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IDEM 2010 Update House Environmental Affairs Committee January 13, 2010

IDEM 2010 Update House Environmental Affairs Committee January 13, 2010. Thomas W. Easterly, P.E., BCEE, QEP Commissioner IN Department of Environmental Management. New IDEM Budget Actions. Returning staffing to January 2005 levels through attrition.

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IDEM 2010 Update House Environmental Affairs Committee January 13, 2010

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  1. IDEM 2010 UpdateHouse Environmental Affairs CommitteeJanuary 13, 2010 Thomas W. Easterly, P.E., BCEE, QEP Commissioner IN Department of Environmental Management

  2. New IDEM Budget Actions • Returning staffing to January 2005 levels through attrition. • Moving most of Shadeland staff to IGCN and renegotiating the lease. • Canceling or renegotiating a number of service contracts. • Voluntary unpaid leave program.

  3. IDEM Staffing Levels

  4. IDEM’s Mission IDEM is responsible for protecting human health and the environment while providing for safe industrial, agricultural, commercial and governmental operations vital to a prosperous economy.

  5. How Does IDEM Protect the Environment? Develop regulations and issue permits to restrict discharges to the environment to safe levels. Inspect and monitor permitted facilities to ensure compliance with the permits. Use compliance assistance and/or enforcement when people exceed their permit levels or violate regulations. Educate people on their environmental responsibilities.

  6. Performance Metrics Dec 2009

  7. Performance Metrics June 2005

  8. The New EPA • Administrator Jackson’s Stated Priorities: • Environmental Justice • Children's Health • Climate Change • The Initiatives we observe include: • Air Toxics Monitoring at Schools • Reemphasis of Enforcement and publishing of compliance information • Progressing of Greenhouse Gas Regulations

  9. Air Quality Update Indiana is currently in attainment for all NAAQS but: EPA keeps raising (in this case lowering) the bar! Air Quality Standards At the end of 2009, all monitors in Indiana measured attainment for all NAAQS for the first time since Standards were established. How low will they go?!?!

  10. Ozone Insert new graph from Catherine

  11. MOVING TARGETSStatus of Review of NAAQS

  12. Outdoor Hydronic Heaters (aka Wood Boilers) Outdoor Hydronic Heater Rule Second Notice Published in Indiana Register on January 6, 2010 Rule First Noticed in 2005 Reviews by EQSC and EPA/NESCAUM Model Rule Proposed Rule will require new units to meet emission limits Proposed Rule will require existing units that do not meet the proposed emission limits to install smoke stacks and cease operations in the warmer part of the year

  13. BP Whiting Title V Permit Objection IDEM Construction Permit Issued May 1, 2008 after extensive USEPA review Petitioners Request for Permit Objection filed with USEPA on June 18, 2008 EPA signed the Objection Order October 16, 2009 IDEM plans to meet all of EPAs objections

  14. Combined Sewers—97 IDEM lead and 3 EPA lead complete. Seven EPA lead communities left: Anderson, Elkhart, Evansville, Gary, Hammond, Mishawaka, South Bend. Dredging—West Branch Grand Cal in progress. Blue Green Algae. Office of Water QualityActivities

  15. NPDES Permit Backlog Reduction 2005: 263 backlogged permits 2009: 6 backlogged permits List includes: USS Gary Works. Public Noticed. Comment Period Ended. Next step is issuance. US Midwest. Under EPA review. Arcelor Mittal Burns Harbor. Under EPA review Arcelor Mittal Indiana Harbor East. Drafting. Arcelor Mittal Indiana Harbor West. Drafting. Hoosier Merom. Drafting. Office of Water QualityActivities

  16. Office of Water QualityActivities Blue Green Algae Center for Earth and Environmental Science, DNR, ISDH, IDEM Collaboration. Dr. Lenore Tedesco from the Center for Earth and Environmental Science collecting and analyzing samples in Geist, Morse, and Eagle Creek Reservoirs. IDEM Monitoring Upper Fall Creek Watershed IDEM updates conditions in reservoirs and posts to website: Idem.in.gov/algae EQSC Report calls for expanded monitoring.

  17. Office of Water QualityRulemaking: Antidegradation What will this rule do? Increases public opportunities for information and input; Protects current "fishable/swimmable“ and other existing uses of waters; Allows for the issuance of legal permits for discharges to water; and, Does not allow the violation of water quality standards.

  18. What is the process for this rule? IDEM held Stakeholder meetings over two years and drafted rule language. IDEM held four public meetings. Draft rule language was ‘second noticed’ for 45 days in the December 16, 2009 Indiana Register. After public notice, IDEM summarizes comments, may make changes to the rule Draft Rule will be presented to the Water Pollution Control Board for preliminary/final adoption. EPA will review the rule as well. Office of Water QualityRulemaking: Antidegradation

  19. Questions? Tom Easterly Commissioner Indiana Department of Environmental Management 317-232-8611 teasterly@idem.in.gov

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