Lake Michigan Room, NIRPC Office 6100 Southport Rd. Portage, IN 46368
Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance 9:00
Introductions 9:05
Minutes 9:10
Review Comment Letter for US 9:15
Marquette Action Plan
Overview and Public Comment Period - Gabrielle Biciunas 9:25
1. Deep River Dam Feasibility Study - Joe Exl 9:45
Announcements 10:15
Adjourn 10:30
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ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT POLICY COMMITTEE
NIRPC- Lake Michigan Room May 3, 2018
Minutes
Members/Guests: Bill Emerson, Jr., Jeannette Bapst, George Topoll, Will Farrellbegg, Sarah Nimetz, Lynda Lancaster, Michael Kuss, Michelle Caldwell, Lauri Keagle, George Malis, Brenda Scott Henry, Katherine Moore Powell, Robert Verbik, Kathryn Vallis, jen Birchfield, Deb Backhus, Natalie Johnson, Collin Simick, Kay Nelson, Maggie Byrne and Sarah Reese.
NIRPC Staff: Kathy Luther, Joe Exl, Dominique Edwards and Mary Thorne.
Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance
Chairman Bill Emerson, Jr., called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance and self-introductions.
NIRPC Business:
Approval of Minutes
On motion by Brenda Scott-Henry and a second by Sarah Nimetz, the April 5, 2018 EMPC meeting minutes were approved as presented.
Status of USX Chromium Spill Settlement Agreement
Kathy Luther gave an update on the settlement agreement and steps to be taken by US Steel regarding its violations of the Clean Water Act. During discussion, Save the Dunes said it would be happy to facilitate a public meeting to provide as many comments as possible before the June 5 public comment deadline. Bill Emerson, Jr. made a motion, seconded by Natalie Johnson, for staff to prepare a letter recommending to the Board to actively work towards a better notification process. Motion carried. The consent decree can be viewed at http://www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees. Contact Natalie@savedunes.org for more information.
Main Event:
Dominique Edwards led the discussion on input for the 2050 Plan vision and goals. Many suggestions were submitted on wordsmithing. Staff will incorporate suggestions from all NIRPC committeees into the plan.
Announcements
City of Gary’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection & Green Awareness Day is Saturday, May 5, 2018 at 455 Massachusetts Street.
Living and Creating in the Dunes sponsored by Save the Dunes and Lubeznik Center for the Arts, funded in Part by the Indiana Lake Michigan Coastal Program is May 10, 2018 5:30 pm - 7 pm at Lubeznik Center, Michigan City. Contact: Victoria Wittig, 219-879-3564 x 127 or victoria@savedunes.org
Deep River Dam Feasibility Study Public Meeting is on May 15, 2018 5 pm at Lake Station Public Library. Contact: Joe Exl, 219-763-6060 x 137 or jexl@nirpc.org
Public Input Acceptance on Grant Funding Priorities, IDNR - Lake Michigan Coastal Program Now through May 18. Contact: Sarah Nimetz at 219-250-5401 or snimetz@dnr.IN.gov
Lake Michigan Coastal Awareness Month, IDNR-Lake Michigan Coastal Program, June, 2018, at locations throughout Lake, Porter and LaPorte Counties. Contact: Kathryn Vallis at 219-250- 5402 or kvallis@dnr.in.gov. Submission Deadline is May 18.
8th Annual Jammin’ with Save the Dunes signature fundraiser is June 2, 2018 4 pm - 10 pm, in West Lafayette, IN. Contact: Heather Pritchard at 219-879-3564 x 121 or heather@savedunes.org
Deep River Watershed Initiative Partnership Meeting is June 28, 2018 10 am at NIRPC, 6100 Southport Road, Portage. Contact: Joe Exl at 219-763-6060 x 137 or jexl@nirpc.org
Conference on the Environment, Michigan City Sanitary District, is June 8, 2018 at Blue Chip Resort. Contact: Michael Kuss at 219-229-1298 or mkuss@mcsan.org
Urban Waters Meeting July 20, 2018 at 9:30 am at Purdue NW Meeting Facility, 6100 Southport Road, Portage. Contact: Jen Birchfield at jbirchfield@pnw.edu
WIFIA– Kay Nelson gave updates on the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act. The money will be used to support 49% of construction project money to Local, state, tribal, and federal government entities, partnerships and joint ventures, corporations and trusts and Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs. For more information, visit https://www.epa.gov/wifia
VW Trust Updates – Kay Nelson gave an update on the VW Trust. The board is working on a vision statement and is waiting for direction about the return on investment for those dollars. Projects are limited to emissions within the state only. Laurie Keagle gave some information provided by Shawn Seales. Indiana has the lowest administrative costs at 3%. For more information, go to https://www.in.gov/idem/airquality/2712.htm. You may also contact Laurie Keagle, Laurie Keagle at lkeagle@southshorecleancities.org.
Kathy Luther said the EPA released new air quality attainment designations. Northwest Indiana is in attainment except for the five northern Lake County communities.
The next meeting of the Environmental Management Policy Committee will be held on June 7, 2018 at 9 a.m.
Hearing no other business, Bill Emerson adjourned the meeting at 10:50 a.m.
A Digital MP3 of this meeting is filed. Contact Mary Thorne at 219-763-6060 or mthorne@nirpc.org should you wish to receive a copy of it.