Environment Committee

Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission
Environment
Current: Environment Committee

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Educate and inform membership and others regarding environmental issues.
Generate debate and discussion and focus public awareness on area-wide environmental issues.
Form coalitions to pursue cooperative approaches to environmental issues of mutual concern.
Facilitate communication between local elected officials and state and federal environmental agencies.
Provide a vision for area-wide sustgainable development.
Serve as a vehicle for the development of sound regional public policy and planning/development guidelines that incorporate environmental protection.
Assist in the development of a NIRPC environmental information resource and consultation center to assist local government planning/development.

Environmental issues include or have included:

Air Quality	Lake Michigan Coastal Issues
Alternative Fuels	Pollution Prevention
Beaches	Renewable Energy
Brownfields	Natural Hazard Resiliency
Climate Change	Stormwater Management
Electric Vehicles	Urban Forestry
Environmental Justice	Water Quality
Green Infrastructure	Watershed Planning & Management
Habitat and Natural Area Conservation	Wetlands

MEMBERSHIP

NIRPC Appointed Commissioners*

Commissioners, including chair and co-chair, are appointed annually by the current chair of the Northwestern Regional Planning Commission from among the local elected official members of the Commission. Appointed Commissioners (other than the chair and co-chair) may designate a municipal staff person to fully represent them on the Committee.

Lake County:

Bill Emerson, Lake County Surveyor
Bill Carroll, City of Lake Station
Randall Niemeyer, Lake County Council
Rick Ryfa, Town of Griffith
Sharon Szwedo, Town of New Chicago
Thomas Black, Town of Highland
Jenny Beier, Town of Schnieder
Tim Clayton, Town of Winfield
Steve Spebar, City of Whiting

Porter County:

Bonnie Hawksworth, Town of Dune Acres
CJ Wittmer, Town of Kouts

La Porte County:

Lori Hunt, Town of Westville
Linda Pompeii, Town of Pottawattomie Park

Local Government Representatives (non-Commissioner) *

Municipal or county employees (as many as interested) of jurisdictions with representation at NIRPC per IC 36-7-7.6 are eligible to participate in the Environment Committee designate a voting representative with environmental or natural resource expertise and or responsibilities to the Environment Committee.

Stakeholders*

The Environment Committee includes voting members from regulated NWI industries and utilities, environmental and natural resource non-governmental organizations, and technical experts from regional universities and institutions. This allows for informed, diverse, and balanced discussions and recommendations to the Commission. Voting representation is evaluated based on attendance on a bi-annual basis to avoid undue influence of "one issue, hot topic" voters when controversial issues arise.

Federal and State Environmental and Natural Resource Agencies

Federal and State agencies with an active presence in NWI regularly participate in the Environment Committee. In addition to serving as an advisory body for NIRPC's environmental activities and policies, the Environment Committee provides an established venue for exchanging information, giving updates, and receiving input about programs and projects of interest.

* One vote allotted per organization or jurisdiction

QUORUM
- 3 voting committee members constitute a quorum.
- A simple majority of the quorum is required to act.
MEETING SCHEDULE
- Generally, and initially, meets on the 1st Thursday of the month approximately 4 times per year.
- Space is reserved and partners are encouraged to use first Thursdays for workshops or project coordination meetings related to environmental issues.
MEETING MINUTES
2024
- November 7, 2024

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT POLICY COMMITTEE
2024 EMPC Meeting Schedule
2019-2020 EMPC Membership Overview
Chairman: Bill Emerson, Jr., NIRPC Commissioner Staff Contact: Kathy Luther, Director of Environmental Programs
Mission Statement: The Environmental Management Policy Committee of the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission recognizes the value and interdependence of northwest Indiana’s natural resources and economic strengths and encourages the use of those resources to meet current needs while ensuring that adequate resources are available for future generations.
Goals:
- To educate and inform ourselves and others regarding environmental issues;
- To generate debate and discussion and focus public awareness on area-wide environmental issues;
- To form coalitions to pursue cooperative approaches to environmental issues of mutual concern;
- To facilitate communication between local elected officials and state and federal environmental agencies;
- To provide a vision for area-wide sustainable development;
- To serve as a vehicle for the development of sound regional public policy and planning/development guidelines that incorporate environmental protection;
- To assist in the development of a NIRPC environmental information resource and consultation center to assist local government planning/development.
Adopted April 4, 1995

Environmental Management Policy Committee Meeting Minutes (2012 - 2024)

For information regarding the Environmental Management Policy Committee, please contact Kathy Luther at kluther@nirpc.org or at 219.254.2513

Requests for alternate formats, please contact NIRPC at 219.763.6060.

Environmental Management Policy Committee Meeting Presentations

The Calumet Heritage Area Program and Events Calendar is a one-stop shop for events happening in the Calumet that relate to nature, industry, and culture. To find events of interest to the EMPC, search for key terms like “nature” and “education”. You can also submit events by clicking on the “submit event” button.

Environment Committee

2024

Environmental Management Policy Committee Meeting Minutes (2012 - 2024)

Environmental Management Policy Committee Meeting Presentations

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