We Did It, Together!

On Tuesday, August 22nd, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and the Office of Environmental Adjudication confirmed that Riverview Energy did not appeal their decision to terminate Riverview's Title V-Construction permit.  It is time for our communities to move forward and encourage our elected officials to be transparent in bringing economic development to our area that is safe and clean.  

 NoC2D Thank You

The officers of Southwestern Indiana Citizens for Quality of Life (SWICQL) extend their appreciation to all our members and concerned citizens who stepped up over the past five and a half years.

Our members and friends went door-to-door in Dale, Huntingburg, Santa Claus, and Ferdinand, sharing their concerns about another huge polluter in our area. Many of you answered our call to action. You participated in public hearings, sharing research and facts about the proposed Riverview project. You put up our signs and, more importantly, kept them up. You helped raise funds by working in festival booths. You also had the courage to stand up and speak at public hearings. More than 230 of you sent comments to IDEM against the Riverview project as opposed to the 10 who supported the project.

You never wavered in your vigilance over the years. We are fortunate that we live in an area where citizens will not back down and demand transparency when their quality of life is threatened.

We offer overwhelming thanks to our friend and colleague, John Blair of Valley Watch, for joining us and sharing his expertise from his past 40-plus years in fighting to protect the health and environment of southern Indiana. We cannot thank him enough for his guidance and experience in navigating through the environmental community.

We cannot thank enough Earthjustice and our attorneys Charles McPhedran and Lauren Piette, along with Kathryn Watson from the law firm of Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC who took up our fight and led us through the legal system and depositions that gave us an insight into Riverview’s operation. They helped us to know we were doing the right thing. We know that our experience and work with Earthjustice will be beneficial to environmental advocates around the country when similar situations arise.

The officers of SWICQL traveled to Washington DC, met with the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and made many trips to Indianapolis sharing their concerns with senators and representatives. The hours and days we spent together contacting the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, the EPA, working with Valley Watch and Earthjustice were exhausting, but we would not exchange this journey and the good people who joined us for anything in the world, and we remain vigilant and forever grateful.

Thank you!

Mary V. Hess, President

Randy Vaal, 1st Vice President

Rock Emmert, 2nd Vice President

Jane Schipp, Secretary/Treasurer

Indiana pulls permit for controversial coal-to-diesel plant, says it's 'no longer valid'

Indy Star Article

Thanks to all who attended the Dale Forum held Jan 28th at the Dale Presbyterian Church and a special thanks to Valley Watch President John Blair and SW Indiana Citizens for Quality of Life President Mary Hess for speaking!

We Want Truth, Transparency, Accountability

In 2016, Indiana released more toxic chemicals into the environment than 44 other states

In 2016, Spencer County was ranked 23rd in the nation for counties that release the most toxins into the environment

In 2016, Rockport, IN was ranked 18th in the nation for cities that release the most toxins

We want a full understanding of the impact this plant will have on our community