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Post by bsutravis on Aug 22, 2006 7:17:42 GMT -5
Just wanted to pass this along... My story last night at work was covering a mysterious oil slick that was flowing down White River. It seemed to be coming out of a storm drain that enters White River just South of downtown Indy. Within 1/4 mile of where it entered the river, it had spread almost from bank to bank. IDEM, nor Marion County Health Dept knew what it was...and frankly I was shocked at their lack of response to this spill. They weren't where it was coming from, what it was, or what they were going to do....and they packed up and left with sunset, leaving this spill to continue to dump into the river. I couldn't believe they weren't trying to get in front of the slick and get something across the river to contain it, but they weren't. This might not be anything, or it could be major...I'm sure out news will follow it up today. Just wanted everyone to know in case anyone wades the White anywhere South of Indy, I would stay out of it for a while till they figure out what the spill is/was. www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=5309202 |
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Post by DEERTRACKS on Aug 22, 2006 8:33:22 GMT -5
If we did something like that (no immediate containment / absortion efforts) we would be raked over the coals & fined to the max.
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Post by jackc99 on Aug 22, 2006 10:57:07 GMT -5
Let me reiterate that nothing has changed in Indiana since the big White River fish kill. No new laws or enforcement has been initiated. When I stuck my nose into this problem more than 5 years ago I was told the lawyers had it all under control. Well, guess what? The lawyers got paid, some fines were levied and we all went back to work with the same problems we had before. It will happen again...and again until someone decides that IDEM and in some respects IDNR need to get busy and stop the pollution of the environs of Indiana.
Jack
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Post by chicobrownbear on Aug 22, 2006 11:06:00 GMT -5
Jack, you should know by now that the environment just isn't good for business. I work in the environmental field and this comes up time and time again. IDEM is understaffed and ill equipped to handle such matters until it happens in the backyard of someone who has a little clout. The program that I directly deal with is getting little attention from the administration. THe only reason its still around is because it was an unfunded federal mandate and big brother is watching. Welcome to Indiana.
OH, and the fines that were levied probably got negotiated down to less than a slap on the hand.
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Post by Decatur on Aug 22, 2006 11:09:07 GMT -5
This is just disgusting! The White, from what I'm told, has just been recovering recently, now this. You would think the IDEM would care what happens in our environment. Guess not. :-(
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Post by jackc99 on Aug 22, 2006 15:23:08 GMT -5
Chico - you're preaching to the choir. I worked for the state of Indiana (including a stint at IDEM) for 17 years.
Jack
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Post by chicobrownbear on Aug 22, 2006 18:41:24 GMT -5
Chico - you're preaching to the choir. I worked for the state of Indiana (including a stint at IDEM) for 17 years. Jack We have much to talk about. We can even leave golf off the agenda. |
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Post by duff on Aug 23, 2006 8:11:23 GMT -5
Bad news for sure but just remember that just because you don't see the pollution doesn't mean it isn't already there. I used to work in the water quality section of IDEM and the number of strait pipes that empty into our streams, rivers, and lakes  Worst part is IDEM can only forward those to the local Co. Board of Health, and they don't do anything about it. Then take into account the CSOs (combined sewer overflows) in dang near every community, not just the bigger cities either. Those dump raw waste every time we get a rainfall, sometimes as little as a 1/4" rain. It's is no doubt better then it was 30 yrs ago, but we still have room for improvements. I still use the rivers, and not afraid to wade with just shorts, but when you see condoms floating or hung in trees, along with other toilet related debris you can bet anything there is raw sewage being dumped. The fish kill on the White a few years ago resulted in an 7 or 8 figure fine. Not so much a slap on the wrist for any company. They have used that money for several land grabs and new boat ramps along the river so at least it has been going to some good. |
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Post by duff on Aug 23, 2006 8:15:25 GMT -5
Just did a google search Guide corp was fined $14,200,000. It was a devistating kill.
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Post by bsutravis on Aug 23, 2006 10:33:14 GMT -5
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Post by chicobrownbear on Aug 23, 2006 13:05:01 GMT -5
If they didn't report that on the hotline, they are screwed.
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Post by raporter on Aug 23, 2006 14:14:00 GMT -5
Saturday morning I will take a class to learn how to take water samples as part of the clean water project for the Patoka lake region. Should be interesting.
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Post by duff on Aug 23, 2006 16:44:22 GMT -5
Good luck getting water into a bottle just doesn't come too natural to most. It is a learned skill....
Sorry had to be a wise ###.
Really good luck, I think most of our water quality sampling should be local organizations volunteer or county gub-mint based. It isn't very hard to collect samples and properly record the data. Use IDEM's methods and approved labs, then send the results to IDEM for assessments. Then they could brag about their 100% assessments of Indiana's waters.
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Post by RiverJim on Aug 24, 2006 5:39:38 GMT -5
I thought I seen on the news that it was hydrolic fluid?  I'm sure glad the white don't feed my river! |
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