For decades, Gary residents filled jugs and bottles at the artesian well on Chase Street, a place many affectionately called the source of “magic water.” But now, the spout is dry. The water is shut off, and for the first time, a warning sign stands nearby, greeting those who come to drink. Officials said new […]
Indiana Department of Environmental Management
Posted inEnvironmental Justice
Gary Well Residents Drank From for Generations Found to Exceed Safe Arsenic Levels
The Chase Street water well, a longtime drinking source for some Gary residents, has tested for arsenic levels above federal safety limits, raising new concerns about public health. For decades, the well, located near the 3600 block of Chase Street, has been seen as a community staple, championed by residents for its mineral-rich water. But […]
Posted inEnvironmental Justice, Politics & Policy
Gary Residents Could Soon Be Free From Vehicle Emissions Testing
After years of debate, Gary residents may soon see an end to the every-other-year vehicle emissions testing that’s long been required in Lake and Porter counties, thanks to a push state lawmakers are making to end it. The policy, a holdover from decades-old federal air quality regulations, has disproportionately impacted working-class residents in Northwest Indiana. […]
Posted inPublic Services
Gary Taps Law Enforcement, County Resources to Crack Down on Illegal Dumping
A man driving a dump truck pulled into a hidden spot near Tolleston Park, attempting to unload large trees and debris in a city he didn’t live in. This time, a vigilant resident’s call brought officers to the scene. They caught the suspect from Hebron, Indiana, in the act, ordered him to reload all the […]
Posted inEnvironmental Justice
IDEM’s Latest Climate Action Plan Is Up for Review. Will Gary Benefit?
A crucial next step that could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Gary is underway. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management applied for an Environmental Protection Agency implementation grant this week. IDEM submitted its Priority Climate Action Plan, a proposal that included projects with greenhouse gas reduction measures and input from community surveys and Hoosiers […]
Posted inEnvironmental Justice
Inside Gary’s Battle Over a Planned Pollutant Waste Plant
This story was made possible, in part, by a grant from the Environmental and Epistemic Justice Initiative at Wake Forest University. A single, winding road stretching off of 35th Avenue is punctuated with a sign on each side. On one is the name of a school: Steel City Academy. Directly across, obscured among foot-tall reeds, […]
Posted inEnvironmental Justice
Gary Residents Speak on IDEM’s Plans for Climate Pollution Reduction Grant
Inside the corner of the community room of the Gary Public Library, dozens of Gary and Northwest Indiana residents gathered with state officials to discuss how to spend millions of dollars to tackle the region’s air pollution. “You’re a partner, and we’ve got to get this money,” said Bruce Curry, a Gary resident, who received […]
Posted inEnvironmental Justice
IDEM Hosts Gary Public Meeting for Climate Pollution Reduction Grant
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management is hosting additional public meetings in Gary, where residents can voice their opinions on how funds for a new climate pollution reduction grant should be spent. The Gary meeting will occur on Thursday, Feb. 1, in the Gary Public Library & Cultural Center community room. Scott Deloney, branch chief […]