Eco Report – June 2, 2023

And now for your environmental reports:

Finally, Indiana may make progress in reducing the health threat from coal ash dumps. The Indiana Lawyer reports that a draft EPA rule could impact nearly 50 Indiana coal ash dumps. Draft federal regulations for toxic coal byproducts could cover nearly 50 previously exempted dumps spread across 14 locations in Indiana. The Environmental Protection Agency’s rule — released last week — would extend monitoring, closure, and cleanup provisions to certain landfills, ponds and other sites for the first time. “Coal ash,” the catch-all term for particulate matter produced by burning coal, can contain dangerous carcinogens like arsenic, cadmium and mercury.

“This is a really big deal,” said Lisa Evans, senior counsel for nonprofit environmental litigator Earthjustice, in a news release. The proposal arises out of settlement to a lawsuit involving the organization, several Hoosier plaintiffs and others. The Biden administration is standing up for people near a lot of hazardous coal waste sites around the country, Evans added. For far too long, a large portion of toxic coal ash around the U.S. was left leaching into drinking water supplies without any requirement it be cleaned up.

Although utilities for decades have dumped coal in unlined landfills and ponds throughout the country, no national standards for coal ash existed until 2015. That year, an initial EPA rule went into force, but it excluded landfills that stopped taking in waste before the effective date, as well as ponds at power plants that stopped generating energy before the effective date. An Earthjustice analysis found that the regulations left out 566 landfills and ponds and 242 plants in 40 states. In Indiana alone, that meant 25 landfills and 23 ponds at 14 sites.

Hoosier organizations celebrated last week’s announcement, noting that Indiana lawmakers have blocked state regulators from promulgating stricter standards. We have worked for years to get safer coal ash disposal via state policy, but our efforts were blocked since the majority in Indiana’s General Assembly insist on limiting state environmental standards to no more than what is required federally, said Indra Frank, who directs environmental health and water policy for the Hoosier Environmental Council.

“In Indiana, safe coal ash disposal depends on a strong federal rule,” Frank concluded, in a news release. The proposed rule changes would extend requirements for groundwater monitoring, corrective action, closure and post-closure to inactive landfills. And the EPA hopes to include any other places coal ash was put directly on the ground, like structural fills sites. Finally, Indiana is making progress in reducing the health risks posed by coal ash dumps. Hopefully, in the future, the state legislature will expand its objectives beyond exploitation and corporate profit to include public health.

—Norm Holy

This is a great victory for nature and the citizens of southeast Indianapolis led by Julie and Brian Zoeller and their neighbors, as well as Plews, Shadley, Racher & Braun law firm, IFA, and others who helped.  Yet it will no doubt be temporary, as another developer is likely to submit a proposal for the site.  Let’s hope we can get IDNR to move forward with a wetland project in the floodplain in front of the Buck Creek woods that the owners of the site had invited, and the City of Indianapolis to seriously examine the feasibility of establishing the Buck Creek Greenway that it has proposed to do in three successive Greenway plans.

—Norm Holy

—Norm Holy

“The development of an El Niño will most likely lead to a new spike in global heating and increase the chance of breaking temperature records,” said Petteri Taalas, the secretary general of the meteorological organization, in a news release. El Niño is associated with warmer-than-normal ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. In the United States, it tends to lead to rainier, cooler conditions in much of the South, and warmer conditions in parts of the North. Maybe this will be a good summer to swim in Lake Superior.

—Norm Holy

However, bait, such as anchovy and squid, may travel to the north, and some game fish, such as white seabass and California halibut, may follow them. An El Niño reduces the upwelling of cold water off the coast of South America. When this happens, fish either die or migrate into areas where they’ll find more to eat. With the fish gone, sea birds that depend on them may die or go elsewhere. Kelp forests are often destroyed by storms and ocean swells. During El Nino years, when currents weaken and trade winds die down, the entire Galapagos food chain is impacted and many species face mass starvation and near extinctions.

—Norm Holy

All this matters a great deal because the forests of North America and Russia are responsible for removing an immense amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The aspect of carbon dioxide management will suffer a great deal. The probable result is the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is likely to grow even faster. Currently, atmospheric carbon dioxide is at 420 ppm. Given that the nations are doing little to reduce CO2 emissions, we can expect CO2 levels in the 600 – 700 ppm region within 200 years. Why is this important? Because it will mean there is NO ice left on earth, and ocean levels will be 250 feet higher.

—Norm Holy

And now we go to Zyro Roze as he asks Hank Duncan, the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, about the progress on the plan for the Allen Street Greenway which will create a new connection from Walnut Street, cutting West through the McDoel Gardens neighborhood with a route that will include Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard on Allen Street West of Patterson Drive here in Bloomington.

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.  W-F-H-B also offers internships. To volunteer for Eco-Report, give us a call at (812) 323-1200, or e-mail us at: Earth at WFHB.org.  

And now for some upcoming events:

Come to the Paynetown State Recreation Area at Monroe Lake on Saturday, June 3rd, from 7 to 8:30 pm to see the Strawberry Full Moon.  Learn why it is called the Strawberry Full Moon and hear all about the history and folklore.  Meet at the Campground Playground.

The Community Gardening Program is offering a Composting Basics class on Sunday, June 4th, from 2:30 to 3:30 pm at the Butler Community Park Gardens.  Learn how to be more eco-friendly with composting and how to add composting to your gardens.  Register at bloomington.IN.gov/parks.

Do you love Box Turtles?  Are you one of those people who moves the turtle out of the road?  If so, come to a Box Turtle Talk at Spring Mill State Park on Tuesday, June 6th, from 1 to 1:30 pm.  Learn all about box turtles while meeting a live one.  Meet at the Lakeview Activity Center.

The monarchs are on the way!  Enjoy learning about Migrating Monrarchs at the Paynetown State Recreation Area at Monroe Lake on Wednesday, June 7th, at 7 pm.  Discover why monarchs don’t appear in Indiana until mid to late June.  Meet in the Amphitheater.

Explore Monroe Lake during a Paddling Trip on Sunday, June 11th, beginning at 7 pm at the Pine Grove State Recreation Area.  You must have paddling experience.  Learn about the quieter side of Monroe Lake as you watch the sun set and discover beautiful views and hidden wildlife.  Sign up at bit.ly/explore-jun11-2023.