Protecting Indiana's Water

How Can We Protect Indiana's Water from Development?

Floodplains and wetlands maintain water quality, preserve the groundwater supply, and provide fish and wildlife habitat. Floodplains, including wetlands, are important to a healthy environment. Development in these areas is controlled by law. As more and more buildings are located in the floodplain, they inhibit the natural flow of the waterway during heavy rain or snowmelt. Buildings, pavement, roads and other facilities take up space in the floodplain that normally carries extra water during a flood. Stormwater run-off from developments carries soil, salt, and other pollutants into the waterway.

A proposed development in an area of floodplain, wetlands, river, or stream, may require permits from up to three agencies before it can be constructed:

Permit Type Source	When is this permit required?
Section 401 certification Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM)	If the construction would impact water quality or is in a wetlands area.
Indiana Flood Control Act (FCA) permit Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Division of Water	If the construction would be located in a floodway or floodplain.
Section 404 permit US Army Corps of Engineers (COE)	If the construction involves dredging or filling a lake, river, stream, or wetland; bank stabilization; construction in wetlands; or roadway/bridge construction projects involving water crossings, dams and levees. The Corps of Engineers has more leeway than the other agencies to rule against a project. For instance, they can rule against a project because it is not in the public interest.

Public Notice Process:

The permitting agency issues a public notice within 15 days of receiving all information from the developer. Public notice includes notification to at least one of the owners of each parcel of property known to be adjacent to the affected real property. Citizens may request a public hearing on an application. Public notices are used to announce hearings. Permits may be issued within 30 days of filing, but they often take up to a year to be issued.

How Can You Get Involved:

• Determine whether a permit application has been filed for any property with any of the agencies by calling the phone numbers below or by checking the web pages listed below.
• Citizens and citizen groups can request that any of these agencies notify them of all permit applications that affect a specific property or are of a particular type. That means, for instance, that you can request, in writing, that DNR notify you of any floodway permit application for a specific property or that IDEM notify you of any 401 permit application for your city, township or county.
• A public hearing on an application may be requested by sending a written request to the agency handling that particular permit. If you request that the public hearing be conducted at a location within the county affected by the proposed permit, the department must conduct the public hearing at that location.

Contact Information:

Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) Section 401 Water Quality Certification Program P.O. Box 6015 Indianapolis, IN 46206-6015 For general information about the 401 permit program in Indiana:   http://www.state.in.us/idem/water/planbr/401/index.html For information on current permit applications and public meetings, or to register to receive notices of permit applications: http://www.state.in.us/idem/water/planbr/401/notices_hearings.html#notices Report Environmental Emergencies: (888) 233-7745 IDEM Environmental Helpline: (800) 451-6027 Section 401 Water Quality Certification Program: (317) 233-8488     (317) 232-8683

U. S. Army Corps of Engineers ATTN: Regulatory Branch, OP-F P.O. Box 59 Louisville, KY 40201-0059 (502) 582-6461 http://www.lrl.usace.army.mil/orf/pn/indiana/notices.htm (Wabash River & Ohio River basins)

U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Detroit District P.O. Box 1027 Detroit, MI 48231-1027 (313) 226-2218 Apparently current permit information is not available on the web. (Great Lakes & Kankakee River Basin)

Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Division of Water Room W264 402 West Washington Street Indianapolis IN 46204 (317) 232-4160 To search for permit applications by water body or location:   http://www.state.in.us/serv/dnr_water_permit_query To search for permits by date of public notice:   http://www.state.in.us/dnr/water/publicnotice.htm

For floodplain information:   To see maps on line:     http://esri.com/hazards/makemap.html   To order maps by mail by map number: http://web1.msc.fema.gov/webapp/commerce/command/ExecMacro/MSC/macros/welcome.d2w/report For wetland maps:   To view on the internet:     http://www.nwi.fws.gov/mapper_tool.htm   To order by mail:     http://www.nwi.fws.gov/Maps/maps.htm   To pick up maps: Indiana Department of Natural Resources Customer Service Center 402 West Washington St., Room W160 Indianapolis, IN 46204-2742 (317) 232-4180

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