Children’s Environmental Health Issues in Indiana

August 2007 Edition

PDF Version

IKE Highlights

Indiana’s First Children’s Environmental Health Summit a Resounding Success!

On April 13, 2007, more than 140 physicians, academics, advocates, government policy makers, business representatives, students and other interested parties came together to learn about and discuss three environmental issues of concern to children’s health:  fine particle pollution, environmental hazards in the home, and endocrine disruptors. Hosted by IKE, the Center for Health and Environment at the IU Medical School, the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at IUPUI and Hoosier Environmental Council, the Summit was a great success and likely to be repeated.    More information is available here.

IKE Proposes Compromise on Utility Mercury Rule, IN Air Board Proposes Federal Minimum

On May 2, 2007, the Indiana Air Pollution Control Board  voted to propose that Indiana adopt the federal minimum mercury reduction rule for coal-fired power plants, which requires a 65% reduction in emissions by 2018, although complicated banking provisions mean that the full reductions will not be fully achieved until 2025 and the “cap and trade” approach means that individual power plants may not need to make any actual reductions as long as the utility can buy or trade credits from another plant.  The Hoosier Environmental Council (HEC) has been advocating strongly for a rule that would require more reductions, on a quicker timeframe (15 states, including Illinois, Minnesota and Michigan have adopted or are working to adopt rules similar to HEC’s proposal).  IKE and HEC have been working together for months to educate a wide group of stakeholders about the effects of mercury emissions on children’s health and to develop well researched testimony for the rulemaking.  Hundreds of people and a number of organizations, many of whom are new to the environmental rulemaking process, have filed comments or testified to express their view that the federal rule’s reduction targets and schedule are not protective of public health and that more reductions faster are both technologically feasible and will not raise electric rates significantly.

IKE has offered a compromise approach that falls between the federal requirements and HEC’s proposal.  Four of the public board members supported a compromise, but seven votes are needed to carry a motion and the burden is heavy for any stakeholder advocating a position other than that proposed by IDEM (four of the board members represent state agencies, and the Administration was clear that it did not believe any reductions beyond the federal minimum were justified).  None of the Indiana utilities would agree to IKE’s proposed compromise or offered any compromise of its own.

There will be another public hearing before the Board votes on a final rule (probably in October).  The proposed rule was published in the Indiana Register on June 27 and can be found at www.in.gov/legislative/register/irtoc.htm.  IKE and HEC will continue to push for a rule that will be more protective of public health.  Recent research is providing further evidence that mercury emissions from Indiana power plants deposit locally—a major point of debate—which means that local reductions will make a difference.

Another note of concern:

IKE is concerned about Governor Daniels’ recent appointments to the Air Board to fill the local government representative spot.  The first appointment was a county commissioner who also worked in government affairs for a major electric utility.  As a registered state lobbyist, he was ineligible to serve because of Governor Daniels’ policy prohibiting lobbyists from holding positions on citizen boards.  IKE brought this conflict to IDEM’s attention and the person resigned.  The replacement, another county commissioner, also works for an Indiana utility.  While IKE believes that he is well qualified to serve on the Air Board, we also believe it is a violation of state conflict of interest laws for him to vote on a matter in which he has a personal financial interest.  We raised this issue in advance of the Board meeting and, after informal consultation with the State Ethics commission, the Governor’s office determined that there was no conflict. (At this point, without a written analysis from the State Ethics Commission, IKE doubts this interpretation of the law).  He abstained from voting on the mercury rule, however, which IKE believes was appropriate.

Legislative News

This year’s legislative session resulted in several bills that address children’s environmental health specifically:

HB1001:  State Budget, a big boost for programs on smoking cessation and, by increasing the cigarette tax, to prevent kids from picking up the habit to begin with!

SB 102:  Lead-bearing substances, which addressed lead in consumer products that may get into the hands (and mouths of children) and other lead-poisoning related issues, did not move out of committee, due to the press of other matters.  However, both Senator Gard and Commissioner Monroe of the Indiana State Department of Health have expressed their intent to pursue comprehensive lead poisoning legislation this coming year.

HB 1457:  Birth Problems Registry.  This bill extends the life of the Birth Defects Registry maintained by the Indiana State Department of Health from 2007 to 2017.  --a good thing.

IKE also actively participated in discussions on a proposed rewrite of the state’s Environmental Crimes bill, which was passed (SEA 286).  While the new law is much more specific about what actions constitute crimes, it also makes prosecution extremely difficult.  IKE successfully advocated for an amendment to provide additional protection to wetland areas.

If you would like more information about environmental legislation, check out the Hoosier Environmental Council website at www.hecweb.org/Legislative/2007_Session_in_Review.htm.

The 2007 Environmental Quality Service Council will be chaired by Senator Gard.  The agenda has not been set yet, but possible agenda items include

·     Recycling issues

• Rulemaking process

• Environmental fee increases

• Storm water fees

• Great Lakes Compact

• Combined Animal Feeding Operation issues

• Special districts

  • Solid waste

  • Regional sewer

• Conservancy

• Other issues  assigned by Legislative Council or determined by EQSC

Senator Gard has scheduled the following meetings for EQSC in 2007:

1. August 16, 2007 at 1 PM in Indianapolis in the Senate Chamber of the Indiana Statehouse (agenda available at www.in.gov/legislative/interim/committee/notices/EQSCA8G.pdf.)

2. September 14, 2007 in Northwest Indiana. Time and place to be determined.

3. October 3, 2007 at 10AM in Indianapolis

4. October 23, 2007 at 10AM in Indianapolis

Asthma and Clean Air

Hot Summer Weather Means Increased Chance for Poor Air Quality for Many Hoosiers

So far this summer, there have been Air Quality Action Days called in all regions of the state, with the southeast and southwest regions having the most days where air quality was predicted to be poor. You can find out the air quality in your region, or sign up to have an email sent to you when IDEM predicts a poor air quality day, at www.in.gov/apps/idem/smog/, or in Central Indiana at www.knozone.com.

USEPA Recommends that Current Smog Standard Does Not Protect the Public Health

And Indiana would be calling even more Air Quality Action Days under a proposed stricter ozone standard.  On June 21, USEPA issued a proposal to revise the ozone standard (from the current standard of 80 parts per million) to somewhere in the range of 70-75 parts per million.  The recommendation is based on health studies completed since 1997, the last time the standard was revised.  What does this mean for Indiana?  The twelve most critical monitoring sites across the state all have average values between 73 and 81 parts per million, with 9 of those above 75.  According to USEPA’s review of the health studies, air quality at this level puts the public at risk, especially young children, the elderly, and those with asthma or other respiratory illnesses.

Comments on the proposed standard are due by October 9, 2007, and EPA will hold several public hearings, including one in Chicago on September 5.  More information is available at www.epa.gov/air/ozonepollution/.

USEPA Proposes that Lake and Porter Counties Meet Ozone Standard, but Air Quality Does Not Agree

In response to a petition from IDEM filed last summer, USEPA has proposed to redesignate the two most northwestern counties to attainment status for ozone.  IKE submitted comments in opposition to the proposal, available here.

Asthma Coalition Adopts Resolution to Reduce Residential Open Burning of Yard Waste

Love the smell of burning leaves in the fall?  Many of us do, but to those with asthma or other respiratory illnesses the wood smoke can drive them to their inhalers or worse.  On June 29, the Indiana Joint Asthma Coalition (INJAC) adopted a Resolution calling on local governments to regulate open burning of yard waste, for continued public education about the potential health effects of burning, and for increased funding to make alternatives (such as chipping and composting) available to all Hoosiers.  Previously, INJAC has adopted Resolutions supporting smoke-free ordinances and No Idle Zone policies.  The resolutions are available at www.in.gov/isdh/programs/asthma/InJAC/index.htm.

Asthma Education Makes Dollars and Sense

The New England Regional Asthma Council has issued a review of studies showing that asthma education and in-home environmental intervention is cost-effective, i.e. the programs are low cost compared to the costs avoided.  In brief, the report concludes:

• effective asthma education programs targeted to high risk patients are likely to result in health care cost savings, and

• programs targeting patients whose health service utilization is lower may or may not generate net cost savings, but will result in improved health outcomes, such as quality of life, lung function, and reduced school and work absences.

The full report is available at www.asthmaregionalcouncil.org/documents/InvestinginBestPracticesforAsthma_000.pdf.

EPA to Study Air Emissions from Confined Animal Feeding Operations

CAFOs have traditionally been regulated as potential water pollution sources, but anyone who lives near one or has visited one knows that they produce air emissions—from the barns themselves, manure storage lagoons, and spray irrigation of manure.  EPA has announced a nationwide, two year study of air emissions from these facilities in cooperation with eight universities.  Researchers from eight universities across the country are conducting the monitoring, which will track levels of four pollutants most likely to be emitted from animal housing and manure storage facilities at animal production farms: particulate matter (PM); hydrogen sulfide; volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and ammonia. Monitoring will begin in Spring 2007 on 24 sites in nine states, including Indiana.  In fact, the lead scientist for the study is Dr. Al Heber of Purdue University, who has long been involved in researching this issue.  More information is available at www.epa.gov/agriculture/airmonitoringstudy.html and http://pasture.ecn.purdue.edu/~odor/NAEMS/.

Citizens’ Gas Coke Plant in Indianapolis Closes it Doors

Indianapolis Coke ceased production on July 14, 2007 after nearly 98 years in business. The company is now in the process of decommissioning the facility, determining how to handle wastes remaining on the site, and deciding on possible future uses of the site.  This is expected to take quite a while.  IDEM continues to monitor air quality immediately downwind of the site and will for a while into the future.

The coke plant has been a fixture of that neighborhood for many, many years, a source of employment (350 manufacturing jobs) and, in many ways, a very good neighbor.  However, there is no arguing with the fact that air quality is now better for the residents.

Mercury 

See story above.

Environmental Tobacco Smoke

Second-hand or environmental tobacco smoke is the most significant environmental threat to children’s health, especially children with asthma. IKE strongly supports efforts to reduce children’s exposure to tobacco smoke. 

Smokefree Indiana has moved.  Their new address is:

Smokefree Indiana
Contractor: Indiana State Dept. of Health
2 North Meridian St., 7R
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Find out more about smoking cessation programs at www.smokefreeindiana.org and www.lungin.org.

Sewage

IDEM Considers Use Attainability Analysis for Indianapolis.  As part of the Long Term Control Plan for Indianapolis’ sewer system, which has been approved by IDEM and EPA and is currently being implemented through a v variety of projects, Indianapolis is seeking to change the “designated uses” of portions of the White River, Pleasant Run, Fall Creek, Eagle Creek, Pogues’ Run, and Bean Creek.  Right now, those streams are classified for full-body contact recreation at all times.  Under a recent Indiana law allowing municipalities to change that use for a period up to four days after a significant storm event, Indianapolis is seeking to modify the designated uses to match the goals of the Long-Term Control Plan. The requested change would authorize combined sewer overflows an average of two times a year on Fall Creek and four times a year on the other waterways, during those periods of time when water flow is very high and n o recreational use of the streams are expected.  The city must fully implement its $1.8 billion sewer improvement program before the change can take effect. The change must be approved by IDEM, the Indiana Water Pollution Control Board and U.S. EPA. More information is available at www.indycleanstreams.org.

Lead and Healthy Homes

Nearly a million popular toys recalled because of lead hazards.  It’s no longer just the cheap toys at dollar stores and in vending machines that are posing a danger to kids.  The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall on August 2 (www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07257.html) for Fisher Price toys including Sesame Street, Dora the Explorer and other toys.  This is just the latest in a spate of recalls of toys manufactured in China that have been found to be painted with lead-containing paint.

In an effort to bring more public attention to the problem of lead in children’s toys, on July 25 the Sierra Club sent letters to ten US companies, including Target and Dollar General, that import or distribute children’s toys and jewelry from China demanding that they provide information about their lead-tainted products to EPA within 60 days or face suit.

Check out the most recent issue of the Indiana Lead-Safe and Healthy Homes Newsletter:  www.ikecoalition.org/LSITF_Newsletter/LSITF_Newsletter_March_2007.htm.

It’s never too soon to mark your calendars!  The 2007 Lead Safe and Healthy Homes Conference will be held on October 29 and 30 at Marten House in Indianapolis.  More information is available at www.ikecoalition.org/Lead_Conf_2007/Conf_Preview_2007.htm. 

Healthy Schools

More Marion County schools are becoming Smart Schools

As of the end of the school year, 44 schools in Marion County have signed up for IKE and Knozone’s Smart Schools Don’t Idle program, which provides comprehensive education on the link between vehicle idling, air pollution and asthma, and encourages kids, parents, teachers and others to Turn the Key and Be Idle Free.  These schools have each taken steps to improve air quality on campus, including:

·        posting No Idle signs on school grounds where parents tend to idle

·        signing up to receive email alerts of Air Quality Action Days

·        distributing air pollution activity packets to their students

And more….As schools gets ready to start for another year, see if your local school is part of the program and find out more.

ISDH Request for Response from Schools Gets Attention

The Indiana State Department of Health conducts indoor air quality checks upon request.  Anyone can make a request, and it can even be anonymous, though it does need to be in writing.  After conducting an inspection, ISDH sends the school a letter outlining any issues they have found.  At IKE’s urging, in 2006, ISDH starting asking schools to respond with an explanation of what steps they intended to take to address any issues ISDH identified.  ISDH’s reports, and any school responses, are available at www.ikecoalition.org/Schools/IAQ_in_Schools.htm.  Indoor air quality issues are most often due to inadequate air circulation or mold caused by damp indoor conditions or leaks.  IKE wants to commend ISDH for asking schools to provide their proposed corrective action and schools, including particularly the Southeastern Career Center in Versailles and Kolling Elementary School in St. John, who moved promptly in response to the complaint and report to address problems. 

Other News and Notes                                                                          

City of Indianapolis launches Greenprint program.  The City of Indianapolis has announced its Greenprint program, intended to put into practice Mayor Peterson’s commitment to making Indianapolis a city that makes environmental stewardship a guiding principle.  Allison Gritton is the lead staff person for Greenprint, and can be reached at agritton@indygov.org.  More information is available at www.indygov.org/eGov/Mayor/GreenPrint/home.htm .

Great Sources of Information                                                                           

Check out www.womenshealthandenvironment.org, which contains comprehensive information about the science linking women’s (actually, everyone’s) health and the environment and ideas of individual, community, state and national level advocacy aimed at reducing human exposures to contaminants.

                                                                                                                                                                                    Ever come across an acronym you didn't recognize?  Figure it out at www.acronymfinder.com/.  There's really a website for everything!  

Upcoming Meetings and Events                                                                            

September 10:               Physical Activity and the Built Environment:  What Works?  Sponsored by Health by Design; 8-5 at the Radisson Hotel City Centre, 31 W. Ohio St.  More information at www.healthbydesignonline.org

October 11:                   Lead Elimination Advisory Committee, 10AM, 151 N. Delaware Street, Suite 1200, Indianapolis

October 29-30:              2007 Indiana Lead Safe and Healthy Homes Conference, Marten House, Indianapolis

Thanks for improving kids' environment!   

If you have any questions or comments about this newsletter or Improving Kids’ Environment, contact Janet McCabe at mccabe@ikecoalition.org , 317-902-3610 or 1201 N. Central Avenue, #9, Indianapolis, IN  46202.  Please let us know if you do not want to receive this newsletter.  You may get enough emails and faxes already.  We do not want to add to the burden if you are not interested in receiving the materials. 

IKE also publishes the “Indiana Lead-Safe & Healthy Homes” newsletter on behalf of the Indiana Lead-Safe Task Force.  This newsletter deals with issues and events involving lead-poisoning and healthy homes in Indiana.  Let Janet McCabe know if you would like to receive that newsletter. 

IKE SUPPORTER - REGISTRATION FORM

You can become a supporter of children’s environmental health by:

1.         Mailing or faxing IKE a copy of this completed registration form to1201 N. Central Ave., #9, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202 or 866-234-8505;

2.         Sending IKE an e-mail with the information at mccabe@ikecoalition.org  ; or

3.         Visiting IKE’s website at www.ikecoalition.org and completing the form on-line.

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