Public comment deadline
2023-11-16 16:57:03In regard to the previous email:
The deadline to email a public comment for consideration is November 30.
Thank you!!!
Andrea Milliman
Andrea Milliman
Wetland protection needed
2023-11-16 16:54:09Please help us flood the public comments section of a proposed permit that would destroy a wetland drain and the surrounding trees and habitat. We need your help for its protection. The IU Health development in southwest Allen County is looking to remove more wetlands and trees to suit their development plans.
Most of us have witnessed the literal shredding of 50 acres of native forest. Looking at their development plans, this was not fully necessary and has more than likely caused a negative impact to our area. Now they want to remove more native habitat instead of incorporating it into their plans.
Will you please email Evan White, IDEM's project manager for this site. He will be gathering all the comments and we need your support for this enviionmental protection. Your email could state how this natural wetland drain and tree and habitat removal could negatively effect neighboring well drinking water quality, pollute negihboring farms, give negative run off to streams that feed into the Little River and negatively effect the wildlife that use this natural area. This natural wetland drain, trees and habitat are needed to maintain all of the above.
Please email your public comments to:
evwhite@idem.in.gov
and include IDEM ID # 2023-969-2-EJW-A
Let's protect some natural space in this area!
Thanki you for your support and help!
Andrea Milliman
Andrea Milliman
Help us to minimize development impacts
2023-03-29 14:07:58
Hello!
Below is a letter requesting an extension of public comment and public hearing from IDEM for the IU Health development 401 permit (Clean Water Act and water quality). We have been advised by local legal counsel and Hoosier Environmental Council attorneys in Indy to obtain as many signatures as possible. This will encourage further review of any negative environmental, water quality, and environmental impacts this development will have on our area. PLEASE forward to any others willing to help out! This must be submitted to IDEM tomorrow as the March 31 deadline is quickly approaching. Let us know if you would like your name/signature added in support of the extension/hearing letter. If you have an electronic signature in jpg form please send that as well.
Thank you all for the ongoing support. At a minimum, we are hoping any further development will be limited due to countless environmental, flooding, water quality, and historical concerns.
Thank you!!
Jenna, Andrea, and Betsy
To: Evan White, Wetland Project Manager
Indiana Department of Environmental Management Wetlands and Stormwater Section, Office of Water Quality Via Email: EVWhite@idem.IN.gov
March 28, 2023
RE: Request for an extension of the public comment period for the IU Health Southwest application, IDEM ID # 2022-1374-2-EJW-A
Mr. White,
On behalf of WEBB Environmental Ltd., local environmental groups, and nearby property owners, I would like to request that the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) extend the public comment period for the IU Health Southwest Isolated Wetland Permit Application, IDEM ID #2022-1374-2-EJW-A for a total of thirty (30) days with a deadline of May 1, 2023. We are also kindly requesting a public hearing due to a large community opposition.
The reason for this request is related to the wetland and water quality impacts resulting from the permit application. The permit will permanently impact headwater wetlands and streams, which are geographically and environmentally important areas within the Little River Valley ecosystem. Thus critical in maintaining healthy watershed function and water quality. Most area residents rely on personal wells for their water supply. Removal of such wetlands, and construction of a 140 acre hospital development directly adjacent to Waters of the United States will be detrimental to both ground and surface water quality. In addition to water quality, reoccurring flooding in the immediate vicinity is well documented, and will become increasingly worse as bare land is replaced with impervious surfaces. The ongoing IU Health Southwest construction activities have already repeatedly impacted the regulated Graham McCullough ditch, adjacent residential and agricultural properties due to increased flooding along with sediment and pollutant runoff. Not only do area farmers rely on that very land to survive, the McCullough Ditch feeds into the Little River, a tributary of the substantial Upper Wabash River Watershed that is under USACE jurisdiction.
We also feel the Threatened and Endangered Species report included in the permit is shockingly inaccurate and in need of review seeing how Little River Wetlands Project’s Buttonbush Bottoms Preserve is within walking distance of the project site. Nearby Little River Wetlands Preserves and ACRES Land Trust inhabit an extensive list of such species, including but not limited to federally protected Bald Eagles, endangered Blandings Turtle, federally endangered Indiana Bat, various plants species, and countless migratory bird species. In fact, there are three active Bald Eagle nests within the preserves, one located at Buttonbush Bottoms. It is necessary for a more comprehensive environmental review be completed prior to any permitting.
It should also be carefully considered that a 401/404 permit under USACE will trigger Section 106 review by the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) that requires consultation with, and concurrence by, the State Historic Preservation Officer and Tribal Historic Preservation Officer of Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. The property IU Health Southwest intends to develop is a significant portion of the Miami Tribe’s Chief Francis LaFountaine/To-pe-ha & Louis LaFountaine’s/Wa-pa-se-pah Communal Reserve 4. According to Miami Tribe of Oklahoma’s THPO this land was reserved during the cession of their centuries old homeland during the Treaty of St. Mary’s of 1818. According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Historic Preservation and Archeology there are four archeological sites potentially eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. In other words, this permit will further impact an environmentally and historically sensitive area that is already being threatened by IU Health Southwest’s development.
Myself, local environmentalists, historians, and nearby property owners have expressed great interest in reviewing, and commenting on the IU Health Southwest project through email communications with the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), local agencies, and IDEM. We believe that it is within IDEM’s jurisdiction to grant this request in order to provide additional time to review the alternative’s analysis in accordance with state and federal law, so the permit is as protective as possible. Sincerely, Jenna A. Thiele
Andrea Milliman
Wildlife help needed
2023-01-17 15:16:55Good morning!
We are in need of any and all wildlife sightings around and on the IU Health site to be recorded at:
iNaturalist.org
Once on the website, you can record all wildlife sightings with or without picture media. This will greatly help in the wetland classification and permitting process. Let's save the wetlands here!
If the website does not work for you, please try responding to this email.
Thank you!!!
Andrea Milliman
All in Allen link
2022-10-24 22:24:31Allinallen.org
This is the website to view and comment on the Comprehensive Plan.
Andrea Milliman
Allen county land use
2022-10-24 22:20:32Hello!
Our County planners have a public meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 6:00pm at Citizens Square. Please go to the All in Allen website to view the Comprehensive Plan for future land use. If you have comments and/or concerns, please fill out the web form on that website. I'll attach a link in the next email. It's super quick and easy. They need to hear from residents before the meeting on Wednesday. If you can, please attend the meeting. You will have the opportunity to speak, as well, only if you want. However, please fill out the form and show up for the meeting! The more people in attendance shows our county planners that we are concerned for the future of our county's land.
One major concern for the southwest area is a large section of land between Lower Huntington Road and Highway 24 is to be future neighborhoods. This area in particular is all designated Flood Plain. In addition, this area is currently designated Prime Farmland. Developing here would cause homes to flood and take away area farmland and open space.
Please see the Plan for all future development and voice your concerns!
Thank you for your time!!!
Andrea Milliman
Updates and meeting!
2022-06-22 17:45:24Good afternoon!
We are reaching out to you to let you know of updates with the IU Health property.
First, our county will be revealing the new All in Allen drafted Comprehensive Plan in just a few days. We have an opportunity to speak up and let our voices be heard regarding zoning changes in Allen County. Please plan to show up and speak up. If you don't want to physically speak up, I believe they have stations where you can write out your thoughts. The more voices our county hears from, the better! If no one attends, then our county will certainly do whatever they desire.
Gather friends and family and make an impact!
Here are the dates and times:
Second, we have been working to preserve the land purchased by IU Health. Many state and federal agencies are doing what they can to keep this land protected. For both historic and environmental reasons, we are hoping some actions can be taken.
One thing we could use help on is taking photos of any and all wildlife around the area, most especially on and near this site.
Please respond to this email, and we can send you an email address to send those photos to. Unfortunately, this petition website will not allow email addresses to be sent.
Or better yet, please upload to:
If you can, please send photos to both places. We will make sure that IN DNR receives all photos. This will be important when it comes time to pull permits. This land sees Bald Eagles, Red Tail and Cooper's Hawks, monarch butterflies, endangered bats, trumpeter swans, and many other endangered/protected species.
Please help us to document the wildlife that use this location! It will be more difficult for a permit to be granted to destroy wetlands and forest if we can show that certain animals and plants need and use this land.
Lastly, we have been told by IU Health that they will be having an archeological survey of their property completed. We have yet to hear who is doing the archeological survey; but IN DNR supplied them with a list of suggested options. We will keep you updated.
If you have any proof or indication of historical significance on this property, will you please respond to this message. We can send you an email address to send those to.
Items like Deeds or Land Surveys or anything else could prove useful.
Most importantly, please attend the All in Allen Comprehensive Plan reveal next week, and speak up with your concerns for land development.
Send us and/or inaturalist wildlife photos!
Thank you!
Blessings,
Andrea Milliman
WEBB Environmental
Andrea Milliman
Rezoning vote tomorrow
2022-04-14 23:11:46Hello!
The Allen County Commissioners will be voting on this rezoning issue tomorrow, April 15, at 10:00am in room 035 of Citizens Square. It is extremely important that we attend this meeting to show our desire to keep this land preserved. Our lawyer has stated that we need a large crowd at the meeting to put pressure on the Commissioners to do what is right. No one needs to speak publicly, we just simply need to be there.
Please show up and bring family and friends!!!
Andrea Milliman
Community meeting!
2022-02-27 01:09:12We are having a community meeting to discuss problems with this development and ways to prevent big development from occurring near our rural land. If you can, please attend one of these two meetings: Feb. 28 and March 1, at 6:30, Door #15 at Larayette Meadows Elementary School. Much will be discussed and there are ways you can help!
Looking forward to seeing you there!
Andrea Milliman
IU Health rezoning letters; take action
2022-02-12 15:30:24Andrea Milliman
Contact the author of the petition