The Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that Dominion Energy has agreed to pay a $3.4 million civil penalty and spend approximately $9.8 million on environmental mitigation projects to resolve Clean Air Act (CAA) violations. 
The settlement will result in reductions of nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter by more than 70,000 tons per year, across three of the utility’s coal-fired power plants, located in Kincaid, Ill., State Line, Ind., and Somerset, Mass.
“This settlement limits power plant emissions in northwest Indiana and central Illinois – and requires Dominion to fund environmental mitigation work, including projects that will improve air quality near Chicago rail yards and protect lands around the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore,” said Susan Hedman, EPA Region 5 Administrator.
“This settlement will improve air quality in states in the Midwest and Northeast by eliminating tens of thousands of tons of harmful air pollution each year,” said Ignacia S. Moreno, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division.  “These reductions mark the latest step in our continuing efforts, along with EPA, to protect public health and the environment through rigorous enforcement of the Clean Air Act.”
Under the settlement, Dominion must install or upgrade pollution control technology on two plants, and permanently retire the State Line plant in Hammond, which the energy company permanently shut down one year ago.  Dominion will be required to continuously operate the new and existing pollution controls, and will be required to comply with stringent emission rates and annual tonnage limitations. The actions taken by Dominion to comply with this settlement will result in annual reductions at the Brayon Point and Kincaid plants of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NO_x) emissions by 52,000 tons from 2010 levels. The retirement of the State Line plant will result in an additional reduction of 18,000 tons of SO₂ and NO_x.
The settlement also requires Dominion to spend $9.75 million on projects that will benefit the environment and human health in communities located near the Dominion facilities.  A total of $9 million will be spent on such projects as ; 1) wood stove changeouts, including $2 million for changeouts in southeastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and eastern Connecticut;  2) switcher locomotive idle reduction for Chicago rail yards, 3) land acquisition and restoration adjacent to, or near, the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, 4) energy efficiency and geothermal/solar projects for local schools and food banks, and 5) clean diesel engine retrofits for municipalities and school districts.  Dominion must also pay a total of $750,000 to the United States Forest Service and the National Park Service, to be used on projects to address the damage done from Dominion’s alleged excess emissions.   
Reducing air pollution from the largest sources of emissions, including coal-fired power plants, is one of EPA’s National Enforcement Initiatives for 2011-2013. SO₂and NO_x, two key pollutants emitted from power plants, have numerous adverse effects on human health and are significant contributors to acid rain, smog, and haze. These pollutants are converted in the air to fine particles of particulate matter that can cause severe respiratory and cardiovascular impacts, and premature death. Reducing these harmful air pollutants will benefit the communities located near Dominion facilities, particularly communities disproportionately impacted by environmental risks and vulnerable populations, including children. Because air pollution from power plants can travel significant distances downwind, this settlement will also reduce air pollution outside the immediate region. The total combined sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides emission reductions secured from all power plant settlements to date will exceed nearly 2 million tons each year once all the required pollution controls have been installed and implemented.
The settlement was lodged today in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois, and is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval.

(http://www.epa.gov)
More information about the settlement: www.epa.gov/enforcement/air/cases/dominionenergy.html
More information about EPA’s national enforcement initiative: www.epa.gov/compliance/data/planning/initiatives/2011airpollution.html
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Read more: Today's Settlement to Reduce Harmful Pollution in NWI

A Gary Councilwoman has reportedly plead guilty to tax evasion. The Times reports Marilyn Krusas was indicted last October for allegedly not filing tax returns since 1991, and did not pay taxes on an over 230-thousand dollar inheritance she received in 2009 and 2010. Published reports say Krusas has agreed to pay the I-R-S all remaining inheritance funds within a week of her plea hearing.
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Read more: Krusas Agrees to Guilty Plea for Tax Evasion

Both the east and westbound ramps of I-80/94 are closed at this time near State Road 51/Ripley Street due to a crash. Please seek an alternate route as you travel westbound I-80/94 near mile marker 15. Also the right lane of eastbound I-94 is closed near U.S. 20 due to construction work. Expect delays as you travel eastbound on I-94 near mile marker 23.2....

Read more: Crash Closes East and West I-80/94 Ramps at Ripley St

Fire crews were called out around 10am this morning for a brush fire in Porter County's Morgan Township. Motorist are being asked to avoid the area of Division, south of Smoke Road on Hunter's Trail, so crews can get that under control. No further information available at this time.
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Read more: Brush Fire in Morgan Twp

The ramp of eastbound I-80/94 is closed near State Road 51 / Ripley St due to a crash. Expect long delays as you travel eastbound on I-80/94 near mile 15.
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Read more: I-80/94 Closed Near SR 51/Ripley St Due to Crash

Authorities report the body of a dead man was found in Hart Ditch Sunday morning in Munster. The Times reports Munster Police were called out to the 85-hundred block of Hawthorne Drive, and at last check the identity of the man is unknown. Published reports say there were no signs of anything suspicious that may have resulted in the man's death, according to a preliminary investigation.
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Read more: Body Found in Hart Ditch, Identity Unknown

The Lake County Coroner's Office reports they were dispatched to five-hundred block of Taft Street in Gary on Sunday night, just at 9:40pm. The Coroner's Office reports by 10:18 that night they had pronounced the man dead. The name and manner of death of the deceased have yet to be released. The Gary Fire and Police Departments, and Indiana State Fire Marshall's Office are also involved. At last check no further information has been made available.
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Read more: Coroner Investigating Sunday Death of Gary Man

Governor Mike Pence will be spending Monday in St. Joseph County, for Dyngus Day. According to his office, Governor Pence will attend a Dyngus Day lunch at the St. Joesph County GOP Headquarters in South Bend, at 12:30pm EDT. The Governor is scheduled to join South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, at M-R Falcons at 3pm EDT, and then the pair will travel to Z-B Falcons for an engagement at 3:45pm EDT.
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Read more: Pence to Celebrate Dyngus Day in South Bend

A public open house regarding the second tier of a study for the proposed Illiana Corrridor is scheduled for next month. I-DOT and INDOT officials say the open house will focus on communities, landowners, and access need, along the preferred corridor, from I-55, near Wilmington, Illinois, to I-65 near Cedar Lake. Published reports say the proposed expressway would improve safety, reduce congestion and truck traffic on local roads, and improve accessibility to jobs while cutting commute times. The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 18^th, from 5 to 8pm, at Lowell Middle School.
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Read more: Illiana Corridor Public Open House in Lowell April 18th

INDIANAPOLIS—It may be April 1st, but don’t fool around when keeping your family safe and healthy at home. Today kicks off National Public Health Week (NPHW), an annual observance where communities across the country recognize the contributions of public health and highlight
issues which are important to improving the health of the nation.
“Public health is a term that’s not necessarily well understood in the community,” said State Health Commissioner William VanNess, M.D. “Simply put, public health protects and improves lives. It impacts every aspect of living, including the safety of the water and food you consume, response to emergencies, tracking and responding to infectious diseases, having an immunized population, long term care, prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, and so much more. Public health works to educate and empower citizens to lead healthy lifestyles.
This year's NPHW theme is "Public Health is Return on Investment (ROI): Save Lives, Save Money" and focuses on the economic impact of health and on the role that everyone in the community has to support public health and prevention. Each day from April 1-5 will highlight a different theme focusing on a specific prevention activity. Today’s theme is ensuring a safe, healthy home for your family. Proper preparation around the home can help protect the overall health of the family, including reducing infant mortality, falls, childhood and adult obesity, and more.
Creating a safe and healthy home environment can be done in many ways, such as keeping your home smoke-free, ensuring your children are current on their immunizations, stocking your refrigerator with fruits, vegetables and practicing safe and proper food handling techniques. In 2010, cardiovascular disease contributed to the death of more than 17,000 Hoosiers. Avoiding tobacco, eating nutritious meals, and getting regular exercise can all reduce the risk of cardiovascular and other chronic diseases.
Accidents and injuries in the home pose a serious health threat. According to the latest State statistics from 2010, nearly 2,000 Hoosiers died from non-transport injuries such as falls, drowning, poisoning and exposure to smoke and fire. Taking precautions like installing and maintaining smoke detectors, putting fences around swimming pools, removing clutter, having proper lighting and creating an emergency plan can sometimes mean the difference between life and death or serious injury.
“Having an emergency plan and emergency kit are important steps to take in keeping your family safe during an emergency,” said Dr. VanNess. “Have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home and if you have toddlers, place safety devices on electrical outlets and child-proof latches on doors and cupboards where little ones could get into toxic chemicals or other dangerous items.”
For information on how to create an emergency kit and emergency action plan, visit www.ready.gov.
To visit the Indiana State Department of Health’s website, go to www.StateHealth.in.gov.
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Read more: National Public Health Week