On July 1, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management published a first notice of comment on rules to ensure that the public is notified when a combined sewer overflows. This rulemaking is mandated by Senate Enrolled Act 431 and must be completed by Oct. 1, 2001.

In its comments, IKE proposed draft regulatory language for IDEM to consider. It also asked IDEM to:

• Establish a default approach that communities can vary from if they use methods that are shown to be as or more effective.
• Ensure that parents in affected neighborhoods, stream users including anglers, and neighborhood schools be notified.
• Require that the notice identify the magnitude of the overflow or threat.
• Mandate that IDEM be notified whenever the notice is not provided in a timely manner.

See IKE's broader effort on combined sewer overflows for more details.