IDEM Talks to Carroll County
In Carroll County, the local paper is reporting about an IDEM informational session that occurred last Wednesday:
IDEM is currently reviewing an individual permit application from Boerman Carroll Dairy, LLC, for approval to build and operate a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) for 4,100 dairy cows near the intersection of SR 75 and CR 600 South. Dennis Lassiter, a technical review specialist for IDEM, explained that in 2003, Indiana adopted all of the standards of the Environmental Protection Agency. “Some of our rules are even more stringent than EPA rules,” he said.
He explained that these rules are to prevent regulated farms from polluting surface and ground water by regulating manure storage, land application, storm water runoff, and soil erosion. Lassiter said that CAFOs are not allowed to treat wastewater and there is a zero discharge limitation imposed on them.
Link.
What I found interesting about the account was the apparent increase in IDEM’s review activities:
Questions about wetlands and groundwater were addressed by Hamid Masgood of IDEM’s geology department. Wetlands are considered waters of the state. Masgood said they have reviewed the site and there are no wetlands within 300 feet of the proposed facility. He also said they have tested wells within a one to two mile radius of the site and found that it is a fairly deep, protected aquifer. He said it was unlikely that wells would go dry.
I do not remember IDEM testing wells and searching for wetlands in previous approvals. But at least the results have not changed:
A question was posed as to how many submitted permits to IDEM have been denied. Lassiter said that in recent years he could only think of one and that applicant refused to address deficiencies in his application. Applicants are given the chance to correct deficiencies in their application and resubmit them for approval, as many times as it takes to get the permit correct.
February 12th, 2007 19:19
There is a recently created wetland exactly at the intersection of SR 75 and 600 S, and one would think the 300 feet limit would apply. Verification of the wetland was shown to a panel member after the meeting. It was explained that “the lagoons” will be in excess of the 300 feet limit requirement, therefore compliance is met.