August 15, 2010-by Gitte Laasby in the Post Tribune. On Thursday, South Bend TV station WSBT measured temperatures of water downstream from the mint farm as high as 190 degrees Fahrenheit. Photo shows IDEM Commissioner Thomas Easterly who happily says his job is economic development.
WALKERTON — A yellow labrador was boiled alive after jumping into a ditch with scalding-hot water from an illegal water discharge.
The dog’s owner sustained third-degree burns on his lower leg when he tried to save the dog. The mint farm responsible faces fines, but continued its deadly discharge Friday — nearly a week later — with the knowledge of state environmental officials.
An anonymous staff member at the Indiana Department of Environmental Management said the handling of the case is the latest example of the continuous dismantling of Indiana’s environmental enforcement, which has included rewriting enforcement guidance and canceling contracts for local air pollution monitoring in Gary and Hammond.
IDEM spokeswoman Amy Hartsock acknowledged Friday that the Materna Mint Farm in Hamlet in Starke County was discharging without a permit. But despite a multiday investigation with the conclusion that the mint farm likely caused the scalding hot discharge, IDEM did not ask the company to stop discharging.
“My understanding is that we did conclude the discharge from the facility exceeds the limits,” Hartsock told the Post-Tribune on Friday. “Our goal is to work with companies to make sure they take appropriate measures.
“We have told them they need to reduce the temperature and they need to do that as soon as possible. There are alternatives to achieve that, and we have told them to get that done. We are taking action. We want people to know we are just as concerned as they are that this matter is resolved. That’s why we’ve been out there.” (MORE)
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