Coalition against Mid-States Corridor honored by Hoosier Environmental Council
The Coalition Against the Mid-States Corridor, formed in 2019 by a group of concerned Dubois County residents opposed to the proposed new terrain highway, received the Frontline Organizer of the Year Award from the Hoosier Environmental Council (HEC) at the 2022 Greening the Statehouse event in Westfield, Ind. [Eleven other entities received awards as well]
The Coalition Against the Mid-States Corridor is a grassroots group of people representing thousands of residents, farmers, and others in Dubois, Martin, and Daviess County advocating against the need for a new terrain highway and instead improving existing alternative routes while improving traffic flow through our towns.
The grassroots group gained momentum with more residents eager to help fight against this new terrain highway when the Regional Development Authority and INDOT held public informational meetings.
Since 2020, the group of citizens has collected over 8,000 signatures petitioning against the Mid-States Corridor. Their first rally was held around the Dubois County Courthouse in 2020. A second rally, four town hall meetings, workshops for helping residents with written comments, letters to the editor, and media interviews followed. The Coalition has had meetings with the project managers from INDOT, IDEM, and the Federal Highway Administration Indiana Division to speak on behalf of preserving land for purposes other than road building.
The Coalition was recognized for their ongoing work to stop the proposed 54-mile new terrain highway that will be destructive to the environment, farmland, and forestland and displace many people from their homes. The Hoosier Environmental Council, along with the Indiana Forest Alliance, Indiana Sierra Club and other organizations, have continued to support the work of the coalition.
“The Coalition is a formidable grassroots group on the frontlines, working on many levels to raise awareness, engage citizens, and build alliances to fight an unneeded, environmentally-destructive new terrain highway proposed through some of Indiana’s best woodlands, farmland, and natural areas,” said Tim Maloney, senior policy director for HEC. “Matched against well-funded, influential project supporters, the Coalition has more than held its own, slowing down a controversial project that seemed headed for easy approval.”
“We continue to pressure the Governor, local government officials, other political leaders, INDOT, the FHWA and the U.S. Secretary of Transportation,” said Coalition member Mark Nowotarski. “Our fight is not over, and we appreciate all the support HEC has given us during this time.”
The forum opened with a presentation from Debra Shore, Region 5 Administrator, US Environmental Protection Agency, celebrating the Clean Water Act entitled 50 Years of Pollution and the Challenges Remaining. Another highlight was a panel discussion on Indiana Environmental Policy in the 2022 Election and the 2023 Legislative Session with State Representatives Carey Hamilton and Fady Qaddoura along with Dr. Indra Frank and Tim Maloney with the Hoosier Environmental Council. Along with our State Representatives, several environmentalists spoke about their advocacy to protect our land, natural resources, and endorse renewable, clean energy.
The HEC Annual Awards is part of Greening the Statehouse (GTS), Indiana’s largest annual gathering of environmental-minded Hoosiers, now in its fifteenth year. GTS 2022 featured panel discussions on progress toward cleaner waterways in Indiana, and the outlook for pro-environmental legislation in the 2022 election and the 2023 state legislative session.
