2 Hot Topics at NIRPC Environmental Committee Meeting

NirpcGBLogocopyIDEM to present results of Lakeshore Air Toxics Study and INDOT Team to provide details on Environmental Analysis related to the Illiana.

The NIRPC Environmental Management and Policy Committee (EMPC) will host two important presentations at 9:00 a.m. Thursday, August 1. Jeffrey Stoakes, Senior Environmental Manager with the Office of Air Quality at the Indiana Department of Environmental Management will present the results of the Lakeshore Air Toxics Study. This study was introduced at EMPC in May of 2012. The study evaluated ambient air monitoring data and performed modeling of industrial, car, and truck emissions within Northwest Indiana to assess potential health risks.

In addition, Jim Earle of the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) will return to EMPC as a follow up to an overview presentation in May of this year. “The EMPC members had numerous questions about water related impacts of the proposed Illiana expressway,” said Kathy Luther, NIRPC Director of Environmental Programs, “I’m pleased that the Illiana team requested an opportunity to come back and address these concerns.”

The Environmental Management and Policy Committee (EMPC) is one of the primary advisory bodies to NIRPC. The group includes elected local officials, environmental managers, regional environmental activists, industry leaders, and academics with expertise in environmental and ecological areas. This Committee helps support the NIRPC vision to become a voice for regional stewardship of our natural resources

NIRPC is a regional council of local governments serving the three counties of northwest Indiana. The northwest Indiana region is an integral part of the greater Chicago metropolitan area. NIRPC provides a forum that enables the citizens of northwest Indiana to address regional issues relating to transportation, the environment and community and economic development. NIRPC is the voice of regionalism in northwestern Indiana, and a developer of consensus-backed solutions.

If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Kathy Luther, please call NIRPC at 219/763-6060 or e-mail nirpc@nirpc.org.

Reasonable Accommodations

Requests for alternate format materials or interpreters may be made 72 hours in advance to Meredith Stilwell: (219) 763-6060 Ext. 138 or e-mail mstilwell@nirpc.org

Non-Discrimination

The Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC) Prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, marital status, familial status, parental status, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program.