Conveying Your Concerns About Water For The LEAP Development

By: Spencer Deery

On Monday I attended a meeting with 300 community members, fellow elected officials, and Purdue scientists to discuss the proposal to use water from the Greater Lafayette area to feed the LEAP development in Boone County.

Unfortunately, missing from the panel of speakers were representatives from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), who, to my disappointment, did not accept the organizer’s invitation to be on hand to help clarify the ongoing study and resolve community concerns.

Unlike virtually everyone else in that meeting, I have had the advantage of having met with IEDC on this subject on multiple occasions over the last few months, but even I still have questions.

To be clear, I am thrilled the state of Indiana is aiming high with this project. Economic development should be among our top priorities and it’s important that we not slip into the very human habit of opposing new ideas just because they are different and generate questions.

But it’s more than reasonable to have our questions answered and to have some key reassurances that the Wabash River and the Greater Lafayette area will be protected. From my first meeting with IEDC back in January, I have emphasized the following:

First, the scientific community at Purdue University should be heavily involved in the pre-project study. Our community is blessed with the talent and resources to not have to rely entirely on others for answers. We also need assurances that future projects and transfers of water will receive the same study.

Second, as a fiscally responsible legislator, I need more clarity on how the state will pay for the infrastructure to move water into Boone County and why this expense couldn’t have been avoided by locating the project more to the north.

Third, I need more legislative assurances than currently exist that Indiana’s laws will protect Tippecanoe and the surrounding counties from too much water being moved. Likewise, I need more legal certainty that if there is an unforeseen problem, there will be a remedy that protects Greater Lafayette’s resources, its businesses, and individual residents.

After Monday’s meeting, I once again reiterated these points to IEDC officials and requested that they work closely with the community. In the meantime, I will continue to communicate your questions and concerns and to request that the organization work with us to find an acceptable plan that will protect our area and benefit the state with a successful economic development project.

You can reach me by email at [email protected] or by calling my office at 800-382-9467.

– Spencer Deery is an Indiana State Senator serving District 23 which includes Fountain, Parke, Vermillion, Warren and portions of Montgomery and Tippecanoe counties.