Northwest Indiana residents concerned about NIPSCO discharge permit
Residents and environmental advocates raised concerns during an Indiana Department of Environmental Management hearing about a wastewater permit covering NIPSCO’s Schahfer Generating Station and an adjacent Amazon data center near Wheatfield. The proposed permit would allow wastewater from the facilities to be discharged into waterways connected to the Kankakee River, while peak operations could withdraw more than 34 million gallons of water per day.
Residents of Wheatfield, Hobart and other communities in Northwest Indiana objected during an IDEM hearing to a proposed wastewater permit for NIPSCO’s R.M. Schahfer Generating Station and an adjacent Amazon data center. The permit would combine wastewater from the existing plant, new gas facilities and the data center before discharge into the Kankakee River, Stahlbaum Ditch and Davis Ditch. Residents cited risks to the Kankakee aquifer, drinking water and downstream water quality, noting that peak operations could withdraw more than 34 million gallons of water daily.
Environmental advocates also questioned whether the permit contains enforceable limits for pollutants including arsenic, mercury, chromium, sulfate and zinc. Just Transition Northwest Indiana Executive Director Ashley Williams argued that combining four facilities under one permit could make accountability and enforcement difficult, while NIPSCO said wastewater would be treated and discharged under applicable state and federal requirements. IDEM will accept written comments through Oct. 22 as it reviews the application.