Eco Report – December 8, 2023

And now for your environmental reports:

Indiana is the number one state in the country with over 24,000 miles which is the most total miles of rivers and streams that are impaired for swimming and water recreation, according to the Environmental Integrity Project. This project is a nonprofit organization that advocates for more effective enforcement of environmental laws. Eric Schaeffer, executive director of the Environmental Integrity Project and former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency attorney, said that one of the main reasons the water is polluted is the runoff of manure from animal farms. E. Coli and nitrogen ammonia are the main bacteria in the water.

According to the Star Press, the White River at Muncie, however, has been doing better with its water quality. Lead and chromium have seen a 97 and 83 percent reduction, respectively. E. coli has been reduced by 87%.  Looking downstream, in regions around Indianapolis, including the Upper Fall Creek, Lower Fall Creek and Eagle Creek areas, match the overall health of the river with a “C” rating. More than three-fourths of the White River in Marion County do not meet State water quality standards. White River pollution has been an issue for years and years.

Why doesn’t the legislature do something about it?

—Norm Holy

The need to address the pollution is more urgent due to the fact that plans to shut down the dirty 41-year-old plant this year were canceled. Within a few months of the former owner revealing the plant would stay open, an out-of-state cryptomining company announced plans to build a large facility right next to the plant that would require a tremendous amount of power. The co-founder of the crypto company called the critics’ assertions that the deal could keep a polluting coal plant open ‘100% correct.’ The crypto mine’s energy demand could make it the largest electricity user in the Hoosier Energy service area.

The letter sent to Indiana environmental regulators describes the environmental and health risks. For example, the letter states: “Based on its own admission, the plant has repeatedlydumped wastewater into the Turtle Creek Reservoir — which connects to the Wabash River a couple miles away — with illegal levels of ammonia and iron, which can harm aquatic life, not to mention harming drinking water infrastructure. The plant’s testing found groundwater on the property exceeded health limits for lead, barium, chromium, cadmium, lead sulfate, and fluoride. On top of that, the plant violated air pollution rules by producing an unacceptably high level of dense smoke, threatening the health of nearby residents who breathe that air.

The life expectancy in Sullivan County is two years under the state average and nearly three years under the national average. Life expectancy is typical of counties near coal power plants.  This development reveals, again, that Indiana has little interest in becoming fossil-fuel free.

—Norm Holy

The endeavor represents one piece of a public-private partnership aiming to show how this type of EV charging infrastructure could work in practice, and it follows up on an announcement by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in September 2021 that the state planned to launch the first wireless-charging public road project in the country.

—Norm Holy

Among other things, the groups say the Ohio Oil and Gas Land Management Commission failed to consider all of the factors it was required to weigh under state law. The groups also allege that the commission failed to provide an opportunity for public hearing under state law.

—Norm Holy

Date labeling of foodstuffs goes back to the safety scares of the early 20th century.  Instances of botulism in canned foods led manufacturers to adopt codes that they stamped on their packaging to help retailers determine freshness and product quality.  In the 1970’s, these labels were made legible to consumers.  But they had little impact on food safety, because most issues arise during and after processing and by incorrect storage and handling.

A 2020 study found that only 57 percent of US adults could correctly identify what “best if used by” and “use by” mean.  Both refer to the manufacturer’s estimate for when a product is at peak flavor or quality.  Consumers, wishing to be safe, often throw out perfectly good products.  The likely result will be a 12-ounce addition to the 130 billion pounds of food wasted in the United States this year.

—Julianna Dailey

A study of a thousand glaciers in the area showed the rate of melting has entered a new phase over the last two decades. This acceleration should persist because the carbon dioxide content in the air is increasing every year. Only when there is no increase in CO2 can we begin to hope the global warming will stop. Assuming our current trend will continue, there is every reason to anticipate that 50 – 75 percent of the glacial ice on Greenland will eventually melt.

—Norm Holy

We also celebrate ecologists, tree huggers, soil builders and an assortment of champions who actively protect and restore our natural world, particularly those who are active in south central Indiana. All levels of experience and all ages are welcome, and we provide the training you’ll need.  WFHB also offers internships. To volunteer for Eco Report, give us a call at (812) 323-1200, or e-mail us at: [email protected].  

And now for some upcoming events:

Join the Naturalist at Spring Mill State Park for a hike into the upper portion of Donaldson Cave on Saturday, December 9th, from 1 to 2:30 pm.  You will learn about Spring Mill’s cave system, cave fauna and more.  Meet at the Sycamore Shelter.