Seminars to teach public how to read upcoming BP air quality monitors

HAMMOND | A local environmental justice group is hosting two seminars next week aimed at teaching stakeholders how to access and analyze data from air quality monitors set to be installed at BP Whiting Refinery next year.

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: Grand Calumet River getting grand cleanup

In the mid-1990s I was working for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. Staff members there informed me they envisioned a long-term project to assess the environmental conditions of the Grand Calumet River from the state line to the Marquette Park lagoons and to restore the Gr…

Oil sheen appears on Lake waterway

GARY | Federal, state and local officials are investigating an apparent oil leak into a major drainage ditch flowing through Calumet Township, Griffith, Highland and Munster.

EDITORIAL: Dispose of polluted soil at airport

Gary/Chicago International Airport's runway expansion is intended to turn the airport into Northwest Indiana's economic engine. As the project nears completion, however, the escalating cost threatens to pollute the airport's future prospects.

State officials, industry bracing for new greenhouse gas ruling

The Obama administration's push for reducing emissions that fuel climate change have many in the environmental and energy sectors bracing for what may come next.

Lake Station mayor focuses on quality of life

LAKE STATION | Residents thirsting for improved water quality will have it in place by spring 2014, Mayor Keith Soderquist said.

EDITORIAL: Keep pipeline project moving forward

Enbridge Energy Co.'s plan to build a new $1.9 billion pipeline across northern Indiana and Michigan is drawing considerable interest. It should draw applause as well.

Contracts awarded in ongoing overhaul of Crown Point sewer system

CROWN POINT | Work to replace faulty sections of sewer line and treat manhole covers will get under way as part of an ongoing, state-mandated overhaul of the city sewer system.

Board delays Valpo sewage composting study

VALPARAISO | The city's Utilities Board tabled a proposal Tuesday to hire consultants Black & Veatch to do a feasibility study and project design for a facility to compost treated sewage sludge.

Hammond Sanitary District expects state permit for basin project

HAMMOND | The Hammond Sanitary District expects to receive a state permit by the end of the month to build a basin aimed at preventing sewage overflow discharges into the Grand Calumet River.

Enbridge Line 6B project delayed until summer

The manager of a $1.9 billion project to build a new Enbridge Energy LP pipeline that spans four Indiana counties says the project will now likely not break ground until June.

Pence retains more of Daniels' state agency leaders

INDIANAPOLIS | Five more state agency leaders appointed by Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels will continue in their positions when Republican Gov.-elect Mike Pence takes office Jan. 14.

IDEM holding public hearing on Enbridge applications

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management is holding a public hearing Dec. 18 in LaPorte on two applications Enbridge Energy LP has filed as a result of planned water quality impacts for its new Line 6B pipeline project.

Valparaiso could turn sludge savings to earnings

VALPARAISO | Applying the city's annual 4 million gallons of treated sewage on area farm fields has been a good thing for the farmers and the city, but turning the sludge into compost could prove to be an even bigger boon for the city.

Public hearing planned for revised BP refinery permits

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management is hosting a public hearing Thursday on draft permits for BP Products North America Inc.'s Whiting Refinery.

3 cities join to seek brownfield study funds

VALPARAISO | The city is working with Lake Station and Portage to apply for a $600,000 federal grant to check all three for potential brownfield sites.

ANDREA NEAL: Daniels helped state weather recession

In his first State of the State address in 2005, Gov. Mitch Daniels announced, “Our state’s public finances are in ruins.” Unaware of the coming recession, he made four promises to citizens: To work to strengthen the economy, make government leaner and more efficient, modernize infrastructur…

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: Environmental progress has been made in NWI

On Oct. 9, the Quality of Life Indicators Report was released. An excellent tool for initiating dialogue, the report has shown time after time, it truly can be difficult to measure perceptions related to the 10 indicators. It is that challenge I would like to ask you to help us address.

Chautauqua Park flood relief project may start in early 2013

VALPARAISO | The plans are done, and the city is in the process of acquiring the land needed for the massive Chautauqua Park stormwater relief project.

EDITORIAL: Put public notices where public will find them

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management's Office of Air Quality has decided to post notices of public hearings exclusively on its website and no longer in the media. In doing so, the agency has made the public's business much more difficult to follow.