, but the piece deserves a full reading:PETERSBURG – Ray Breidenbaugh...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Sunday, October 03, 2004
Saturday, October 02, 2004
Environment - CWA, plus a number of air stories
"EPA cites five Ohio dairies for violations" was the headline to this story yesterday in the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The report begins:Five large dairies in northwest Ohio have been cited for violations of the Clean Water Act, the U.S. Environmental...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Saturday, October 02, 2004
Thursday, September 30, 2004
Environment - More on Governor Kernan's plan
"Kernan announces new electronic service to streamline environmental permitting process" is the headline to this press release issued today from the office of Gov. Kernan. [Update 10/1/04] Access today's Indianapolis Star story here....Posted by Marcia Oddi on Thursday, September 30, 2004
Environment - Stories today
"Another dairy CAFO, another fight" is the headline to this lengthy story today in the Muncie StarPress. Some quotes:HARTFORD CITY - Citizens are starting a campaign to stop a Netherlands couple from building a 2,000-head dairy CAFO (concentrated animal feeding...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Thursday, September 30, 2004
Wednesday, September 29, 2004
Environment - More on private sewage treatment plants
Updating our September 20th entry on private sewage treatment plants (2nd item) is a report today in the Louisville C-J. Some quotes:More than 60 people attended a hearing last night on a proposed state water-quality rule that would restrict where...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Wednesday, September 29, 2004
Environment - More on Gov. Kernan's plan
A story in the Indianapolis Star today by reporter Tammy Webber looks "behind the curtain" at Governor Kernan's new plan. The story is headlined "Environmental effect of proposal unclear." "Vague" might be an apt description for the plan. Some quotes:Under...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Wednesday, September 29, 2004
Tuesday, September 28, 2004
Environment - Returning a 7,000-acre Illinois farm to swampland
"Future of Illinois Farm May Lie in Swampy Past" was the headline to this story published yesterday in the NY Times. Some quotes:HAVANA, Ill, Sept. 20 - Every autumn for more than 80 years, a sprawling farm beside the Illinois...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Tuesday, September 28, 2004
Monday, September 27, 2004
Environment - Governor Kernan proposes reorganization
In a proposal for the reorganization of state government announced today, Indiana Governor Kernan has proposed nine cabinet offices, including one dealing with "cultural, natural, and environmental resources." (organization chart) The proposal includes the creation of an Office of Environmental...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Monday, September 27, 2004
Sunday, September 26, 2004
Environment - Stories Today
"Well contamination may cost Martinsville $6 million" is the headline of this story in the Mooresville/Decatur Times, following up on the groundwater contamination stories reported here on 6/22/04 and 6/29/04. "Hidden environment: Heated Daniels-Kernan contest excludes talk of green issues,"...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Sunday, September 26, 2004
Saturday, September 25, 2004
Environment - State OK's Randolph County dairy CAFO
"State OK's Randolph County dairy CAFO" is the headline to this story in the Muncie Star-Press. Some quotes:WINCHESTER - Five weeks after hearing complaints from angry opponents, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management on Friday issued a permit for European...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Saturday, September 25, 2004
Friday, September 24, 2004
Environment - Odor, odor everywhere
"Portage plant blamed for odor" is the headline to this story today in the Gary Post Tribune that reports: OGDEN DUNES — A strong odor that led to a complaint and investigation by the county and state has been traced...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Friday, September 24, 2004
Thursday, September 23, 2004
Environment - Cormorant comeback: Too much of a good thing?
"Protected bird makes a comeback: But some see cormorant as more of a nuisance," is the headline to this story today in the Evansville CourierPress. Some quotes:When Mark Pochon arrived at the Hovey Lake Fish and Wildlife Area 18 years...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Thursday, September 23, 2004
Monday, September 20, 2004
Environment - Stories Today
Medical Waste. The lead to a story today in the Gary Post Tribune reads:Gov. Joe Kernan gave his word Sunday to a large group of Northwest Indiana residents that he will have the state review the legality of a proposed...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Monday, September 20, 2004
Friday, September 17, 2004
Environment - Stories Today
"County may sue state on landfill" is the headline to this story today in the Gary Post Tribune, that begins:CROWN POINT — Lake County officials are holding the hammer over the state Department of Environmental Management: deal with the mess...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Friday, September 17, 2004
Thursday, September 16, 2004
Environment - Frustrated by IDEM, Berne finds assistance elsewhere
"Frustrated by IDEM, Berne finds assistance elsewhere" is the headline to this story today in the Decatur Daily Democrat that reports:Frustrated in their attempts to convince Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) that numerous projects under way in Berne to...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Thursday, September 16, 2004
Environment - Confusion about citizen rulemaking petitions
I'm confused after reading two editorials about the citizen mercury proposal pending before the Indiana air board, and a letter to the editor from IDEM Commissioner Lori Kaplan. I've got the rulemaking statutes in front of me. I'm going to...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Thursday, September 16, 2004
Tuesday, September 14, 2004
Environment - Blagojevich targets medical incinerators
"Blagojevich targets medical incinerators: Burning banned at Evanston Hospital" is the headline to this lengthy story today in the Chicago Tribune that begins:Prompted by neighborhood activists pushing to close Evanston Hospital's medical-waste incinerator, Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Monday urged the...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Tuesday, September 14, 2004
Environment - Ordinance requires builders to set aside open space
"Compromise on open space law: Developers required to set aside land at residential sites" is the headline to this 9/9/04 story in the Munster Times. Some quotes:VALPARAISO -- Porter County Board of Commissioners forced a compromise late Tuesday night when...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Tuesday, September 14, 2004
Sunday, September 05, 2004
Environment - Recent Indiana stories
"Superfund cleanup almost complete" is the headline to this story in the Munster Times on the project at Amercian Chemical Service in Griffith. "IDEM, EPA join hands over lakefront plan: The agencies agree not to dispute each other's decisions" is...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Sunday, September 05, 2004
Thursday, September 02, 2004
Environment - Cinergy's planned environmental construction program
A press release from Cinergy today announces:CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 2, 2004--Cinergy Corp.'s (NYSE:CIN) operating companies, The Cincinnati Gas & Electric Co. and PSI Energy Inc., are beginning an environmental construction program that will reduce their power plant emissions in response to...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Thursday, September 02, 2004
Wednesday, September 01, 2004
Environment - Indiana air board meeting turns contentious today
The Indiana Air Pollution Control Board meeting had some fireworks this afternoon over a Hoosier Environmental Council (HEC) petition for a new mercury rule. The citizen petition was submitted to the Air Board in June, pursuant to the provisions of...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Wednesday, September 01, 2004
Environment - Indiana wetlands
"Wetland to strain city’s stormwater" is the poorly-worded headline to this story today in the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette. Apparently they mean "strain' as in "filter" rather than "strain" as in "put an additional burden on." The story begins:Stormwater runoff...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Wednesday, September 01, 2004
Monday, August 30, 2004
Environment/Economic Development - Agriculture in the Gubernatorial Campaign
"Daniels proposes to double Indiana's livestock population" is the headline today to this story today in the Muncie StarPress. Some quotes:MUNCIE - Opponents of large dairy farms in East Central Indiana are calling for stricter environmental regulations and a moratorium...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Monday, August 30, 2004
Sunday, August 29, 2004
Environment - In depth look at Gibson Power Plant Problems
The Chicago Tribune today has a lengthy story on the Gibson coal-fired generating station air pollution problems, which are affecting Illinois residents in Mt. Carmel. The August 26th ILB entry is available here....Posted by Marcia Oddi on Sunday, August 29, 2004
Friday, August 27, 2004
Environment - Disclosing contingent liabilities under Sarbanes-Oxley
Findlaw.com has an article today titled "Disclosing Contingent Environmental Liabilities: Navigating In A New Environment." The intro:The Sarbanes-Oxley Act and its implementing regulations are increasing the level of scrutiny given to public companies' disclosure of contingent risks. Environmental issues, however,...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Friday, August 27, 2004
Thursday, August 26, 2004
Environment - Gibson Generating Plant Multi-Jurisdictional Issues
The is the continuing story of the Gibson Generating Station, located in Owenville, Indiana (Gibson County), across the line from Mt. Carmel, Illinois. The Illinois Attorney General announced August 9th:Following several dramatic and possibly harmful air pollution incidents that created...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Thursday, August 26, 2004
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
Environment - Stories today
Stormwater. The Muncie StarPress reported here yesterday, in a story headlined "Storm water cleanup plan deadline nearing":MUNCIE - Delaware County Commissioners, two of whom are lame ducks, are hoping to extend a Jan. 1 deadline to submit a storm-water quality...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Wednesday, August 25, 2004
Sunday, August 22, 2004
Environment - Two important editorials
This sensible economic development / environment editorial appeared in the Saturday Indianapolis Star. It begins: "Our position is: Questions of adequate water resources in Boone County need to be addressed before massive growth takes place." "Saving the Oceans" is the...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Sunday, August 22, 2004
Saturday, August 21, 2004
Environment - Stories Today
$56 Million Settlement. There are a number of stories today on the Grand Calumet River cleanup in NW Indiana:"Companies to pay to help clean river" - AP story in Courier-Journal. "8 firms OK deal to clean Calumet: Decontamination method debated"...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Saturday, August 21, 2004
Friday, August 20, 2004
Environment - Stories Today
Water Quality. An interesting story Thursday in the Fort Wayne News Sentinel reported:For years, public-health officials and environmental regulators have thought that human sewage and waste from agricultural operations played the biggest part in increasing the levels of fecal bacterial...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Friday, August 20, 2004
Thursday, August 19, 2004
Environment - Major settlement to be announced tomorrow
The Munster Times reports today, in a story headlined "Industries to pay millions to clean Grand Cal: EPA settlement to be announced Friday," that the governor will announce Friday:a multimillion dollar settlement Friday by several area industries to clean up...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Thursday, August 19, 2004
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
Environment - Stories Today
Power Plants. This story today in the Louisville Courier-Journal reports:New controls on coal-fired power plants, including some operated by LG&E Energy, are dramatically reducing a pollutant that causes smog. The reductions in nitrogen oxides by more than 90 percent on...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Wednesday, August 18, 2004
Monday, August 16, 2004
Environment - Lack of Superfund Money Threatens Cleanups
The NY Times today, in a story titled "Polluted Sites Could Face Shortage of Cleanup Money," reports:With about six weeks left in the federal government's fiscal year, dozens of Superfund sites that are eligible for cleanup money are likely to...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Monday, August 16, 2004
Friday, August 13, 2004
Environment - Stories today
Wetlands. Yesterday I reported on a Washington Post story about an new report charging "The administration has allowed developers to drain thousands of acres of wetlands under a policy adopted last year". Today I have a link to the report;...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Friday, August 13, 2004
Thursday, August 12, 2004
Environment - Recent stories
Air pollution. The Evansville Courier&Press has an editorial today on the Mount Carmel (Illinois) / (Indiana) Gibson Generating Plant situation covered here in a number of earlier entries. Titled "The Issue: Mount Carmel case demonstrates flaw in sanctioning individual counties....Posted by Marcia Oddi on Thursday, August 12, 2004
Tuesday, August 10, 2004
Environment - Update on Michigan "mining the dunes" case
On Oct. 13, 2003 the Indiana Law Blog posted this entry about a citizens' suit in Michigan over a permit granted by the Michigan DEQ:Preserve the Dunes claimed that the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) improperly granted defendant Technisand...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Tuesday, August 10, 2004
Environment - Brochure warns about smells of country living
"Country living can awaken one's sense of smell" is the headline of this story from the Toledo Blade. Some quotes:WAUSEON - A new brochure about Fulton County will carry a warning about country living: It stinks. In other words, fresh...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Tuesday, August 10, 2004
Monday, August 09, 2004
Environment - Focus on coal
The New York Times is running a major front-page story on coal today. It fills the entire jump page. The headline: "Friends in the White House Come to Coal's Aid." Some quotes:In 1997, as a top executive of a Utah...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Monday, August 09, 2004
Environment - Recent stories
Stormwater. "Stormwater rules, costs stumping town officials: Towns scrambling to meet November deadline." is the headline of this story today in the Munster Times. Some quotes:Like neighboring Munster and Griffith, Highland is considering charging user fees to help clean up...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Monday, August 09, 2004
Thursday, August 05, 2004
Environment - Stories today
Odor. Two stories today (use search box at right to find earlier stories) about the odor problem in New Castle. The AP reports:NEW CASTLE, IND. -- Officials have taken air samples in Henry County to try to find the source...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Thursday, August 05, 2004
Monday, August 02, 2004
Environment - Stories today
Confined feeding. The Cleveland Plain Dealer had a very long story Sunday headlined: "Big farms, big problems? Manure from large-scale dairies creates environmental issues." Access it here. Some quotes:Many of northwest Ohio's mega-dairies play roles in the potential threat to...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Monday, August 02, 2004
Saturday, July 31, 2004
Environment - Wetlands: Rapanos litigation continues
In U.S. v. Rapanos (7/26/04), a panel of the 6th Circuit last week affirmed the district court's findings and conclusions that:Rapanos had filled 22 of 28 acres of protected wetlands at the Salzburg site, 17 of 64 acres of protected...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Saturday, July 31, 2004
Friday, July 30, 2004
Environment - Stories today
Mercury. This story in the Indianapolis Star today is headlined: "Group demands action on pollution: State board, petitioned nearly 2 months ago, has delayed a hearing on mercury regulations." Some quotes:The Hoosier Environmental Council has asked the state Air Pollution...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Friday, July 30, 2004
Thursday, July 29, 2004
Environment - IDEM Copying Charges
Remember the entry Monday quoting from a story about IDEM charging $1.00 per page for copies? I checked with IDEM this morning to see if that report was correct. Amy Hartsock, Public Information Officer, responded promptly:No, it's $.10 per page...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Thursday, July 29, 2004
Wednesday, July 28, 2004
Environment - Two stories today
Wetlands. An interesting story today about Ritchey Woods, the newly obtained nature preserve given to the town of Fishers by The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. The story reports that a developer's proposal "to disturb the natural area" is already in...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Wednesday, July 28, 2004
Tuesday, July 27, 2004
Environment - Environmental Stories Today
Lake Michigan Shoreline. The Gary Post Tribune reports today, in a story headlined: "Purchase of steel mill lakefront land first step in shoreline rehab":PORTAGE — The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore announced an ambitious timetable Monday for cleaning up and opening...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Tuesday, July 27, 2004
Monday, July 26, 2004
Environment - Stories Today
Gibson Station. Here is a Princeton Daily Clarion story on the problems with the Cinergy plant, that we last noted Friday in this entry (third item). New Castle odor. "New Castle citizens organize to raise stink about odor" is the...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Monday, July 26, 2004
Friday, July 23, 2004
Environment - Environmental Stories Today
State Attorneys General. This interesting story from the Christian Science Monitor, headlined "New environmental cops: state attorneys general," begins:NEW YORK - State attorneys general are known best for throwing mobsters in jail and trying to protect consumers from things like...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Friday, July 23, 2004
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
Environment - News today
Andy Knott. The Evansville Courier&Press reports in a story today:Andy Knott, a voice for the environment and opponent to a direct-route Interstate 69 in Indiana for more than 12 years, has left the Hoosier Environmental Council for a job in...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Wednesday, July 21, 2004
Monday, July 19, 2004
Environment - Indianapolis switch from septics to sewers
Yesterday's (Sunday's) Indianapolis Star had a neighborhood opinion piece on the "Burdensome switch from septic to sewer." Some quotes:Indianapolis is the only major city in the United States that is replacing private septic systems with municipal sanitary sewers and requiring...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Monday, July 19, 2004
Sunday, July 18, 2004
Environment - EPA "significantly overstated the environmental achievements" re Chesapeake Bay cleanup
"Bay Pollution Progress Overstated: Government Program's Computer Model Proved Too Optimistic" is the headline to this page one story today in the Washington Post. Some quotes:At news conferences, on its Web site and in its regular publications, the government agency...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Sunday, July 18, 2004
Saturday, July 17, 2004
Environment - More on the Great Lakes Suit
Yesterday the Indiana Law Blog quoted from a story reporting that "Seven Great Lakes states launched a two-pronged, legal effort this week to stop invasive mussels, fish and other organisms from being dumped into U.S. waters by oceangoing ships" (scroll...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Saturday, July 17, 2004
Friday, July 16, 2004
Environment - Stories Today
Wetlands. "Miffed wetlands owner halts talks" is the headline to this story posted on the IndyStar site this afternoon. The lead:The owner of a large wetland area in southwestern Indiana said he was "disgusted" with a multi-million dollar offer from...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Friday, July 16, 2004
Thursday, July 15, 2004
Environment - Stories Today
Landfill. "Trash hits the road: With landfill closing, costs likely to increase for residents," is the headline to this story today in the Munster Times that begins:The closing of Munster's landfill might mark the end of local resident frustration, but...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Thursday, July 15, 2004
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
Environment - Illegal dumping in the news today
First, there is this incredible story in the Chicago Tribune about illegal dumps in Harvey Illinois, that begins:By nature, the city of Harvey is flat as a pancake, but in the last four years parts of town became suspiciously hilly,...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Wednesday, July 14, 2004
Monday, July 12, 2004
Environment - Stories Today
"EPA cites Indiana power plant" reports this AP story, just posted on the Indianapolis Star site. Some quotes:CHICAGO -- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has cited four American Electric Power plants in EPA Region 5 -- three in Ohio and one...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Monday, July 12, 2004
Saturday, July 10, 2004
Environment - The other side of stormwater requirements
This story in the Linton Daily Citizen gives a glimpse of how rural communities may perceive state-mandated environmental requirements:[District 45 State Rep. Alan Chowning (D-Sullivan)] who's seeking re-election in November to a second term against former Republican Jasonville mayor Bruce...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Saturday, July 10, 2004
Environment - W Va. federal judge rejects nationwide permit for mountaintop mining
"Federal Judge Rejects Process for Approval of Mining" is the headline of this story today in the NY Times. Some quotes:A federal district judge in West Virginia struck down on Thursday an Army Corps of Engineers procedure that gives a...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Saturday, July 10, 2004
Thursday, July 08, 2004
Environment - Stories today
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....Posted by Marcia Oddi on Thursday, July 08, 2004
Wednesday, July 07, 2004
Environment - More on Hog Farns
Following on our July 5th entry, which included stories about hog farms in Iowa and Nebraska, is this story today in the NY Times about "Dr. [C.M.] Williams, the director of the [North Carolina State University's] animal and poultry waste...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Wednesday, July 07, 2004
Tuesday, July 06, 2004
Environment - More stories today
Lead Paint. Real Estate News reports here today that "Federal Government Settles Cases Against Minnesota Landlords." Some quotes:RISMEDIA, July 6-Federal authorities have achieved a victory in removing lead-based paint in apartments in four states. The Department of Housing and Urban...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Tuesday, July 06, 2004
Environment - Stories today
Clean Air Act. The Indianapolis Star reports today that "Pollution probe of asphalt industry widens to Indiana." The lead:COLUMBUS, OHIO -- A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency pollution investigation of asphalt companies, which mix crude oil and gravel to make road-building...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Tuesday, July 06, 2004
Monday, July 05, 2004
Environment - Stories Today
Danger of Goldfish. An interesting story in the Gary Post-Tribune today reports on how goldfish can damage a lake's fish population. (Unfortunately Trib links work only on the day of publication; they do not archive their stories.) Some quotes:Being an...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Monday, July 05, 2004
Sunday, July 04, 2004
Environment - Chicago's Top Ten List of "Worst Smells"
Even though it is a Chicago list, Indiana Steel Mills made #10:As executive director of the Lake County (Ind.) Solid Waste Management District, Jeff Langbehn knows his odors. But solid waste isn't the worst, he said; it's the steel mills....Posted by Marcia Oddi on Sunday, July 04, 2004
Indiana Law - DNA used to nab tree poacher
"DNA test catches tree poachers" is the headline to this AP story on the Indianapolis Star website this afternoon. Some quotes:In an unusual feat of laboratory sleuthing, Purdue University scientists solved the case of a stolen black walnut tree by...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Sunday, July 04, 2004
Environment - Stories Today
"Tiny particles can pose big risks: Air pollutants can have same effect as living with smoker," is the headline to this story today in the Indianapolis Star. See also the July 1 Indiana Law Blog entry on fine particle (PM...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Sunday, July 04, 2004
Friday, July 02, 2004
Environment - Recent Stories
Wetlands. "Chicago may swap wetlands" was the headline to a story Tuesday in the Chicago Tribune about how "The planned expansion of O'Hare International Airport could lead to the restoration of hundreds of acres of suburban wetlands along the Des...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Friday, July 02, 2004
Thursday, July 01, 2004
Environment - Fine Particle (PM 2.5) Designations; Other Air Stories
This from Barnes & Thornburg re the recent US EPA PM 2.5 designations:On June 29, 2004, EPA announced its proposed list of area attainment designations under the PM 2.5 (particulate matter of 2.5 microns or smaller) national ambient air quality...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Thursday, July 01, 2004
Tuesday, June 29, 2004
Environment - Stories today
Martinsville Cleanup. "Workers begin toxic cleanup in Martinsville: Environmental company's project to decontaminate soil, water polluted by dry-cleaning solvent could take 3 to 5 years" is the headline to this story today in the Indianapolis Star. Some quotes:MARTINSVILLE, Ind. --...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Tuesday, June 29, 2004
Monday, June 28, 2004
Environment - Stories Today
Wetlands. "Owner seeks development at old tannery: Potential seen in New Albany wetland" is the headline to this story today in the Louisville Courier Journal. Office of Environmental Adjudication Summer Hours. The OEA has issued this notice:The State Personnel Department...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Monday, June 28, 2004
Sunday, June 27, 2004
Environment - Sunday Indianapolis Star editoralizes
"State's environmental record should be an issue in governor's race, but it's not," is today's lead editorial in the Sunday Indianapolis Star. This piece is the 4th of five the Star has planned on "issues crucial to this year's race...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Sunday, June 27, 2004
Friday, June 25, 2004
Environment - Environmental Stories Today
"Keramida Environmental acquires Heritage unit" is the headline to this story today on the Indianapolis Star website: "Keramida Environmental has acquired the environmental engineering and consulting unit of Heritage Environmental Services. The sale was announced Thursday. The companies said seven...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Friday, June 25, 2004
Thursday, June 24, 2004
Environment - Stories today
Waste water. The Terre Haute Tribune Star is reporting here:Starting Jan. 1, 2005, Terre Haute will resume management of the city's wastewater treatment plant. Mayor Kevin Burke said he informed American Water, the company that manages the plant, that its...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Thursday, June 24, 2004
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
Environment - Stories Today
Clean Air Act. "Hammond firm faces pollution violations" reports the Gary Post Tribune today in this story about Jupiter Aluminum Corp. "The EPA said Jupiter violated some Clean Air Act rules for secondary aluminum production. The rules had to do...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Wednesday, June 23, 2004
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
Environment - Stories Today
Groundwater contamination. "Dangerous neglect of water pollutants," is the headline to this editorial today in the Indianapolis Star. Some quotes:Our position is: Health and environmental officials need to take groundwater contamination more seriously. Contamination of an aquifer in Martinsville with...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Tuesday, June 22, 2004
Monday, June 21, 2004
Environment - 2004 Indiana Environmental Statutes
EIS is going ahead with the publication of the 2004 Indiana Environmental Statutes, having received enough pre-orders to meet the printers' requirement. As a result, we are able to accept additional orders through July 4th. Please use this form to...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Monday, June 21, 2004
Sunday, June 20, 2004
Environment - Rose Acre Farms proposes egg farm in North Carolina
The Washington Daily News has an interesting story today about Indiana-based Rose Acre Farms' plans to built a four-million-bird egg-laying operation in North Carolina. The headline to the story is: "Rose Acre watching, waiting." Some quotes:A proposal to construct a...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Sunday, June 20, 2004
Environment - Infrastructure problems perhaps doomed 13th century Angkor
"Ecology, Infrastructure Could Have Led to Angkor's Demise: Researchers think reservoirs and canals silted up as the city's population grew, with failures causing flooding and water shortages." That is the headline to this AP story in today's LA Times. It...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Sunday, June 20, 2004
Environment - Martinsville's water supply contaminated by drycleaning solvents
The lead story on the front page of the Sunday Indianapolis Star has this headline: "Toxin to cost Martinsville millions: Solvent taints aquifer in once-renowned spa town." It begins:MARTINSVILLE, Ind. -- The vintage neon sign atop a historic downtown building...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Sunday, June 20, 2004
Friday, June 18, 2004
Environment - A Second Wetlands Replacement Story Today
This story today in the Washington Post reports that "A wetland restored to its Civil War-era condition was on public display yesterday at the Manassas Battlefield as National Park Service officials formally thanked the agency responsible for creating an authentic...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Friday, June 18, 2004
Environment - Probable Wetlands Violation in NW Indiana Reported
The Gary Post-Tribune reports today: CROWN POINT — Months after developer Robert Stiglich was fined for damaging wetlands near his Stillwater subdivision, state and federal officials are investigating whether a similar infraction has occurred at the same development. The state...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Friday, June 18, 2004
Thursday, June 17, 2004
Environment - Several Indiana stories today
Brownfields. Another story today about the grants Indiana communities will receive from US EPA for brownfields cleanup, this one in the South Bend Tribune. Some quotes:SOUTH BEND -- The city has received $650,000 in grants from the Environmental Protection Agency...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Thursday, June 17, 2004
Environment; Economic Development - Coal Market Up
A lengthly story in the June 16th NY Times is headlined "Coal Market Zooms In on Mines in Colorado," reports on the coal mining boom in Colorado and the nationwide picture. Some quotes:Colorado, once a backwater of coal production in...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Thursday, June 17, 2004
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
Law - Nebraska Court Awards Damages to Hog Farm Neighbors
This AP story, headlined "Nebraska appeals court says residents near hog farms deserve to be paid damages," reports:LINCOLN, Neb. – The owner of farms housing thousands of hogs must pay damages to 11 neighbors who said the stench forced them...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Wednesday, June 16, 2004
Environment; Economic Development - Several Indiana stories today
"Chamber, Farm Bureau oppose bill capping greenhouses gases" is the headline to a story in the Munster Times, that reports:INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana business and farm lobbyists joined forces Tuesday to oppose a federal bill designed to curb global warming by...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Wednesday, June 16, 2004
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,...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Tuesday, June 15, 2004
Environment - Plan to Reclaim Lake Michigan Shore Moves Forward
"Lakeshore plan starts to flow: Chicago firm to head Marquette Greenway Plan study team," is the report today in the Munster Times. More:The Marquette Greenway Plan, unveiled by U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky as a way to recapture 75 percent of...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Tuesday, June 15, 2004
Sunday, June 13, 2004
Environment - Ford waste disposal site still contaminated after coming off the Superfund list in 1994
The NY Region section of the NY Times today has this story of a site near Mahwah, New Jersey "where Ford dumped thousands of cubic yards of chemical wastes" years ago:The prolonged Ringwood cleanup is the classic example of how...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Sunday, June 13, 2004
Thursday, June 10, 2004
Environment - Ronald Reagan's Environmental Legacy
NPR is advertising this feature on this afternoon's All Things Considered:Ronald Reagan once said, "a tree is a tree, how many more do you have to look at?" -- enraging environmentalists. But the former president also said, "We must and...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Thursday, June 10, 2004
Environment - Sage grouse endangered in west
The LA Times headline is "Bird's Fate Tied to Future of Drilling: Sage grouse are dying off in the prairies. But the fight to keep the bird off an EPA watch list centers on methane deposits in that region." The...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Thursday, June 10, 2004
Environment - A number of stories today
The Louisville Courier-Journal has a major story based on a review of "risk-management plans filed by the companies with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency." More:An unchecked release of toxic chemicals from any one of dozens of plants in the Louisville...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Thursday, June 10, 2004
Tuesday, June 08, 2004
Environment - NW indiana residents, Lake Station, and Gary Sanitary District appeal Hobart sewage plant permit issuance
As reported today in the Munster Times:The Indiana Department of Environmental Management approved the issuance of a discharge permit April 1. The mandatory permit allows the plant, which is expected to cost up to $29 million, to discharge as much...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Tuesday, June 08, 2004
Monday, June 07, 2004
Environment - Arizona's Navajo and Hopi Tribes Battle for Water
The LA Times Sunday magazine yesterday featured a long and very compelling story with this headline: "Gathering Clouds - Arizona's Navajo and Hopi Tribes Have Won a Water-Rights Battle Against the Coal Company That Has Sustained Their Fragile Economies. But...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Monday, June 07, 2004
Friday, June 04, 2004
Environment - 6th Circuit upholds EPA redesignation of Cleveland
The 6th Circuit yesterday, in the case of Greenbaum v. US EPA, upheld the EPA’s redesignation of Cuyahoga County, Ohio from nonattainment to attainment for particulate matter, against a challenge that the EPA illegally waived statutory requirements when it redesignated...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Friday, June 04, 2004
Thursday, June 03, 2004
Environment - Emission standards for livestock producers
"E.P.A. Nears Pact on Waste by Processors of Livestock" is the headline to this story today in the NY Times. Some quotes:The Environmental Protection Agency is close to reaching an agreement with some of the nation's largest animal processors that...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Thursday, June 03, 2004
Tuesday, June 01, 2004
Environment - Is there a better way for locating landfills in Indiana?
That is the question asked in an editorial today in the Munster Times. The lead:In Indiana, landfills go through a lengthy review process. Typically, the sites are not determined by the county Board of Zoning Appeals or the Indiana Department...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Tuesday, June 01, 2004
Saturday, May 29, 2004
Environment - An economic perspective of environmental law and policy
Available online as a pdf download is the 95-page chapter titled "Environmental Law and Policy" from the forthcoming Handbook of Law and Economics, edited by A. Mitchell Polinsky and Steven Shavell, and to be published by North-Holland/Elsevier Science. Access the...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Saturday, May 29, 2004
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
Environment - Indiana-related stories today
Landfills. "Judge upholds rejection of local landfill: Attorney for county board of zoning appeals says ruling supports local control." Some quotes from this story in the Munster Times:VALPARAISO -- Porter Superior Judge Bill Alexa has upheld a decision by the...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Wednesday, May 26, 2004
Economic Development - Shipping iron ore to China
NPR had a promo this morning for a story to be broadcast this afternoon about China's booming economy and how Minnesota is shipping iron ore to China. Of course, this ties together our recent entry titled "China moves rapidly forward,...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Wednesday, May 26, 2004
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
Environment - A number of stories today
I've read a number of interesting enviromental stories today, some of national import, and some of state or local interest. Asbestos. This story, titled "Cheaper Way to Raze Dilapidated Motel Prompts Concern," is from the NY Times. Some quotes:WASHINGTON, May...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Tuesday, May 25, 2004
Friday, May 21, 2004
Environment - EPA Relied on Industry for Plywood Plant Pollution Rule
"EPA Relied on Industry for Plywood Plant Pollution Rule" is the headline to a very long story today in the LA Times. Some quotes:Pushing aside new scientific studies of possible health risks, the Environmental Protection Agency approved an air pollution...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Friday, May 21, 2004
Environment - Citizens Gas & Coke Title 5 air permit up for review; public comment period extended
This IDEM press release announced a public hearing for Monday, May 17th. Note that the link to IDEM air permits given in the press release is wrong; here is the correct link. I had difficulty finding the correct permit even...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Friday, May 21, 2004
Thursday, May 20, 2004
Environment - Slater Steel Agreement Documents
"Cap proposed to Fort Wayne Steel Mill's Environmental Costs" was the title to an Indiana Law Blog entry posted Feb. 2, 2004; a follow-up entry posted Feb. 14, 2004 was titled "More on Fort Wayne's Slater Steel Site." Thanks to...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Thursday, May 20, 2004
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Environment - Three interesting Indiana -related stories today
"State still seeking money to buy Greene County wetland," is the headline to this AP story today. Some quotes:LINTON, IND. -- The Indiana Department of Natural Resources continues to seek money to buy a southern Indiana marshland nearly four months...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Tuesday, May 18, 2004
Environment - More on Chicago's successful plan to import downstate mud
In April the Indiana Law Blog posted this entry titled "Inspired solution helps both Chicago and East Peoria," based on a NY Times story. Today the Munster Times has its own report, headlined "Pay dirt on a slag field: River...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Tuesday, May 18, 2004
Environment - Did EPA Rule on Hazardous Waste Favor Ohio Businessman Who Is a Big GOP Donor?
"Fundraiser Denies Link Between Money, Access ," is the title of this very long story yesterday in the Washington Post. A sample:The Clinton proposal would have required that woven shop towels contaminated with chemical solvents be wrung dry for them...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Tuesday, May 18, 2004
Environment - Wetlands violator faces prison
As reported here in the Indiana Law Blog, on April 5, 2004 the U.S. Supreme Court denied three wetlands appeals, including Rapanos v. United States. As Linda Greenhouse of the NY Times reported the following day:Without comment, the court turned...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Tuesday, May 18, 2004
Monday, May 17, 2004
Environment - Indiana Ahead of Illinois in Obtaining Shoreland Grants
This story in the Chicago Tribune today, headlined "Illinois missing out on grants: State shuns U.S. shoreline funds," reports:Illinois is passing up millions of dollars in federal grants that other states tap to preserve beaches, protect wetlands and provide more...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Monday, May 17, 2004
Saturday, May 15, 2004
Environment - Poisonous atmosphere in Greene County Courthouse
WTHI, ActionNews10, Terre Haute, is reporting today that:An attempt to get the lead out of a southern Indiana courthouse winds up closing down some offices. Parts of the Greene County Courthouse shut down over worries about lead contamination. The $10,000,000...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Saturday, May 15, 2004
Friday, May 14, 2004
Environment - Coal ash editorial; open burning issues
Coal ash. "Clearer rules needed on coal ash dumping," is the lead editorial today in the Indianapolis Star. Open burning. "State may monitor ammo plant fires: Recent spike in lead levels within air quality standards," is the headline to this...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Friday, May 14, 2004
Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Environment - Two (now three) interesting Indiana stories
Here are two interesting Indiana environment stories I didn't have a chance to post yesterday. Open burning. From the Linton Daily Citizen is a story about state solid waste districts banding together to fight backyard burning. Some quotes:A new statewide...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Saturday, May 08, 2004
Environment - An Indiana Department of Agriculture?
This editorial today in the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette argues against the recent Indiana Farm Bureau proposal to create a state department of agriculture. Some quotes from the editorial:State government could take many steps to improve its performance. But a...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Saturday, May 08, 2004
Wednesday, May 05, 2004
Environment - Reclaiming Indiana's Lake Michigan Shore
"Shoreline reclamation project advances - LAKE/PORTER COUNTIES: State, local officials pledge money as blueprints are prepared for 2005," is the headline today to this story in the NWI Times. Some quotes:GARY -- Visionaries for a plan to recapture the Indiana...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Wednesday, May 05, 2004
Tuesday, May 04, 2004
Environment - Clean air actions
As reported here in the NY Times today, the Supreme Court yesterday:refused to hear an appeal by the federal government that would have applied New Source Review, a controversial section of the Clean Air Act governing aging coal-burning plants, to...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Tuesday, May 04, 2004
Sunday, May 02, 2004
Environment - More (kind of) on the 500 barrels of hazardous waste story
Yesterday, May 1, the Gary Post Tribune published an update to the "500 barrels of hazardous waste buried near Lowell" story. Unfortunately, as noted here before, the Tribune does not archive their stories, so if you don't access it the...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Sunday, May 02, 2004
Friday, April 30, 2004
Environment - Update to 500 barrels of waste story
Updating yesterday's entry - "500 barrels of hazardous waste found" - is this story today in the Munster Times headed "State vows water testing at dump site near Lowell." Some quotes:In the wake of news of about hazardous chemicals being...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Friday, April 30, 2004
Thursday, April 29, 2004
Environment - Two items in today's Indiana papers
Coal Ash. The Evansville Courier-Press has a lengthy editorial today on coal ash that covers the history of the issue as it pertains to disposal on mine property. It begins:Since 1988, and probably much longer ago than that, Indiana environmentalists,...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Thursday, April 29, 2004
Tuesday, April 27, 2004
Environment - Falcon chicks hatch
As this story reports this morning in the Indianapolis Star:Under the gaze of thousands of Internet watchers, the peregrine falcon chicks in Indianapolis' Downtown nest have hatched. Visible on Falcon Cam at indystar.com, the tiny chicks are mere balls of...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Tuesday, April 27, 2004
Sunday, April 25, 2004
Environment - Disposal of coal ash in strip mines questioned
"EPA will review coal ash disposal: Southwest Indiana residents ask agency to rule on putting waste back into mines," is the headline to this front-page story this morning in the Indianapolis Star. The lead:Trucks rolling through the hills of southwest...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Sunday, April 25, 2004
Friday, April 23, 2004
Environment - Inspired solution helps both Chicago and East Peoria
This "don't miss" story from yesterday's NY Times begins:CHICAGO, April 21 — Chicago needed mud, and East Peoria, Ill., needed to get rid of it. If the elegant (albeit muddy) solution seems obvious now, remember: these cities are 165 miles...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Friday, April 23, 2004
Thursday, April 22, 2004
Environment - Town of Pines (Indiana) groundwater contamination the subject of national report
"Report uses Pines as example of waste problem: Environmental group says federal enforcement needed to ensure safe disposal," is the headline to this story today in the NWI Times. Some quotes:THE PINES -- Two decades of unsafe disposal of coal...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Thursday, April 22, 2004
Monday, April 19, 2004
Environment - Birders Mourn Webcam Falcon
"Birders Mourn Webcam Falcon," is the headline to an AP story today that begins:ST. PAUL, Minnesota -- Birders around the world are mourning the death of Mae, the first known peregrine falcon to nest at a power plant, who became...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Monday, April 19, 2004
Sunday, April 18, 2004
Environment - Indianapolis Star editorial: degrading the environment costs money and jobs
This lead editorial in the Sunday Indianapolis Star, titled "Indiana can't afford high costs of lax policies on pollution," includes the following:Failure to act will cost jobs and money. Historically, the mantra of Indiana government officials, business and industrial leaders...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Sunday, April 18, 2004
Friday, April 16, 2004
Environment - EPA releases Indiana's final designations under the federal 8-hour ozone standard
For an overview of national impact, see U.S. EPA's page on the April 15th 8-hour ozone designations. Here is the letter U.S. EPA sent yesterday to Governor Kernan, along with the boundary designations. IDEM's website includes Facts Sheets on EPA's...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Friday, April 16, 2004
Wednesday, April 14, 2004
Environment - Editorial on Mercury Contamination of Indiana's Waterways
The Lafayette Journal & Courier today carries a "Guest Column" with a number of statements about mercury contamination of Indiana waterways:Indiana has at least 14 rivers at level five with fish so contaminated they are unsafe for anyone to eat....Posted by Marcia Oddi on Wednesday, April 14, 2004
Environment - New report reviews records of electric power companies
This story today in the NY Times highlights a new report:sponsored by the Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies, which includes environmental, investor and business groups; the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental group; and the Public Service Enterprise Group, the...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Wednesday, April 14, 2004
Tuesday, April 13, 2004
Environment - Should the State site local Indiana landfills?
Should the State site local Indiana landfills? That is the recommendation today from this editorial in the Munster NWI Times. Some quotes:By the end of April, Porter Superior Court Judge Bill Alexa plans to issue a ruling on the proposed...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Tuesday, April 13, 2004
Monday, April 12, 2004
Environment - Manure odor calculator
Seriously! This goes along with the numerous postings we've done on confined feeding issues in Indiana. The University of Minnesota has a website on Manure and Odor with a lot of useful information. What really caught my interest is a...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Monday, April 12, 2004
Friday, April 09, 2004
Environment - U.S. EPA name from the past in the news
An AP Story dtaed 4/8/04 reports:LOS ANGELES (AP) - The former head of the federal Superfund environmental cleanup program was indicted on charges she concocted an elaborate scheme to defraud a client who had hired her consulting firm to clean...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Friday, April 09, 2004
Tuesday, April 06, 2004
Environment - Bharat Mathur Named as Acting Regional Administrator for U.S. EPA Region 5
This today from USNewsWire.com:CHICAGO, April 6 /U.S. Newswire/ -- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 today named Bharat Mathur as acting regional administrator following the departure of Regional Administrator Thomas V. Skinner who was recently appointed acting assistant administrator for...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Tuesday, April 06, 2004
Monday, April 05, 2004
Law - U.S. Supreme Court denies 3 wetlands appeals
The United States Supreme Court denied certiorari today in three wetlands cases: NewDunn Associates v. United States Corps of Engineers, 03-637; Deaton v. United States, 03-701; and Rapanos v. United States, 03-929. According to a brief AP story, Deaton "involved...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Monday, April 05, 2004
Sunday, April 04, 2004
Environment - Indiana cities sue over MTBE, a gas additive
This lengthy story in today's Louisville Courier-Journal reports:Five local governments in Indiana are among dozens of communities across the country suing the gasoline industry over pollution believed to be caused by the additive commonly known as MTBE. In all, at...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Sunday, April 04, 2004
Environment - NYT Magazine has major Clean Air Act article today
A "don't miss" (no matter what your position) article today in the Sunday NY Times Magazine on the Bush administration and the Clean Air Act, titled "Changing all the Rules." The magazine cover features a smokestack with the caption "Up...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Sunday, April 04, 2004
Saturday, April 03, 2004
Environment/Economic Development - More on coal
Our entry titled "Environment/Economic Development - Alternatives to oil or gas-fired power plants," posted here March 30 mentioned a Wall Street Journal front-page story, the gist of which was that coal is making an unexpected comeback. The headline: "After Long...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Saturday, April 03, 2004
Friday, April 02, 2004
Environment - IU SPEA program ranked high
US News and World Report "ranked the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs [SPEA] number three among the nation's public-affairs graduate programs, behind only Syracuse and Harvard," according to a WISHTV8 report. This report on the Indianapolis Star...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Friday, April 02, 2004
Thursday, April 01, 2004
Environment/Economic Development - Alternatives to oil or gas-fired power plants
The Chicago Tribune today has this story titled "Nuclear power's future examined: Energy firms study new plants." The lead:A consortium of energy companies, including Chicago-based Exelon Corp., is laying the groundwork for building the nation's first nuclear power plant since...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Thursday, April 01, 2004
Wednesday, March 31, 2004
Environment - US EPA Bad Marks Hit Home
Updating our entry from earlier today, titled "Environment - US EPA gets bad marks in two reports," (scroll down to read it) is this story today in the Gary Post-Tribune [note that the Post-Tribune does not archive its stories]. Some...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Wednesday, March 31, 2004
Environment - US EPA gets bad marks in two reports
"EPA Faulted on Clean-Water Violations: Consumer Interest Group's Study Details Lax Enforcement at Major Facilities" is the headline to this story today in the Washington Post. Some quotes:The Environmental Protection Agency is failing to act against widespread violations of the...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Wednesday, March 31, 2004
Tuesday, March 30, 2004
Environment - Indiana Wetlands Reserve Program participation
"Farmers support wetlands program: Feds plan to lease flood-prone property in northwest Indiana, reclaim lost marshes." This is the headline to a brief AP story today in the Indianapolis Star. A quote:HEBRON, Ind. -- A year after the federal government...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Tuesday, March 30, 2004
Wednesday, March 24, 2004
Environment - Several Indiana stories today
Air Permits. From the Washington Indiana Times-Herald, this story on the public hearing for Grain Processing Corporation's (GPC's) Title 5 air quality permit application. Jefferson Proving Grounds cleanup. From the Madison Courier, this story headlined "EPA renews concerns about extent...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Wednesday, March 24, 2004
Environment - China's ineffective environmental controls lead to massive pollution damage
If you get the Wall St. Journal (not freely available online), check out this story today on page A18 headlined "Polluters in China Feel No Pain." Along with photos of raw sewage and streetcleaners wearing full-face masks, the story details...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Wednesday, March 24, 2004
Environment - Supreme Court rules on Everglades CWA case
As reported today here in the NY Times:Separately on Tuesday, the court ruled unanimously in a Clean Water Act case from the Florida Everglades that a pumping station that conveys pollution from one body of water to another remains subject...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Wednesday, March 24, 2004
Environment - More on the Iron Nugget Plant
Following up on the Indiana Law Blog entry from Monday, March 22, titled "Environment - Indiana's economic development advantage in the manufacturing area," is this story published yesterday in the Duluth NewsTribune. The headlines: "[Minn. Gov.] Pawlenty will fight to...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Wednesday, March 24, 2004
Monday, March 22, 2004
Environment - Indiana's economic development advantage in the manufacturing area
Indiana may win out in a battle over where to locate a new manufacturing plant -- in Minnesota, where the raw materials are, or in Indiana, where the environmental requirements are less stringent. What is the product to be manufactured?...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Monday, March 22, 2004
Saturday, March 20, 2004
Environment - North Carolina AG Pressures EPA on Out-of-State Air Pollution
An AP story yesterday published in the Indianapolis Star reported:CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Attorney General Roy Cooper asked the federal Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday to force power plants in Indiana and 12 other states to cut down on air pollution...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Saturday, March 20, 2004
Thursday, March 18, 2004
Environment - DNR Blocks Development in Hamilton County Floodway
This story posted this afternoon on the IndyStar.com website begins:A plan to fill 15 acres of White River floodway for commercial development and build a 10-acre diversion channel as a substitute is now dead in the water. State officials said...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Thursday, March 18, 2004
Wednesday, March 17, 2004
Environment - Regular Taxpayers will pay for Most Superfund Cleanups This Year
"Since Congress allowed Superfund's polluter pays fees to expire in 1995 and the trust fund is now essentially bankrupt, regular taxpayers, who paid 18 percent of program costs in 1996, will pay for virtually all cleanups at abandoned sites this...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Wednesday, March 17, 2004
Tuesday, March 16, 2004
Environment - Mercury Emissions; Coal-Fired Power Plants; Varying Views
This lengthy story in the LA Times today is headed: "Mercury Emissions Rule Geared to Benefit Industry, Staffers Say: Buffeted by complaints, EPA Administrator Michael Leavitt calls for additional analysis." Some quotes:WASHINGTON — Political appointees in the Environmental Protection Agency...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Tuesday, March 16, 2004
Environment - D.C. Drinking Water Lead Contamination
The Washington Post has been running stories for several weeks now about the lead contamination of the District's drinking water. Access the Special Reports page here. Today's paper has a story with this lead:Federal authorities responsible for ensuring the safety...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Tuesday, March 16, 2004
Thursday, March 11, 2004
Environment - Indiana Landfills in the News Today
Two interesting stories today on Indiana landfills. This story, from the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, reports on the former I.J. Recycling site, which cost over $10 million and 17 years to clean up. The cleaned-up property has now been appraised...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Thursday, March 11, 2004
Wednesday, March 10, 2004
Environment - Buried Tanker Car Issue Resurfaces
Remember the "railroad tanker car full of hazardous waste" buried near Gary, reported here in the Indiana Law Blog last October? Per the Indianapolis Star story at the time (no longer available): "The owner of a recycling business buried a...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Wednesday, March 10, 2004
Environment - Follow-ups to some recent Indiana stories
It looks like Evansville is finding out being posted as a Supersite site is not necessarily "a good thing," according to this story today in the Evansville Courier & Press. Recall that yesterday (scroll down) city officials hailed the designation....Posted by Marcia Oddi on Wednesday, March 10, 2004
Tuesday, March 09, 2004
Environment - Evansville site nominated to Superfund list
"The U.S. EPA has proposed adding 45 blocks of the Jacobsville neighborhood to its Superfund National Priorities List of hazardous waste sites." This according to a story today in the Evansville Courier & Press. More:About 500 people live in the...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Tuesday, March 09, 2004
Monday, March 08, 2004
Environment - More on confined feeding
"Farm Bureau defends CAFOs" is the headline to this story today in the Muncie Star Press, reporting that the "Indiana Farm Bureau defended concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) during a recent seminar broadcast to local government officials throughout the state....Posted by Marcia Oddi on Monday, March 08, 2004
Sunday, March 07, 2004
Environment - Behind-the-scenes look at Admiistration's Development of Energy Policy
This fascinating "back-story," -- "How Industry Won the Battle of Pollution Control at E.P.A." -- was published on the front page of Saturday's NY Times and continues on to fill an entire inside page ("print" version here). Be sure to...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Sunday, March 07, 2004
Saturday, March 06, 2004
Environment - Interesting stories today in the Indianapolis Star; also a review so far of environmental legislation from this session
An editorial today in the Indianapolis Star points to "the positive results of [the White River] fish kill disaster." The editorial concludes:The biggest danger facing the river -- and the major water supply for Indianapolis -- is development along the...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Saturday, March 06, 2004
Friday, March 05, 2004
Law - More on DC Circuit's CERCLA ruling this week
Papers today are reporting the important CERCLA ruling (General Electric v. EPA) reported here (or simply scroll down) in the Indiana Law Blog on Tuesday afternoon. As reported here today in the Albany NY Times Union, in a story headlined...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Friday, March 05, 2004
Thursday, March 04, 2004
Environment - Four Indiana utilities agree to clean up manufactured gas plant sites
Under voluntary cleanup agreements with IDEM, four Indiana utilities -- PSI Energy, Inc. (Cinergy/PSI), Indiana Gas and Electric Company and Southern Indiana Gas and Electric Company (Vectren), Kokomo Gas and Fuel Company and Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) --...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Thursday, March 04, 2004
Wednesday, March 03, 2004
Environment - Louisville reporter wins National Press Foundation award
"C-J reporter wins award for air-pollution series" is the headline of this story today in the Louisville Courier Journal. Some quotes:James Bruggers, The Courier-Journal's environmental reporter, has won the National Press Foundation's 2003 Thomas L. Stokes Award for his series...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Wednesday, March 03, 2004
Tuesday, March 02, 2004
Environment - Confined Feeding Continues to be an Issue in Municie Paper
More confined feeding stories today in the Muncie Star Press: "Two of six local counties regulate CAFOs," may be found here; "Dairy odor drives neighbors indoors" is here. The Washington Times-Herald has an AP story, also about a Henry County...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Tuesday, March 02, 2004
Law - DC Circuit Issues Important CERCLA Ruling Today
General Electric v. EPA, decided March 2, 2004. Laurence H. Tribe argued the cause for appellant. With him on the briefs were Benjamin W. Heineman, Jr., Brackett B. Denniston III, Stephen D. Ramsey, Carter G. Phillips, Angus Macbeth, Thomas G....Posted by Marcia Oddi on Tuesday, March 02, 2004
Monday, March 01, 2004
Environment - Several stories on confined feeding; IDEM Responds to STAR Stories on SW Indianapolis Air Quality
The Muncie Star Press has carried a number of stories on confined feeding in recent days, including this one headlined "Full lagoons a 'common' occurrence," this one titled "Dutch dairyman denies allegation he menaced IDEM inspector," and this one: "Michigan:...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Monday, March 01, 2004
Saturday, February 28, 2004
Environment - Consultant to the oil industry predicts demand for oil will fall
A long and fascinating feature was published on the front page of the NY Times business section today about Amory B. Lovins, the man who, according to the Times:first gained notoriety in the mid-1970's for predicting that nuclear power was...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Saturday, February 28, 2004
Wednesday, February 25, 2004
Environment - Contentious Air Permit Hearing in NW Indiana
This story today (note - the paper does not archive its stories) in the Gary Post-Tribune begins:OGDEN DUNES — A state official charged with setting pollution limits for industrial smokestacks found himself trying to keep a meeting of people worried...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Wednesday, February 25, 2004
Environment - DC Circuit Rejects Incinerator Rules
According to this story today in the Washington Post:The U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington rejected federal rules governing incinerator emissions as inadequate yesterday, forcing the Environmental Protection Agency to rewrite the regulations. A troika of environmental groups had challenged...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Wednesday, February 25, 2004
Monday, February 23, 2004
Environment - Indianapolis Neighborhood at Risk Part II
Today's Indianapolis Star has the second, and apparently final, part of its "Special Report: Neighborhood at Risk," about the air problems of south-west Indianapolis. Access today's lead story, "Residents confronted with air of indifference: Officials have done little to assess...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Monday, February 23, 2004
Sunday, February 22, 2004
Environment - Indianapolis Neighborhood at Risk
The Indianapolis Star this Sunday has devoted an amazing amount of its news space to the start of a series titled "Special Report: Neighborhood at Risk," targeting the neighborhoods located in the "industrial hub" of Indianapolis - the southwest side....Posted by Marcia Oddi on Sunday, February 22, 2004
Saturday, February 21, 2004
Environment - Interesting "Circa WWII" CERCLA Opinion; Reports of Superfund Funding Concerns
Western Properties Service Corp. v. Shell Oil (2/13/04 USCA 9th Cir.) is a CERCLA contribution case where the appellants were found to have arranged, during the early years of World War II, for the disposal of wastes from aviation fuel...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Saturday, February 21, 2004
Tuesday, February 17, 2004
Environment - States concerned that EPA Rules on Emissions from Diesel-Fueled Trucks and Buses May be Delayed
This story in the Washington Post reports that state air pollution officials are worried that:the nation's trucking industry is trying to delay an Environmental Protection Agency rule that is supposed to clean up emissions from diesel-fuel engines used in trucks...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Tuesday, February 17, 2004
Sunday, February 15, 2004
Environment - Followup on Coal Ash; More on Mercury
The Gary Post-Tribune has a lengthly story today on the contamination of water wells in the Town of Pines, titled "Arsenic, boron, lead, manganese." (Unfortunately, the Tribune takes down its stories at the end of each day, so few of...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Sunday, February 15, 2004
Saturday, February 14, 2004
Environment - More on Fort Wayne's Slater Steel Site
This Feb. 2, 2004 ILB entry referenced a story in the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel on Slater Steel and the possibility of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management placing a $500,000 cap on the site's future cleanup costs. I ended the...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Saturday, February 14, 2004
Tuesday, February 10, 2004
Environment - Coal Ash
"More than 130 groups across the nation, including some from Indiana and Kentucky, petitioned the federal government yesterday to stop allowing waste ash from coal-fired power plants to be dumped where it can come into contact with drinking water supplies."...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Tuesday, February 10, 2004
Friday, February 06, 2004
Environment - More on Local Stormwater Boards
Last month the ILB posted a story on the impact of environmental compliance on a small municipality, about Decatur Indiana's (population 10,000) new the Department of Stormwater Management. Access it here (use your browser's back link to return - it...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Friday, February 06, 2004
Thursday, February 05, 2004
Environment - NW Indiana's Porter County, and More
The Munster NWI Times reported here yesterday that "Porter County's commissioners on Tuesday gave their support to the hiring of an Indianapolis firm to help prepare the county's case against the proposed landfill in Porter Township." More:According to Planner Robert...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Thursday, February 05, 2004
Monday, February 02, 2004
Environmental - Cap proposed to Fort Wayne Steel Mill's Environmental Costs
"Environmental issues are a hurdle any buyer must clear if production is to resume at the mill," is the headline to this lengthy story today in the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel. The story reports that the City:is going to bat to...Posted by Marcia Oddi on Monday, February 02, 2004