Newspaper Articles on the December 1999 

Chemical Spill into Indiana's White River

The Indianapolis Star has provided the most extensive coverage to the spill.  Check out these articles.

• Dec. 21, 1999:  Substance killing fish in White River.  Officials say whatever killed 2,000 carp, minnows in Hamilton, Madison counties is floating city's way.
• Dec. 22, 1999:  Fish kill in White River stumps officials
• Dec. 28, 1999:  Wildlife death toll continues to climb.  Herbicide ingredient released into White River may be cause; lab results are due today.
• Dec. 30, 1999:  White River contamination waning.  Criticism mounts over slow response to fish kills as state probe tries to assess blame for disaster.
• Dec. 31, 1999:  Chemical tied to fishkill did damage here in '91.  Compound suspected in current case caused extensive harm to a water treatment facility.
• Dec. 31, 1999:  White River fish kill.  An Indianapolis Star editorial
• Jan. 1, 2000:  Bait shop may be out of luck after spill.  Family business in Noblesville could be ruined by toxic pollution of White River.
• Jan. 2, 2000:  Recent chemical spill may be river's worst
• Jan. 3, 2000:  River will recover from spill, state says.  Officials find evidence that many aquatic creatures regularly eaten by larger fish in White River survived.
• Jan. 5, 2000:  Ammonia levels in White River remain too high.  Anderson wastewater treatment plant is still receiving fish-killing pollutant through sewer system. 
• Jan. 6, 2000:  Fish kill appears to have ended.  Pollutant level falls below the allowable limits at the wastewater treatment plant in Anderson.
• Jan. 7, 2000:  A new threat.  2nd toxic scare at Anderson wastewater treatment plant worries officials.
• Jan. 7, 2000 (second article):  Living -- and dying -- on the river
• Jan. 8, 2000:  Contaminant may be back at water plant.  Increased ammonia levels could mean that reused sludge harbored pollutant.
• Jan. 9, 2000:  Agencies set up response center for White River
• Jan. 9, 2000 (second article):  How the fish kill tainted waterway, public confidence. Chain of events has rattled confidence and prompted scrutiny of government's response.
• Jan. 11, 2000: DNR releases more bad news. State officials report a 'near total loss of fish' in contaminated river from Anderson to Fishers.
• Jan. 11, 2000 (second article):  CEO deflects blame for fish kill. New Guide Corp. chief says he's been reassured by workers that plant did not pollute river.
• Jan. 12, 2000:  Feds stepping in.  O'Bannon seeks help with state investigation into White River fish kill.
• Jan. 12, 2000:  Meeting provides few answers to public about river fish kill.    
• Jan. 12, 2000:  A lack of confidence.  An Indianapolis Star editorial.
• Jan. 13, 2000:  Polluters are put on notice.  Gov. O'Bannon says those who contaminate state's waterways, air will be held accountable
• Jan. 13, 2000:  State sweeps Guide plant for evidence in fish kill.  U.S. Attorney announces criminal probe; warrant authorizes inspection.
• Jan. 14, 2000:  Stiffer penalties won't help deter polluters, critics say.
• Jan. 14, 2000 (second article):  Crowd reassured on status of river.  Officials tell residents in Morgan County that health risks from dirty water are minimal.
• Jan. 15, 2000:  State admits it was slow to act in fish kill.
• Jan. 15, 2000:  (second article):  River is no risk to water, state says.  Officials say neither chemical spill nor fish kill in White River will affect city's supply from wells.  
• Jan. 16, 2000:  First response to big fish kill found deficient.  Records suggest action was delayed due to a meltdown of official communications
• Jan. 16, 2000  (second article):  White River firestorms engulf official.  Fish kill is latest one that director of state's environmental agency has faced in 3 1/2 years.
• Jan. 17, 2000:  State dumping fish in protective landfill.  Agency sees no threat from dead animals but is taking some precautions
• Jan. 18, 2000:  Guide Corp. probe widens.  State looking at past owners and an employee contracted by auto parts firm to work at Anderson site
• Jan. 18, 2000 (second article):  Records from inspections in Anderson
• Jan. 19, 2000:  Treatment plant sends sewage into river
  Wastewater plant spills 900,000 gallons, but officials report no environmental problems.
• Jan. 20, 2000:  Christians pray for river revival.  Orthodox parishioners gather for ritual
• Jan. 21, 2000:  State urges cautious use of chemical.  Firms that might use substance suspected in the fish kill are warned to avoid putting much of it into sewers.
• Jan. 21, 2000 (letters to editor):  Readers' forum:  The White River fish kill
• Jan. 23, 2000:  Toxic metals probed in fish kill.  Chromium, which is used by Guide, is included in White River investigation.
• Jan. 29, 2000:  Fish kill's cause remains mystery.  Inconclusive test results, late reporting of spill have hampered state's efforts to uncover culprit.
• Jan. 30, 2000:  Undoing the damage. Ecologists say organisms vital to White River might have survived the deadly chemical spill, providing hope for restoration efforts.
• Jan. 31, 2000:  Check on state power. An Indianapolis Star editorial.
• Feb. 2, 2000:  State hires outside firm to investigate huge fish kill.
• Feb. 20, 2000:  Water gets clean bill of health
  Only 6 weeks after a massive fish kill, independent analysis finds little pollution.
• Feb. 22, 2000:  Environmental measure gets preliminary OK in the House
• March 2, 2000:  State uses subpoenas in probe of fish kill
• March 5, 2000:  Guide reported 'potential' spill in early December
• March 7, 2000:  State biologists to examine fish in White River
• March 8, 2000:  Fish life gradually returning after spill
• March 11, 2000:  IDEM to rely on new plan for handling emergencies
• March 12, 2000:  Fish kill spotlights plant operators
• March 12, 2000:  Treatment plants have encountered some close calls
• March 12, 2000:  Operators face consequences for shoddy work
• March 12, 2000:  Operator's certification expired, officials say
• March 14, 2000:  Paper sues state over fish kill subpoenas
• March 15, 2000:  April hearing set on request to see fish-kill subpoenas
• March 22, 2000:  Guide Corp.'s $50,000 will aid river's renewal
• March 22, 2000:  River takes another hit after fire at Muncie plant
• March 23, 2000:  River pollution after fire halts water company pumping
• March 24, 2000:  State certifies Guide's water plant operator
• April 1, 2000:  Guide suit calls for protection of documents
• April 1, 2000:  State wants subpoenas kept secret
• April 3, 2000:  State gets mixed marks in fish kill
• April 4, 2000:  Angry residents plan to file suit
• April 9, 2000:  Anderson likely to face stricter controls.  State ratings of award-winning plant began to slip in the months before fish-killing discharge.
• April 21, 2000:   State expected to sue Guide.  Civil action against auto parts plant for fish kill likely will be filed next week.

• April 23, 2000:  Subpoenas show path of river probe. Investigators' demand for firms to release data points to Guide as likely source of the pollution.

   

Also check out the Anderson Herald Bulletin for additional stories.  Sorry, but IKE is not able to link directly to the stories and only seven days of articles are available.  So you may need to check their page weekly to stay current.