December 2015
A newsletter of Blackford County Concerned Citizens developed in partnership with the Hoosier Environmental Council
In This Issue
IPFW Video
Crowdfunding
Update on Hartford Iron
Free Well Testing
BCCC Honored
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BCCC Mission
The mission of Blackford County Concerned Citizens is to improve the quality of life of Blackford County, Indiana residents by reducing the incidence of diseases, primarily through citizen action to investigate the diseases that are prevalent and by advocating to have these diseases investigated.
New Video by IPFW Students 

Students in Dr. Sherrie Steiner's class at IU-Purdue Ft. Wayne have completed a video documenting BCCC's well testing project in the spring of 2015. The video is 2 minutes long and is available here.
Visit Our New
Crowdfunding Site!

You can now help BCCC continue this work with a credit card or Paypal donation, and your donation will be matched at 50% from the Lilly Endowment's generous GIFT Phase VI initiative.  For every dollar you give, BCCC will receive $1.50.

We are working to make Blackford County healthier and we can't do it without you.  Visit www.youcaring.com/bccc  and click on 'Donate now'.

Make sure to write "For BCCC" in the message box.  Thank you for your support.
Update on Hartford Iron Cleanup

Eighteen Blackford County citizens attended a public information meeting November 7 at City Hall in Hartford City hosted by Blackford County Concerned Citizens. Indra Frank, Environmental Health Director for the Hoosier Environmental Council, gave a synopsis of the public record on Hartford Iron's cleanup including what contaminants have been found there and what cleanup has occurred, so far. Kristen Belcredi, Senior Vice President of Engineering Services with Keramida, answered questions on Keramida's plans to install a permanent storm water treatment system.  The system will include a retention pond at the Chestnut Street property owned by Hartford Iron. The storm water from Hartford Iron will be collected there and then treated to remove contaminants before it is released into the storm sewer. Ms. Belcredi reported that there will be a fence around the pond. In answer to questions about mosquito control, she said that the water will be circulating which discourages mosquito breeding and they will use control measures, if needed.  There is more information on the cleanup here.

If you see or hear explosions at Hartford Iron or see dust and soil from Hartford Iron spreading beyond their property line, please call the Complaint Coordinator for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management at (800) 451-6027 ext. 24464 or file a complaint electronically here.
Free Well Testing

Abandoned oil and gas wells can have an impact on well water. BCCC is offering to test water wells that are near abandoned oil/gas sites. If a problem is detected, you may be eligible for state-funded plugging of the oil and gas wells. If you live in the northern half of Blackford County and have a private water well, please contact Indra Frank at ifrank@hecweb.org to sign up for testing.

The map below was created for BCCC by students from IU-Purdue Ft. Wayne.  The green diamonds indicate known locations of abandoned oil and gas wells.

BCCC Honored at Statewide Conference 

Blackford County Concerned Citizens
was awarded the Frontline Advocate of the Year award by the Hoosier Environmental Council. The award was presented to BCCC President Joe Castelo and board member Eric Evans at the annual Greening the Statehouse conference on Saturday, November 14. BCCC received the award for its persistent efforts since 2009 to find and reduce environmental threats to health in Blackford County. Greening the Statehouse is the state's largest sustainability gathering, and this year it was attended by over 450 people.
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