Series of Meetings on Environmental Issues Hosted by OD Church

The public is invited to a series of meetings hosted by the Ogden Dunes Community Church on stewarding planet earth. The “Community Leadership Dialogue Series: Creation Care and Climate Stewardship, Doing Your Part” is being organized by Allison Hannon, daughter of long-time residents Laura and John Hannon, who is Midwest Regional Manager of The Climate Group. The series of meetings will all be held at Ogden Dunes Community Church from 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Allison will speak at the first series get-together on Wednesday, October 28. The subject will be understanding climate change and environmental stewardship, and ways you can make a difference.

Ogden Dunes resident and State Senator Karen Tallian, as well as John Hannon, P.E., will be the featured speakers at the second meeting on Wednesday, November 4. They will provide a briefing on local, state and federal environmental policies with a special focus on water issues.

The final workshop, to be held Wednesday, November 18, will focus on ways you can reduce waste through recycling and composting at your home and/or office. The featured speaker will be Deanne Greenwood, Education Coordinator, Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County.

If you are interested in attending, please send an email to hannon.allison@gmail.com or by calling 762-6067. The series is free of charge.

The goal of the non-profit Climate Group, based in the United Kingdom, is to help government and business set the world economy on the path to a low-carbon, prosperous future. To reach that goal, they have created a coalition of governments and the world’s most influential businesses – all committed to tackling climate change. Through this coalition, they are helping to set the targets, create the policies, build the confidence, and generate the political willpower needed to make the changes the world requires by 2050.

Attend a Dune Acres Presentation on Ground Water and Ecology

The Dunes Acres Environmental Committee and the Ogden Dunes Environmental Advisory Board invite you to a presentation to be held Sunday, November 1 on ground water, ecology, Lake Michigan levels, and other events that can impact the flora of the Indiana Dunes. The meeting is being held at the Dune Acres Club House at 2:00 p.m. and is free. Refreshments will be served.

The featured speaker will be Dr. Noel B. Pavlovic, a research ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, Great Lakes Science Center, stationed at the Lake Michigan Ecological Research Station in Porter, IN. He received his PhD in biological sciences from the University of Illinois at Chicago, an MSc. in ecology from the University of Tennessee, a Graduate Diploma in Science-Botany from the Australian National University, and B.Sc. from Earlham College. He has worked in the Indiana Dunes for 26 years and resides with his family on a 14,000 year old Glenwood Dune adjacent to the national park.

Dune Acres has shared some of the same challenges as Ogden Dunes with respect to high ground water and invasive species issues.

The Dune Acres Clubhouse is an interesting landmark to visit. Located on Clubhouse Dr. on one of the highest points in Town, it was built of logs and originally opened in 1926. To get there, enter Dune Acres and continue up the main road. Clubhouse Dr. is the second street on the right.

Air and Odor Issues Discussed at ODEAB Monthly Meeting

Particpants at the October 13 ODEAB meeting learned about how the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) inspects and monitors Precoat Metals for its air and water emissions.

Attending from IDEM were Ramesh Tejuja, IDEM inspector; and Michael Aylesworth, Director of the IDEM Northern Regional Office. Also in attendance was the recently hired Environmental Specialist for the National Park Service, Charles Morris.

IDEM, of course, has to work within the parameters of Precoat’s Title V air permit. Precoat's current air permit does not expire until 2011. A draft permit would probably be released for public comment some time in 2010.

Ramesh answered questions about the Precoat Facility and basically reiterated that if any malfunctions occur in the production line and incinerator, the line will automatically shut down. However, attendees expressed concern that some mechanisms of failure could still be overlooked.

Also discussed were the electrical burning smell residents are occasionally noticing this past few months, as well as concerns that not much can be done if an industry is operating within the means of their IDEM-approved permit.

While permits can help prevent emissions, poorly written permits, or permits that overlook failures or other emission sources, can cause problems as well. Everyone agreed that permits need to be reviewed when they are up for renewal, even if outside assistance needs to be obtained. It was also emphasized that air pollution is not just an Ogden Dunes issue, and therefore outreach needs to be done to get other communities and groups involved.

Solvents in paint coatings can have a detectable odor at a very low part per million. Unfortunately, odors are not regulated in the state of Indiana, but they can be an indicator that something else is happening.

The ODEAB also learned from IDEM that residents from Ogden Dunes are the ones who most frequently call in complaints about nearby industry, indicating that the ODEAB has done a good job in promoting the pollution prevention hotline. Again, it was emphasized that more than Ogden Dunes residents need to contact IDEM if anything is ever to be done about the issues. (http://www.in.gov/idem/5275.htm)

It was also suggested that residents complain to the National Park Dispatch office at 395-1772 if they are on National Park property, i.e., the Portage Lakefront Riverwalk, and feel that their ability to enjoy the park is being compromised. It was emphasized to only call dispatch during hours when the park is open during the day, not at night when the park is closed.

If you contact IDEM and know an inspector is coming to our area, it might also be helpful to contact the Town Hall at 762-4125 so that the Town Marshall and or officers can be notified. That way if an inspector comes across an officer the officer can be clued in to assist them or direct them to the area being impacted.

Action items that came out of the meeting included:

• Getting ODEAB members trained on the IDEM-provided grab canisters.
• Learning more about nuisance laws.
• Determining if other facilities, like AMROX and/or Beta Steel are in compliance.
• Inviting Precoat representatives to the November 10 ODEAB meeting at 8:30 a.m.