A resident of Jasper County is voicing her concerns about the environmental and public health implications if the Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s Office of Water Quality approves a NIPSCO permit. Barb Deardorff, residing in Kankakee Township, is worried about how the permit might impact her property value. She lives approximately two miles from the R.M. Schahfer Generating Station and close to the Kankakee River.
Deardorff expressed significant unease over the potential contamination of waterways and threats to endangered species, which she believes the permit might exacerbate. The permit application, made public by IDEM on September 4, outlines plans for mixing wastewater from the Schahfer Generating Station, a new gas plant, and an impending Amazon data center. This mix would be discharged into the Kankakee River after minimal treatment.
On peak days, as much as 34 million gallons of water may be withdrawn from the river, raising concerns among environmental advocates. Ben Inskeep, program director for the Citizens Action Coalition, highlighted the scale of the project as alarming. He noted that mixing waste from various sources before discharge could complicate the tracking of pollutants like mercury, arsenic, and lead.
Inskeep mentioned that this permit is unique in mixing coal, gas, and data center waste streams, typically not seen in such applications. He also pointed out the absence of a planned wastewater treatment plant for the new data center.
A virtual permit hearing is scheduled for October 7, which will allow the public to voice their concerns. The deadline for responses is October 22. Ashley Williams, executive director of Just Transition Northwest Indiana, criticized the permit in her statement. She described the operation as a collection of projects under one permit, involving multiple waste streams ending up in the same outfall, sparking environmental and health concerns.
Williams also raised issues about the Schahfer coal plant’s continued operation despite existing mechanical issues and expressed disappointment that the hearing is virtual instead of in-person in Jasper County.
In a statement, she addressed the potential adverse effects on Wheatfield residents’ health and safety, urging public participation in the hearing process. Deardorff shared her worry over toxic chemical exposure due to the discharge, impacting recreational activities and potentially contaminating fish consumed by local communities.
NIPSCO’s past violations of discharge permits since 2020 are a source of concern. Deardorff cautioned that while the permit might allow some chemical discharge, exceedances are a real possibility. The length and complexity of the permit, which is nearly 150 pages, also raise issues for public understanding. Deardorff acknowledged her familiarity with chemistry and environmental management, suggesting that average citizens might struggle to comprehend the extensive document amidst their daily responsibilities.
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