GETTING INFORMED

Northwest Indiana Environment

Getting Informed

Northwest Indiana is a diverse community facing complex environmental issues that bear on political, socio-economic and cultural concerns. Environmental Justice means that no group of people, including racial, ethnic or socioeconomic groups should bear disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects. The diversity and demographics of Northwest Indiana, combined with some serious environmental problems, make the region a prime area to promote environmental justice.

It is the role of an active citizenry to know about all sides of environmental issues that effect our communities, including what we can do about our local environmental issues, and how we can participate and enjoy our environment. It is important not only to be informed on what’s going on, but it is just as important to pass information on to others. From our industrial brownfields to our pristine duneland parks, there is a lot to learn about the environment in Northwest Indiana.

Resources

There is a lot of information available through local organizations and local, state and federal government agencies. The following list of resources include how to access public information, as well as educational materials and programs and Environmental Justice centers in and about Northwest Indiana.

The Northwest Indiana Environmental Justice Resource Center

http://www.iun.edu/~lib/justice.htm

Indiana University Northwest, in Gary, sponsors this center. Information regarding people, organizations, activities, resources and history are available either online or through the IUN library.

Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission

http://www.nirpc.org/

NIRPC operates as a cooperative of local governments within the three county area. It is currently comprised of thirty-seven members appointed by local elected officials, and one appointed by the Governor, as prescribed in the above cited legislation. At least two-thirds of the Commission members must be local elected officials. The Commission or the Executive Board meets monthly. NIRPC's meetings are open to the public and there is a place on every agenda for public comment.

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Indiana Department of Environmental Management

http://www.in.gov/idem

The Northwest Regional Office is located in the NBD Bank Building
504 N. Broadway, Ste. 418
Gary, IN 46402-1942
Toll Free (888) 209-8892
Local (219) 881-6712
Fax (219) 881-6745
Director - Adriane Esparza
Deputy Director - Ralph McCullers

Access Indiana

http://www.ai.org/

accessIndiana, the "portal" to Indiana state government information, is dedicated to providing online services for its citizens, businesses and governments. More than 180,000 pages of information are available via the portal - 99 percent of which are provided to the public at no cost.

Indiana Department of Natural Resources

http://www.state.in.us/dnr

The mission of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources is to protect, enhance, preserve, and wisely use natural, cultural, and recreational resources for the benefit of Indiana's citizens through professional leadership, management, and education.

Great Lakes Information Network

http://www.great-lakes.net/

The Great Lakes Information Network (GLIN) is a partnership that provides one place online for people to find information relating to the bi-national Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region of North America. GLIN offers a wealth of data and information about the region’s environment, economy, tourism, education and more. Thanks to its strong network of state, provincial, federal and regional partner agencies and organizations, GLIN has become a necessary component of informed decision making, and a trusted and reliable source of information for those who live, work or have an interest in the Great Lakes region.

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US Environmental Protection Agency

http://www.epa.gov/region5

EPA's mission is to protect human health and to safeguard the natural environment — air, water, and land — upon which life depends. For 30 years, EPA has been working for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people.

The EPA Region 5 office is located in the Metcalfe Federal Building at 77 West Jackson Blvd. in downtown Chicago.

U.S. EPA Office of Environmental Education

http://www.epa.gov/enviroed

Mission Statement: To advance and support education efforts that develop an environmentally conscious and responsible public and inspire personal responsibility in caring for the environment.

Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC)

Clearinghouse for Science, Mathematics, and Environmental Education

http://www.ericse.org/

The ERIC/CSMEE Clearinghouse is one of 16 in the ERIC system. ERIC is supported with funding from the U.S. Department of Education, and its purpose is to support ongoing improvement in education in all areas at all levels. We call ourselves CSMEE for short (pronounced "kizz-me"), and our hope is to provide resources of interest to anyone interested in science, mathematics, and environmental education, in school or out of school.

Indiana Dunes State Park

http://www.state.in.us/dnr/parklake/parks/indianadunes.html

1600 North 25 E.
Chesterton, IN 46304
219-926-1952

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

http://www.nps.gov/indu

Indiana Dunes Environmental Learning Center
P.O. Box 871
Chesterton, Indiana 46304
Phone: 219-395-9555
Fax: 219-395-8160

Lake County, IN Official Website

http://www.lakecountyin.com/

LaPorte County, IN Official Website

http://www.lc-link.org/

Porter County, IN Official Website

http://www.porterco.org

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3400 Broadway - Gary, Indiana 46408
888-YOUR IUN
219-980-6500

http://www.iun.edu/~environw/index.htm
Comments: Ellen Szarleta
Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity