Oct. E-news: Register for this Year's Biggest Event; CAFOs, Rail, & More

Invironment

In This Issue

We need your help to continue our work on Green Energy, Sustainable Agriculture and 21st Century Transportation legislation. Donate Now!

Patoka Refuge 20th Anniversary

Interested in learning more about the Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge, which HEC has fought to expand? Then please join Friends of the Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge for the Refuge's 20th anniversary celebration event to be held Saturday, October 11. Get details here.

Thanks for Your Support!

HEC thanks all those supporters who helped us meet the matching grant from the Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation. Because of you, HEC raised $2850 from supporters to match a $2500 grant from the foundation!

Greening the Statehouse, held this year on October 25th, is Indiana's largest gathering of environmental advocates. Here's why you must go!

Network with hundreds
Learn about the latest environmental issues
Engage with one of the country's leading environmental filmmakers
Get inspired!

Josh Fox, famed director of the Oscar-nominated film GASLAND and its sequel GASLAND 2, will be our keynote speaker. His celebrated and provocative films about fracking provide a powerful context for growing concern that lawmakers will seek to roll back long-standing protections to Indiana's air and water.

Saturday, October 25, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
IMAX in the Indiana State Museum
LEARN MORE AND REGISTER

THANK YOU to our sponsors (so far!): Greenwater Infrastructure, Centerplate NCAA, IMAX Indiana State Museum, Indy Film Fest, Rocket 88 Doughnuts, NUVO and more than 15 non-profit partners!

Is your green-minded business or nonprofit interested in sponsoring Greening the Statehouse? Contact Renee at rsweany@hecweb.org or 317-538-5472.

HEC Leading Effort to Cut Manure Pollution

HEC is leading the effort to ensure a new IDEM rule protects rural communities from factory farm waste brought in from out-of-state and stored in "Satellite Manure Storage Structures (SMSSs)." SMSS pose a serious threat to our waterways and public health without proper safeguards in place. Regrettably, IDEM has proposed a rule that will allow massive amounts of livestock waste to be stored in unlined lagoons that can be constructed in flood plains or in areas with direct access to groundwater.

Livestock waste is many times more polluting than human waste and many rural Hoosiers rely on private wells for drinking water. That's why we are urging the Environmental Rules Board to pass a rule that prohibits earthen lagoons and contains provisions that are at least as protective of the environment and human health as requirements for storage of human waste.

Please click here for more information on HEC's website. To take action, contact Amanda Shepherd.

HEC, Allies Push for Improved Rail Service

The state of Indiana and Corridor Capital, LLC, the private firm selected by the Indiana Department of Transportation as the future manager of the Hoosier State passenger rail service from Indianapolis to Chicago are facing a January 31, 2015 deadline to have the new service up and running. This January date marks the expiration of the state's current agreement with Amtrak to operate the route, the cost of which is shared by INDOT and the communities along the route. In the meantime, Amtrak has announced long-overdue improvements including Wi-Fi, food and beverage service, and business class seating. Amtrak's role with the Hoosier State after next January is yet to be determined, but it seeks to continue as the Hoosier State provider. Chicago-based Corridor Capital's plans included those improvements just announced by Amtrak, as well as more modern passenger cars and eventually more frequent service.

A Corridor Capital official and state and local elected officials spoke recently at two community forums - in Crawfordsville and Indianapolis - hosted by HEC and the Indiana Passenger Rail Alliance. Read more about our work for improved passenger rail here. Contact Tim Maloney to get involved.

Environmental Health Expert Joins HEC

We're thrilled to announce that Dr. Indra Frank has joined HEC's team as our new
Environmental Health Projects Director. Indra, who received her MD from Johns Hopkins and her MPH from IU, practiced pathology for several years before devoting her talents to efforts to reduce toxic exposure facing the most vulnerable Hoosiers. Indra, in her new role, will lead our initiative to assist the people of Blackford County in better understanding the relationships between toxic exposure and the incidence of various cancers & neurological illnesses, all of which are major challenges facing this once heavily industrialized community. She will carry out extensive data collection & analysis, organize workshops and briefings, all in the aim of helping this community to address what appears to be a serious public health threat.

Learn more about Indra and our outstanding team.

Just a reminder that you're receiving this email because you signed up for our e-newsletter or expressed an interest in the Hoosier Environmental Council through a meeting or event. We hope that you'll appreciate staying in touch with us through monthly e-newsletters, and occasional calls to action. In return, we promise to keep you informed about the environmental happenings in Indiana. Rest assured, we're protective of your personal information and your time. Be sure to add comments@hecweb.org to your address book so we'll land in your inbox!