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Indiana’s recent efforts to revamp its clean water rules are welcome. But they apparently fall short of what environmental advocates want and what Hoosiers should demand.
In 2007, state regulators nearly ignited a civil war with Illinois by imprudently granting the BP refinery on Lake Michigan the go-ahead to increase the pollution it discharges dangerously close to where Chicago residents get their drinking water. After prolonged public outrage, plenty of bad press and an independent study from an Indiana University professor showing that state rules governing water pollution permits are flawed, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management decided to change the rules.
The proposed rules define under what circumstances a business can increase the pollution it discharges into Indiana lakes, rivers and streams.
IDEM is conducting a series of meetings about the proposed changes. But late notice about the meetings may keep people from attending. The first meeting was convened in Portage on Wednesday; the news release announcing the meetings did not appear on the department’s Web site until Tuesday.
The closest meeting for Fort Wayne residents will be on Tuesday in Garrett. A third meeting will be in Seymour. It’s unclear why these locations – away from major population centers – were chosen.
Environmentalists think the state’s revised rules fail to protect Indiana water and will lead to more pollution.
In a news release, Rae Schnapp, water policy director for the Hoosier Environmental Council, said: “Indiana has ignored this federal requirement for years, and is now proposing to implement a rule fraught with loopholes.
“Environmentalists have submitted comments, but many important suggestions have been ignored.”
Environmental advocacy groups, including the Hoosier Environmental Council, The Sierra Club’s Hoosier Chapter, and the Alliance for Great Lakes Water Quality, want a good turnout at the meetings because the meetings will give residents an opportunity to learn more about the proposed changes as well as the steps residents can take if they don’t like the state regulator’s proposal.
