The Save the Dunes Council said possible new sources of air pollution and the threat of additional sprawl are among the reasons why the state should be rejected in its attempt to reclassify the air quality in Lake and Porter counties.

The Save the Dunes Council went on record at a public hearing last week opposing the Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s petition to re-designate Lake and Porter counties as attainment for ozone pollution.

“While Save the Dunes Council acknowledges significant improvement in the monitored ozone levels in Northwest Indiana, there are too many unanswered questions and it is too premature to move forward with redesignation,” council president Susan MiHalo said in a statement.

IDEM and Ind. Gov. Mitch Daniels announced last November that they were petitioning the federal government to change the designation for ozone from non-attainment to attainment status.

Motorists in the two counties would still have to get their vehicle emissions tested. But with the redesignation, new or expanding industries in Porter and Lake counties would not have to offset their ozone-contributing pollution as they are now required to do.

At last week’s hearing, Save the Dunes raised seven concerns about the change in status. One concern involves the possibility that the Dean Mitchell power plant in Gary, which was closed in 2002, may be reopened, possibly negatively impacting the region’s air quality.

The council also cited other new sources of ozone looming in Northwest Indiana, including large transportation facilities and increased airport development. The impact from these developments should be considered as part of any redesignation effort, the council said.

The council also said that Lake and Porter counties are not islands, but are affected by sources of air pollution in the Chicago metropolitan region. Breaking away Northwest Indiana from the Chicago region for purposes of ozone regulation would create incentives for additional sprawl in Lake and Porter counties, the council said.

The council said it urges residents to submit comments to the IDEM by the July 7 deadline. Comments should be sent to the following: Lake and Porter Counties Redesignation Petition and Maintenance Plan for Lake and Porter Counties; Kathryn Watson, Chief; Air Programs Branch, Office of Air Quality -- Mail Code 61-50; 100 North Senate Avenue; Indiana Department of Environmental Management; Indianapolis, Ind., 46206-2251. The fax number is 317-233-5967, attention Kathryn Watson, Chief.

Posted 7/3/2006