Note: the discharge apparently occurred on 12/11/1999 and apparently wasn't discovered/reported until 1/2/2000. Sorry if this has already been posted, didn't see it if it was.

Auto Parts Company Chemical Discharge, Fish Kill Labeled One of Worst in Indiana History Anderson, IN, United States ----- Sunday, January 2, 2000 - 9:58 PM ----- State officials on Sunday (Jan. 2, 2000) awaited results from tests along the White River but already are planning steps to restore its biology following one of the worst fish kills in Indiana history.

Preliminary results from tests on about 50 water wells near the river so far have not revealed the chemical carbon disulfide, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management said.

That chemical is being blamed for the fish kill that almost certainly will number in the hundreds of thousands, according to Larry Macklin, director of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

IDEM said that the chemical has not been spotted further downstream than Indianapolis, but it will be midweek before scientists will know for sure whether the chemical has dissipated.

Despite the devastating affect of the chemical on fish, other parts of the food chain appeared to be unaffected by the chemical, IDEM said.

IDNR spokesman Steve Sellers said that even though his agency already has assembled a team to study restoration of the river, it's still waiting for complete test results to learn the full nature and extent of contaminants in the river.

Even so, he said it appeared the contaminants would not remain in the river's water or sediment for long.

``If the sediment isn't damaged, mussels and invertebrates will gradually be introduced from the north on their own, as will some fish species. The DNR will be looking at a restocking program as soon as the river is suitable,'' Sellers said.

More than 80,000 dead fish have been counted along the river from Anderson to Carmel, with thousands more dead downstream in Indianapolis.

IDEM officials suspect the fish kill began around Dec. 11 after an auto parts company in Anderson, Guide Corp., discharged the chemical dimethyldiphiocarbamate, known as DMDK, into the river. That chemical apparently broke down into carbon disulfide, killing most of the fish between Anderson and Indianapolis.

The White River already has been the scene of two of the worst fish kills in the state.

An estimated 5 million fish died in the river in November 1976 when ammonia from untreated sewage at Indianapolis wastewater treatment plants spilled into the river.

That kill, believed to be the worst in the river's history, affected fish over a 170-mile stretch of river, from Indianapolis to Edwardsport in Knox County. It hit a broad spectrum of fish, including walleyes, smallmouth bass, paddlefish, channel catfish, spotted bass, bluegills and crappies.

The 1976 kill had little impact on carp, rough fish and minnows _ among the first fish killed by the current spill.

The city of Indianapolis ultimately was fined $235,000 by the state for the cost of restocking the river. DNR officials postponed the restocking for more than year, mostly because of fears that inadequate sewage treatment facilities in Indianapolis would kill fish again.

In 1994, heavy rains pushed sewage from the city's combined storm and sanitary sewers into the river. An estimated 500,000 fish died.

-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), January 07, 2000

Answers

"An estimated 5 million fish died in the river in November 1976 when ammonia from untreated sewage at Indianapolis wastewater treatment plants spilled into the river."

Caused, no doubt, by the dreaded "Bicentennial Bug".

Carl, this is simply ridiculous. A link to the source is sufficient. Let people check the source for new entries. You needn't post every new incident, and certainly not garbage like this.

Sorry, but you deserve whatever criticism you get. Give this nonsense a rest. Or at least label it "OT" when it clearly is off topic.

-- Steve (hartsman@ticon.net), January 07, 2000.

Thanks, Carl. Had heard about the kill but not the reason/problem.

Blessings...Mary (in Northern Indiana)

-- Mary (DivinMercy@aol.com), January 07, 2000.

Never said it was Y2K but I am interested in the cause of the discharge: none is sited in the report. By the way, you should try reading before reacting. The quote you gave out of context from the rest of the story refers to an incident that happened in 1976 not the current story:

""An estimated 5 million fish died in the river in November ***1976*** when ammonia from untreated sewage at Indianapolis wastewater treatment plants spilled into the river."

Or do you think this kind of discharge isn't worthy of investigation

IDEM officials suspect the fish kill began around Dec. 11 after an auto parts company in Anderson, Guide Corp., discharged the chemical dimethyldiphiocarbamate, known as DMDK, into the river. That chemical apparently broke down into carbon disulfide, killing most of the fish between Anderson and Indianapolis.

-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), January 07, 2000.

Carl: The issue isn't whether it's worthy of investigation, it's whether it's Y2k-related. It's rather obvious that the '76 and '94 incidents referenced are not, and fairly certain that the current (pre-rollover) event is not, either.

Here's Carl's source. It's updated as incidents get reported. For those who are interested in such things, knock yourself out. By all means, report incidents here that may be Y2k-related. But use common sense and draw reasonable lines of demarcation.

If it isn't related to Y2k, label it "OT". Not too much to ask, is it?

-- Steve (hartsman@ticon.net), January 07, 2000.