Eco Report – February 4, 2021

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The Indiana Environmental Reporter says a bill that would repeal state protections for Indiana’s diminishing wetlands passed the Senate’s Environmental Affairs Committee and is headed for consideration by the full Indiana Senate despite opposition from the agencies in charge of protecting the state’s environment and natural resources.

—Norm Holy

Southwestern Indiana Citizens for Quality of Life and Valley Watch have lost their challenge against the air permit for Riverview Energy’s proposed coal-to-diesel plant in Dale and now plan to appeal again.

—Norm Holy

A state House committee voted to extend a task force charged with developing energy policy for Indiana for another two years. But some lawmakers are concerned the new makeup of the task force wouldn’t best represent Hoosiers.

—Norm Holy

As reported in the Evansville Courier and Press, electric customers in southwestern Indiana have spoken, and CenterPoint Energy is listening. A number of existing electric generation units are approaching the end of their useful lives. The power generation industry is in a process of transition to new generation resources that will deliver a reliable energy mix.

—Norm Holy

Last year a polluting scrapyard moved from a predominantly white, wealthy neighborhood on Chicago’s North Side to a predominantly poor, Latinix neighborhood on the city’s Southeast side. Now the EPA has initiated a federal civils rights investigation into the environmental justice implications of the move.

—Linda Greene

To the great relief of indigenous people and environmentalists, on assuming the presidency Joe Biden cancelled plans for the Keystone XL pipeline. There is more good news, this time about the Dakota Access Pipeline.

—Linda Greene

The Indiana Environmental Reporter says that President Joe Biden has signed executive orders drawing the entire federal government into the fight against climate change.

—Norm Holy

President Joe Biden on Monday called for transitioning the federal government’s vehicle fleet to all-electric and American-made, spurring optimism within the electric vehicle (EV) sector for increased adoption of emissions-free cars.

—Norm Holy

A Dutch court of appeals has ruled that the Nigerian subsidiary of the Shell energy corporation must pay compensation to four Nigerian farmers seeking money for damage done and a clean-up of oil pollution from the company’s leaking pipelines.

—Linda Greene

Scientists from around the world calling themselves Scientist Rebellion are calling for global action consisting of three days of nonviolent civil disobedience, on March 25 to 28, against the climate and ecological crisis. They say their warnings have gone unheeded, and so they are called to action.

—Linda Greene

Earth’s ice is melting 57 percent faster than in the 1990s, and the world has lost more than 28 trillion tons of ice since 1994, research published in The Cryosphere shows. The melt conforms to the worst-case scenario in the models used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

—Norm Holy

The ground-breaking United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons went into effect on January 22. On that day, nuclear weapons became illegal under international law.

—Linda Greene

CALENDAR

• Enjoy a Hidden Cave Hike at Spring Mill State Park on Saturday, February 6th, from 1 to 2 pm.  Meet at the Lakeview Activity Center to hike off-trail to the hidden cave called Author’s Pocket.  Register at [email protected], or call 812-849-3534.  This is a rugged hike, so plan accordingly.
• Take an Off-Trail History Hike at McCormick’s Creek State Park on Saturday, February 6th, from 10 to 11 am.  If you have ever wondered about the land that is now called McCormick’s Creek State Park, then you should plan to meet at the Nature Center for a rugged hike to a historic site that’s not on the map.
• McCormick’s Creek State Park is offering a Baffling Bark program on Sunday, February 7th, from 1 to 2:45 pm.  Are you baffled by trees in the winter?  Meet Erika at the Canyon Inn to learn how to identify trees without leaves.
• Spring Mill State Park is offering a Nature Valentine’s Hike on Sunday, February 14th, from 1 to 2 pm.  Join the naturalist on Trail 5 to look for natural objects in the shape of a heart.  Bring your camera to take pictures.  This is a one-mile, partially rugged hike.
• Monroe Lake is celebrating Valentine’s Day with a Very Birdie Valentine’s program on Sunday, February 14th.  The event will take place in the Activity Center at the Paynetown State Recreation Area.  Join the naturalist to make two different types of heart-shaped treats for wild birds; craft a bird-themed Valentine’s Day card and learn about common backyard birds.  This is an in-door program, so masks MUST be worn by everyone.  Sessions are between 45 to 60 minutes and take place at 9:30 am, 10:45 am, 12:30 pm, 1:45 pm, 3 pm and 4:15 pm.  Registration is required at http://bit.ly/birdvalentine2021.