skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, March 29, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Critics: Vote This Week Could Undermine Ohio River Water Quality

play audio
Play

Monday, October 1, 2018   

INDIANAPOLIS – A vote this week will determine if Indiana and other states will lose some pollution control standards for the Ohio River.

The Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission, known as ORSANCO, has provided oversight of pollution levels in the river for more than seven decades.

Commissioners from the eight states involved, including Indiana, are deciding whether to dissolve their standards and allow state and federal standards to take precedent.

Dr. Indra Frank, director of environmental health and water policy for the Hoosier Environmental Council, says it's a precarious proposition for Indiana, which is downstream from other Ohio River states.

"There are at least 490 different permitted wastewater discharges that go into the river before it ever reaches Indiana,” she points out. “So we could be a state that would feel the impact more than others when the standards are lowered. "

Frank explains there are 53 Indiana standards that are weaker than ORSANCO standards, and the state is lacking 50 different chemicals tests that ORSANCO covers.

Commissioners say the standards are redundant, but opponents say dropping them would leave gaps in water protections for the river.

The vote is scheduled for this Thursday.

Frank notes the proposal comes at a dangerous time, as federal leaders are working to weaken Clean Water Act Protections.

And she contends ORSANCO has not fully realized the possible repercussions.

"The commission has not studied how loss of these standards will impact permitting, water quality or state regulations,” she states. “And in the absence of that careful study of what the consequences would be, this is really a very drastic step to take. "

Commissioners argue that without having to focus on water quality standards, resources can be directed towards water monitoring and research, and other programs.


get more stories like this via email

more stories
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week about the popular abortion pill Mifepristone and will weigh in on whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was correct in how it can be dosed and prescribed. (Ascannio/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Missouri residents are worried about future access to birth control. The latest survey from The Right Time, an initiative based in Missouri…


Social Issues

play sound

Wisconsin children from low-income families are now on track to get nutritious foods over the summer. Federal officials have approved the Badger …

Social Issues

play sound

Almost 2,900 people are unsheltered on any given night in the Beehive State. Gov. Spencer Cox is celebrating signing nine bills he says are geared …


The U.S. teaching workforce remains primarily white while the percentage of Black teachers has declined. However, the percentage of Asian and Latinx teachers is rising.(WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobestock)

Social Issues

play sound

Education advocates are calling on lawmakers to increase funding for programs to combat the teacher shortage. Around 37% of schools nationwide …

Environment

play sound

New York's Legislature is considering a bill to get clean-energy projects connected to the grid faster. It's called the RAPID Act, for "Renewable …

Social Issues

play sound

Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …

Social Issues

play sound

Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021