State Blames Ball State University for Creek Pollution

Upon inspecting the renovation project site at Ball State University's (BSU) Scheumann Stadium, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) found three violations and three instances of only "marginal" regulation compliance.

IDEM inspected the construction site July 2 in response to complaints that it was muddying nearby Cardinal Creek and significantly altering its water color.

"There is sediment tracking to the surrounding parking lots, which drain into a storm sewer system that drains to York Prairie Creek (also known as Cardinal Creek)," wrote IDEM storm water specialist Rob Beck in his site evaluation. "The parking lot that is being used as a staging area as well as the surrounding roads leading away from the construction site need to be swept regularly... It is likely sediment has left the site through the storm system, though the total amount is indeterminate."

The final evaluation report ordered the university to improve protection of the football stadium construction site's storm drain inlets, as well.

BSU spokesman Tony Proudfoot said the university has already taken corrective measures and that IDEM will receive official notice of these actions in the next few days. The university, however, denied polluting the creek and said it is committed to protecting the environment. "There were other active construction sites in the area," Proudfoot said. "The Ball State site was not identified as contributing to the sediment in Cardinal Creek."

Source: The Star Press