Northwest Indiana Earth Day April 22, 2007

Thomas W. Easterly, P.E., DEE, QEP Commissioner

IN Department of Environmental Management

First Earth Day April 22, 1970

NO EPA—President Nixon announced the plan to create EPA on July 9, 1970 and EPA opened on December 2, 1970NO IDEM—IDEM was established 16 years later in 1986No Ambient Air Quality Standards—They were first established in 1971 with the intention that they be attained by 1975. Northwest Indiana did not meet those ambient air quality standards

Northwest Indiana Environmental Partnerships

Northwest Indiana is unique in Indiana and probably in the United States in the number and effectiveness of its partnerships to address environmental issues:Grand Calumet Task ForceNIRPC Environmental Management Policy

Committee Indiana Dunes Environmental Learning CenterSave the DunesShirley Heinz Fund

Northwest Indiana Environmental Partnerships Continued

Northwest Indiana Forum Environmental Committee

Steel and Refining Industry Community Advisory Committees

Quality of Life CouncilOthers

The work completed by these Partnerships have really improved the environment in Northwest Indiana

Indicators of Improved Northwest Indiana Environment

Visible return of animalsBeaversHeronsCoyotes

Clean up of numerous superfund sitesDredging of historical contamination from riversImproved Air QualityImproved Water Quality

Counties above AQ StandardsJanuary 10, 2005 Allen--Ozone Boone--Ozone Clark—PM & Ozone Dubois--PM Elkhart--Ozone Hamilton--Ozone Hancock--Ozone Madison--Ozone Marion—PM & Ozone Shelby--Ozone St. Joseph--Ozone

January 1, 2007 Clark--PM Marion--PM

Northwest Indiana Air Quality

Measured Air Quality in Lake, Porter and LaPorte Counties meets all current air quality standards (which are much stricter than the original 1971 standards)

IDEM is working to have EPA formally recognize that Northwest Indiana Air meets all standards—On April 18, EPA proposed to designate LaPorte County as attainment for all standards.

The cleanest measured Particulate air quality in Indiana is at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Combined Sewer OverflowsIn Indiana 107 communities were originally constructed with sewer systems which overflow when it rains resulting in water pollution which makes the water unsafe for swimming and often causes beach closingsSince January 10, 2005 49 of these communities have either solved the problem or agreed to an enforceable plan to solve this problem in a reasonable time frame

NWI Communities with Approved Sewer Overflow Plans

Crown Point

LaPorte

Lowell

Michigan City

Valparaiso

How can each of us help address remaining Environmental

Challenges?Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle

Reduce energy by:Walking or bicycling for short tripsUsing mass transitBuying energy star appliancesSwitching to compact fluorescent (or LED) lightingBuying higher gas mileage and alternative fuel

vehicles

How can each of us help address remaining Environmental Challenges? Continued

Use curbside recycling and recycling drop off containers for Paper, Metal, Glass, and PlasticContact you solid waste management district for help with household hazardous wastes including used electronics, mercury, etc.Compost or mulch yard wastesClose the loop by buying recycledLearn from the organizations exhibiting and people speaking here today

IDEM’s Environmental Goal

Increase the personal income of all Hoosiers from the current $0.88/$1.00 of the national average to at least $1.00/$1.00 of the national average while maintaining and improving Indiana’s Environmental Quality.

Pilot 2006 Environmental Performance Index

Yale Center for Environmental Law & PolicyYale University

Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN)Columbia University

http://www.yale.edu/epi/

How Does IDEM Protect the Environment?

Measure the air, water and land to determine the existing state of the environmentCompare the measured values to levels that protect human health and the environmentAmbient Air Quality StandardsWater Quality StandardsSafe soil and ground water clean up levels

Use modeling to determine how much of a substance can be added to the environment

How Does IDEM Protect the Environment?

Develop regulations and issue permits to restrict discharges to the environment to safe levelsInspect and monitor permitted facilities to ensure compliance with the permitsEnforce against people who exceed their permit levels or violate regulationsEducate people on their environmental responsibilities

IDEM Makes Environmental Decisions, Not Land Use Decisions

When an entity applies for an IDEM permit, the decision to approve or deny the permit is based upon the question: “Does this project meet the requirements designed to protect the environment?”

This is different than deciding: Is this the best use of this land? or Is this the best location for this project?

In Indiana, these are local land use decisions, not State decisions

Thank You—Any Questions?

Tom Easterly

100 N. Senate Ave. IGCN 1301

Indianapolis, IN 46204

(317) 232-8611

Fax (317) 233-6647

teasterly@idem.in.gov