1. Indiana Water Resources Association June 20, 2007
Thomas W. Easterly, P.E., DEE, QEP Commissioner
IN Department of Environmental Management

2. Both Sides of Regulatory Fence
Over 30 years as an environmental professional.
About half as a government regulator (12 years with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and over 2 years with IDEM
About half as a regulated entity (13 years with Bethlehem Steel, 2 years with NiSource)
A few years as an environmental consultant

3. How Does IDEM Protect the Environment?
Measure the air, water and land to determine the existing state of the environment
Compare the measured values to levels that protect human health and the environment
Ambient Air Quality Standards
Water Quality Standards
Safe soil and ground water clean up levels
Use modeling to determine how much of a substance can be added to the environment

4. How Does IDEM Protect the Environment?
Develop regulations and issue permits to restrict discharges to the environment to safe levels
Inspect and monitor permitted facilities to ensure compliance with the permits
Enforce against people who exceed their permit levels or violate regulations
Educate people on their environmental responsibilities

5. Northwest Indiana Environmental Partnerships
Northwest Indiana is unique in Indiana and probably in the United States in the number and effectiveness of its partnerships to address environmental issues:
Grand Calumet Task Force
NIRPC Environmental Management Policy Committee
Indiana Dunes Environmental Learning Center
Save the Dunes
Shirley Heinz Fund

6. Northwest Indiana Environmental Partnerships Continued
Northwest Indiana Forum Environmental Committee
Steel and Refining Industry Community Advisory Committees
Quality of Life Council
Others
The work completed by these Partnerships has really improved the environment in Northwest Indiana

7. Indicators of Improved Northwest Indiana Environment
Visible return of animals
Beavers
Herons
Coyotes
Clean up of numerous superfund sites
Dredging of historical contamination from rivers
Improved Air Quality
Improved Water Quality

8. Northwest Indiana Air Quality
Measured Air Quality in Lake, Porter and LaPorte Counties meets all current air quality standards (which are much stricter than the original 1971 standards)
IDEM is working to have EPA formally recognize that Northwest Indiana Air meets all standards—EPA has proposed to designate Lake, LaPorte and Porter Counties as attainment for the ozone standard.
The cleanest measured Particulate air quality in Indiana is at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

9. Combined Sewer Overflows
In Indiana 107 communities were originally constructed with sewer systems which overflow when it rains resulting in water pollution which makes the water unsafe for swimming and often causes beach closings
Since January 10, of these communities have either solved the problem or agreed to an enforceable plan to solve this problem in a reasonable time frame

10. NWI Communities with Approved Sewer Overflow Plans
Crown Point
LaPorte
Lowell
Michigan City
Valparaiso

11. IDEM’s Environmental Goal
Increase the personal income of all Hoosiers from the current $0.88/$1.00 of the national average to at least $1.00/$1.00 of the national average while maintaining and improving Indiana’s Environmental Quality.

12. Pilot 2006 Environmental Performance Index
Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy
Yale University
Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN)
Columbia University

14. How Will IDEM Help Increase Personal Income?
Clear, consistent and speedy decisions
Clear regulations
Assistance first, enforcement second
Timely resolution of enforcement actions
Every regulated entity will have current valid permits without unnecessary requirements
Written Standard Operating Procedures
Improved staff training and development

15. Performance Metrics 85% 100% 80% 48% 20% 81,726 66,565 86,864 321,262
Quality of Hoosiers' Environment
Result
Target
Comments
% of Hoosiers that live in counties that meet air quality standards
85%
100%
80%
2 964,725 of 6,271,973 failed
% of CSO Communities with approved programs to prevent the release of untreated sewage
48%
20%
75% by 2007 is goal
Permitting Efficiency Total calendar days accumulated in issuing environmental permits, as determined by state statute
Land
81,726
66,565
86,864
208 permits
699 permits
82 permits
Air
321,262
207,000
385,000
Water
85,443
48,000
200,000
* Places emphasis on back logged permits
Compliance Total percentage of compliance observations from regulated customers within acceptable compliance standards
Inspections
96.84%
97%
75%
Self reporting
94.99%
99%
95%
Continuous monitoring (COM)
99.61%
99.90%
98.95%
* Tracks observations and not just inspections
Organizational Transformation Budgetary agency dollars spent on key outside contracts for core agency functions.
Dollars spent on outside services per year
$3,100,00 $0
$3,447,017
Will require increase in head count to accomplish

16. Counties above AQ Standards
January 10, 2005
Allen--Ozone
Boone--Ozone
Clark—PM & Ozone
Dubois--PM
Elkhart--Ozone
Hamilton--Ozone
Hancock--Ozone
Madison--Ozone
Marion—PM & Ozone
Shelby--Ozone
St. Joseph--Ozone
January 1, 2007
Clark--PM
Marion--PM

17. Total Permit Calendar Days

18. Percent of Activities Meeting Regulations

19. Office of Enforcement 2002-2007
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007*
Referrals
887
607
467
547
591
134
Violation Letters 17 33 47
203
231
Notice of Violations
561
457
318
202
427 66
Agreed Orders
311
349
314
258
417 62
Commissioner's Orders 15 6 41 38 7
Dismissals
125
121 44 48 46 5

20. Thank You—Any Questions?
Tom Easterly
100 N. Senate Ave. IGCN 1301
Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317)
Fax (317)