Latest news with #IndianaDepartmentofEnvironmentalManagement
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Environment Canada says Canadian wildfire smoke now floating in parts of U.S.
Swaths of smoke from wildfires torching buildings and forcing thousands of people from their homes in Western Canada have travelled as far as Newfoundland and Labrador in the east and Texas in the south. Those in the north and heavily populated southern areas of Manitoba and Saskatchewan are feeling it the worst because that's where a majority of Canada's wildfires are burning, said Natalie Hasell of Environment Canada in an interview Wednesday. 'Right in the vicinity of the fires, the air quality is going to be particularly bad,' Hasell said. "It's really important for people attention to how you're feeling and how other people around you are feeling.' Hasell said wildfires in Ontario and Quebec may also be the cause of smoky air in Michigan and the eastern seaboard, but not to the same extent as the blazes roaring through parts of the Prairies. Environment Canada has issued bulletins warning of poor air quality in parts of northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan, where wildfires have forced more than 30,000 people from their homes. The agency says conditions will fluctuate but those 65 and older along with youngsters and pregnant people are particularly susceptible to the pollution. Symptoms could range from eye irritation to chest pains and severe coughing. South of the border, air quality alerts were issued in Michigan and Indiana on Wednesday. "Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma should limit prolonged outdoor exposure,' said the Indiana Department of Environmental Management in a statement. Smoke conditions were less severe in Alberta, but there was a slight midday haze over Edmonton Wednesday as fans prepared to head to the downtown Rogers Arena that night for the first game of the Stanley Cup Final. In Saskatchewan, wildfires continued to menace the region around La Ronge, north of Prince Albert. The 7,000 people living in La Ronge, Air Ronge and the Lac La Ronge Indian Band were ordered out just days earlier. Many fled to Prince Albert, 240 kilometres to the south, jamming hotels, some sleeping four to a room. La Ronge Mayor Joe Hordyski said Wednesday the Rona hardware and Roberston Trading stores have burned down. He said the trading post was iconic in the town of more than 2,500 people, about 380 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon. The store closed in 2023 but would periodically open over the last two years. Inside remained Indigenous art, historical artifacts, clothing and carvings. "It's something people looked forward to visiting," Hordyski said in an interview. "This is just the nature of the season. Everybody is battling this and you're going to get losses and what you can protect is a bonus." The mayor said the wind died down Wednesday, making it easier to keep the flames at bay. Up to 15, 000 Saskatchewan residents have been displaced by wildfires. The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency estimates 400 structures have been lost. In Manitoba, fires have forced more than 17,000 residents out of towns, villages and First Nations, mainly in the remote north. Residents of Mathias Colomb First Nation were able to leave Tuesday evening. But Manitoba wildfire officials said efforts to get everyone out of Pimicikamak First Nation and Cross Lake First Nation were ongoing. Elsewhere in the province, a crew of 200 to 250 have been fighting the fire that has forced the 5,000 residents of the City of Flin Flon to leave. The city said in a social media post Wednesday morning that there have been no structure fires, but a return by residents could take some time. 'Evacuees should prepare for the possibility that it will be some time until the situation has stabilized to the point that returning is safe," the post said. In Alberta, officials said the province is seeing "slightly improved conditions" after a week of extreme wildfire behaviour that involved evacuations. Cooler temperatures and high humidity have been helping the more than 1,000 firefighters battling wildfires across the province. -- with files from Jeremy Simes in Regina and Brittany Hobson in Winnipeg This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 4, 2025. Fakiha Baig, The Canadian Press
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Environment Canada says Canadian wildfire smoke now floating in parts of U.S.
Swaths of smoke from wildfires torching buildings and forcing thousands of people from their homes in Western Canada have travelled as far as Newfoundland and Labrador in the east and Texas in the south. Those in the north and heavily populated southern areas of Manitoba and Saskatchewan are feeling it the worst because that's where a majority of Canada's wildfires are burning, said Natalie Hasell of Environment Canada in an interview Wednesday. 'Right in the vicinity of the fires, the air quality is going to be particularly bad,' Hasell said. "It's really important for people attention to how you're feeling and how other people around you are feeling.' Hasell said wildfires in Ontario and Quebec may also be the cause of smoky air in Michigan and the eastern seaboard, but not to the same extent as the blazes roaring through parts of the Prairies. Environment Canada has issued bulletins warning of poor air quality in parts of northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan, where wildfires have forced more than 30,000 people from their homes. The agency says conditions will fluctuate but those 65 and older along with youngsters and pregnant people are particularly susceptible to the pollution. Symptoms could range from eye irritation to chest pains and severe coughing. South of the border, air quality alerts were issued in Michigan and Indiana on Wednesday. "Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma should limit prolonged outdoor exposure,' said the Indiana Department of Environmental Management in a statement. Smoke conditions were less severe in Alberta, but there was a slight midday haze over Edmonton Wednesday as fans prepared to head to the downtown Rogers Arena that night for the first game of the Stanley Cup Final. In Saskatchewan, wildfires continued to menace the region around La Ronge, north of Prince Albert. The 7,000 people living in La Ronge, Air Ronge and the Lac La Ronge Indian Band were ordered out just days earlier. Many fled to Prince Albert, 240 kilometres to the south, jamming hotels, some sleeping four to a room. La Ronge Mayor Joe Hordyski said Wednesday the Rona hardware and Roberston Trading stores have burned down. He said the trading post was iconic in the town of more than 2,500 people, about 380 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon. The store closed in 2023 but would periodically open over the last two years. Inside remained Indigenous art, historical artifacts, clothing and carvings. "It's something people looked forward to visiting," Hordyski said in an interview. "This is just the nature of the season. Everybody is battling this and you're going to get losses and what you can protect is a bonus." The mayor said the wind died down Wednesday, making it easier to keep the flames at bay. Up to 15, 000 Saskatchewan residents have been displaced by wildfires. The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency estimates 400 structures have been lost. In Manitoba, fires have forced more than 17,000 residents out of towns, villages and First Nations, mainly in the remote north. Residents of Mathias Colomb First Nation were able to leave Tuesday evening. But Manitoba wildfire officials said efforts to get everyone out of Pimicikamak First Nation and Cross Lake First Nation were ongoing. Elsewhere in the province, a crew of 200 to 250 have been fighting the fire that has forced the 5,000 residents of the City of Flin Flon to leave. The city said in a social media post Wednesday morning that there have been no structure fires, but a return by residents could take some time. 'Evacuees should prepare for the possibility that it will be some time until the situation has stabilized to the point that returning is safe," the post said. In Alberta, officials said the province is seeing "slightly improved conditions" after a week of extreme wildfire behaviour that involved evacuations. Cooler temperatures and high humidity have been helping the more than 1,000 firefighters battling wildfires across the province. -- with files from Jeremy Simes in Regina and Brittany Hobson in Winnipeg This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 4, 2025. Fakiha Baig, The Canadian Press
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
County council gets information on regional utility district
ANDERSON — The Madison County Council met in executive session to gather information on a proposal to create a regional utility district to resolve a pollution issue in Monroe Township. Last month the council tabled a resolution in support of creating a regional utility district to resolve an issue in the Scott's Addition in Monroe Township. The Madison County commissioners have already approved the resolution; the council is expected to consider it again at its Tuesday meeting. In 2023, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management fined Madison County $1,700 over raw sewage flowing into Pipe Creek. The county entered into an agreement order with the state agency to remedy the problem in the Scott's Addition. The agreed order states that IDEM did an inspection on Sept. 21, 2022, and staff observed a broken concrete storm sewer pipe. 'The water flowing in the pipe was black and septic with an odor of raw sewage,' according to an inspection report. 'The pipe was traced to an unnamed tributary where it discharged from a concrete outfall.' Madison County Engineer Jessica Bastin said the commissioners and council have already approved $3.5 million in American Rescue Plan funds to resolve the issue. She said American Rescue Plan funds were used to develop an infrastructure master plan for the county, with water and wastewater high on the list. Bastin said residents in the subdivision are unable to replace existing septic systems, which were installed in the 1950s. Alexandria Mayor Todd Naselroad said the city is willing to allow the connection of a sewer line to the city's wastewater treatment plant and has the capacity to treat the water. Bastin said Commonwealth Engineering has completed a draft of the study, which was discussed with council members during the executive session. She said work was already started to resolve the pollution problem in the subdivision to the east of Ind. 9 several years ago. Bastin said if the letter of support is approved by the county council, it will be submitted to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. She said IDEM will conduct a public hearing and notices will be sent to property owners and advertised 30 days before the hearing takes place. Bastin said county officials will also conduct a public hearing to share information with property owners, and a review of the plan will be submitted to IDEM. That will trigger a 180-day period for public comment, and a second public hearing will take place in Madison County. 'IDEM would have to approve any project,' Bastin said. Councilwoman Bethany Keller raised concerns about the process at the March council meeting, asking if property owners would be required to tap into a sewer line and inquiring about the makeup of the proposed board. The board will consist of five members, with the commissioners, Madison County Council, Alexandria mayor, the county health department and Monroe Township trustee each making appointments.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
More questions than answers at town hall meeting on sewer problems
ALEXANDRIA — If residents of Monroe Township were looking for answers to their sewer problem, they were left with more questions Thursday night. Madison County Councilwoman Bethany Keller held a town hall meeting at the Monroe Township Trustee's office. The Madison County Council last month tabled a resolution previously adopted by the county commissioners to begin the process of establishing a regional utility district. In 2023, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management fined Madison County $1,700 over raw sewage flowing into Pipe Creek. The county entered into an agreement order with the state agency to remedy the problem in the Scott's Addition. One resident said raw sewage is flowing into Pipe Creek. 'I started asking questions, calling people and not getting answers,' Keller said. 'This is a lengthy process that will take about a year.' Keller said she has not received a copy of a study that was done using American Rescue Plan funds for stormwater issues in Madison County. She said during the process, there will be an official public meeting that will be advertised with proper notice. Keller said she wanted to know if there were other options available to the 171 households in the Phillip's and Scott's additions. John Widner said the process started in 2022, and if the regional utility district is approved, residents and businesses would be charged a monthly fee. 'This is a multi-million-dollar project,' he said. 'It's possible to tap into the Alexandria system without being annexed into the city.' Alexandria Mayor Todd Naselroad said there have been discussions between the city and county about extending sewer lines. Naselroad said the Alexandria sewage treatment plant would be able to accept the flow from the two additions. Keller said residences within 300 feet of a sewer line could be required to connect to the system. 'There would be a board that establishes policies,' she said. 'It would decide if there would be exceptions from the hook-up requirement.' On the topic of forming a regional utility district, Keller said it's hoped that would be the least expensive undertaking because grant funding could be available. She said in the future, the regional utility district could cover all of Monroe Township. State Sen. Mike Gaskill, a former member of the Madison County Council, said it was the responsibility of the commissioners to present information to the council. 'We need to slow this process down,' he said. 'Residents should hear all the possible solutions and the potential costs. We need to come up with the best solution for residents.'
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Meeting planned to discuss sewage problem in Monroe Township
ANDERSON — Madison County Councilwoman Bethany Keller is conducting a town hall meeting to discuss the sewage problem in Monroe Township. The county council last week tabled a request by county engineer Jessica Bastin to approve a letter of support to create a regional utility district. The meeting is set for 6 p.m. at the office of the Monroe Township Trustee, 204 E. Berry St., Alexandria. Keller said Monday that trustee George McFerran would attend. She said other council members, including Jodi Norrick, Scott Green and Kristi Grabowski, were planning to attend, along with county surveyor Ken Kocinski. In 2023, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management fined Madison County $1,700 after raw sewage was discovered flowing into Pipe Creek. The county entered into an agreement order with the state agency to remedy the problem in the Scott's Addition. The agreed order states that IDEM did an inspection on Sept. 21, 2022, and staff observed a broken concrete storm sewer pipe. 'The water flowing in the pipe was black and septic with an odor of raw sewage,' an inspection report reads. 'The pipe was traced to an unnamed tributary where it discharged from a concrete outfall.' Bastin said that the project has been in the planning stages for three years. She said the council had previously approved American Rescue Plan funds for master planning of infrastructure in unincorporated areas of the county. Bastin said the study identified where there are sewage problems in the county. She said an IDEM survey found raw sewage from the Scott's Addition was flowing into groundwater. Bastin said IDEM wants the county to correct the problem. She said it was the recommendation of the state agency and consultants to form a regional utility district, which would allow access to state grant funds. Keller raised concerns about the process, including if property owners would be required to tap into a sewer line, and the makeup of the proposed board. The board will consist of five members, with the commissioners, Madison County Council, Alexandria mayor, the Madison County Health Department and Monroe Township trustee each making an appointment. 'We're appointing people that aren't elected,' Keller said. 'We need to protect property rights.'
