Residents Plagued with Bad Air Lately

Numerous complaints are being logged by O.D. residents this past few days about the bad air that is invading from industries east of Town. In particular, some residents have experienced a severe burning electrical smell that was so bad it woke at least one resident up at 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 9.

In response, several members of the ODEAB are taking some steps to identify and try to alleviate the problem. A call was made September 9 to Hala Kuss, director of the Northwest Indiana Office of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) to complain about the situation. Fortunately, because several residents were already diligently making contact with IDEM about the problem, she was already aware of the problem and is sending her inspectors out to find out which industry is causing the electrical burning smell and whether or not any of them have changed their processes recently.

Calls have also been made to U.S. Steel Midwest to see if they can help identify the problem; and to Precoat Metals to let them know about the issue.

Lodging complaints with IDEM is imperative in these situations. This may be accomplished either on-line by visiting http://www.in.gov/idem/5275.htm or by calling the Complaint Coordinator at (800) 451-6027 ext.24464. Spills and environmental emergencies should be immediately reported to IDEM at (888) 233-7745.

When filing a complaint, please provide as much detail as possible about the location of the complaint, when the activity occurred, and what happened. Wind direction information is also helpful to IDEM. The information submitted may be considered public record and subject to disclosure by IDEM. It may also be submitted anonymously.
For more information on the IDEM Complaints Clearinghouse Program, visit http://www.in.gov/idem/5274.htm.

Let us know below in the Comment area what you have been experiencing...

Volunteer for September 19 Beach Clean Up

Take part in a worldwide shoreline clean-up on September 19 as part of the ODEAB’s ongoing efforts to keep our beach “barefoot friendly.” Volunteers will meet at 9:30 a.m. where Diana Rd. runs into Shore Dr. The event will run until 11:30 a.m.

During the clean-up, participants will be divided into teams along the beach, and will tally the types of garbage collected. All supplies will be provided. The tallies are then logged into the Alliance for the Great Lake's on-line database, which provides valuable information on where garbage might be coming from; and how we can educate people not to litter the beach and/or Lake Michigan and its tributaries.

The ODEAB has been participating in the International Coastal Clean-up Day, organized by the Ocean Conservancy, for approximately six years. Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois efforts are coordinated for the Conservancy by the Chicago-based Alliance for the Great Lakes.

During the annual event in 2008, thousands of pounds of trash were cleared by more than 500 volunteers in Indiana (note: 125 of these volunteers came from Ogden Dunes alone!).

According to the Alliance, the top three items removed in 2008 included cigarette filters (175,259; food wrappers and containers (45,225); and finally, caps and lids (44,269). In addition to litter pick-up and monitoring, Adopt-a-Beach™ teams and volunteers collect valuable data on our beaches through water quality testing and science-based beach observations. This information is used on a site-by-site basis to improve beach conditions.

To entice families to participate, the ODEAB will hold a drawing for five free registrations for Family Night on the Beach to be held that same night – valued at more than $12 each.

This effort builds on the beach clean-up held on August 22nd that attracted 50 volunteers who picked up more than 130 lbs. of waste from the beach (see next article). The data will provide metrics and information to be used for a pollution prevention program the ODEAB would like to roll out next summer.

Show your love for the beach and Lake Michigan – and make a difference by volunteering the morning on September 19. If you know now that you plan to be there, please send an email to Susan MiHalo at spsmodin@verizon.net.

Plastic and Styrofoam Trash Grow Exponentially on the Beach

The table in the picture (click on it) shows the types and amounts of trash collected in 2007 and at the August 22nd, 2009 beach clean up. While there are many factors that can impact beach conditions, it’s still interesting to note some of the increases we have witnessed with respect to glass containers, plastic beverage bottles, food wrappers, cigarettes, Styrofoam and pieces of plastic.

Think about that the next time you go to the beach with these kinds of items and remember: “Most polymers like plastic and Styrofoam just break down into smaller pieces – they never really leave the environment.” They are also bad for pets and birds that try to eat them; and they are manufactured with petroleum.