Pollution permits may spur activism in Northwest Indiana

Karen Kroczek, a Munster resident and member of the League of Women Voters, organized the meeting of residents to formulate comments to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management's proposed wastewater permit for U.S. Steel Gary Works. But the citizen activism may evolve and persist well after the permit is issued.

"I see a lot of promise for future organization and environmental activism. These people felt empowered, focused and they were certainly informed," Kroczek said. "There's nothing official about us. We're just an ad hoc citizens group concerned about how IDEM's administering these resources."

Many attendees had never been involved with environmental issues before, but became interested after hearing about wastewater permits for BP's Whiting Refinery and U.S. Steel.

"Everybody's got to know right now what's happening," said Edward Landmichl, a Chicago resident and long-term environmental activist. "We want change. We don't want pollution in the lake!"

Some residents said they showed up because they were concerned about the effects of pollution on their health. One of them was Dorothy Robinson of Gary.

"There are people who live there and don't think we have a problem. I think we do," Robinson said.

Lin Kaatz Chary led a discussion group at the meeting to inform attendees of public health issues.

"I think people don't know how concerned, how scared they should be. Should I not let my child swim in the lake? Should I not drink the water?" Kaatz Chary said. "You don't even know the specific amounts (they discharge) to make a determination."

More than 55 residents of Gary and the surrounding area, former steel mill workers and legislators attended, some to network, others to get basic information on the environmental legislative process and how to protest a permit.

Tom Sourlis of Highland said outrage over industrial pollution in Lake Michigan compelled him to attend.

"It's an outrage they should dump this filth into a body of water. They say it's going to cost money (to treat the water). It's going to create jobs. What it's going to cost is profits. The company made $440 million a day. You tell me they don't have the money to deal with it?" Sourlis said.

He said he blames IDEM and Indiana laws for additional pollution as much as industries, but found the meeting useful.

"This group is fabulous. This educated us. I believe this could be the start of something that continues," he said.

The group felt encouraged after IDEM announced Wednesday afternoon that it has extended the public comment period on U.S. Steel's wastewater permit.

By requests from the public, the deadline previously set for Saturday was extended to Monday, Oct. 1.

State Sen. Karen Tallian, D-Portage, attended the meeting to teach a break-out group what she called "Permitting 101" -- background about the Clean Water Act and how standards are applied -- and discuss whether the limits are still appropriate.

"The legislators, IDEM, all of those, listen to grass roots, contacts and harassment," she told attendees. "Send us your e-mails. I get a sheet every time someone calls. When the sheets start stacking up, we take action."

Earlier Wednesday, Tallian said she asked IDEM Commissioner Thomas Easterly for a 60-day extension of the public comment period.

"We should learn a lesson from the public outcry engendered by the BP permit process. People feel that they were not informed and that they had no opportunity for input. In view of the fact that this application for renewal is several years behind schedule, I do not see a reason why another 60 days would be harmful," Tallian said in a statement. "The outcry over the BP permit was in part due to misinformation. IDEM should do everything possible to ensure that the public feels they had an opportunity for input."

The citizens group signed petitions asking IDEM to hold another public meeting on U.S. Steel's permit. An IDEM spokesman said IDEM had not yet made a decision about that.

Kroczek said the citizen group will most likely meet again within the next two or three weeks.