Committee recommends denying US Scrap license after IDEM finds hazardous‑waste violations; neighbors urge cleanup

The Community Investment Committee recommended denial of the scrap‑metal license renewal for US Scrap and Recycling LLC at 1610 Circle Avenue after city staff reviewed alleged environmental and hazardous‑waste violations identified by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM).

Caleb Bauer, Executive Director of Community Investment, told the committee IDEM discovered violations tied to demolition activity at the site that began in May 2024. IDEM issued a Notice of Violation dated Jan. 14, 2025, alleging failures including: lack of required hazardous‑waste characterization and determinations; releases and contaminants at multiple on‑site locations; improper container management and shipping of large volumes of waste without required notices and documentation; and depositing solid waste in an unacceptable manner on the land. Bauer said the city issued a stop‑work order after IDEM informed the city of the violations, and that as of the committee meeting there was no agreed order between IDEM and the property owner to resolve the Jan. 14 items.

Bauer said the municipal code authorizes denial, suspension or revocation of scrap‑metal licenses where operations “constitute a menace to the health, safety and welfare of the public” (citing municipal code sections raised in staff materials). He and staff concluded US Scrap’s actions violated applicable law and risked public health and safety and therefore recommended denial of the renewal application.

Public comments were extensive. Multiple residents and neighborhood leaders told the committee they discovered demolition and on‑site activity that was not disclosed to the neighborhood, raised concerns about contaminated soils and unknown disposal locations for materials removed from the site, and described longstanding blight and environmental harm. Speakers included Donald Rogers (Near West Side resident), Marty Mecktenberg (Near West Side Neighborhood Association president), Anne Mannix (resident and neighborhood plan participant), Jim Bogner (resident), and others who urged the council to deny the license and to ensure the site is cleaned up and that responsible parties are held accountable. Several speakers asked the city and IDEM to confirm where removed materials were taken and to take enforcement steps if the company fails to cooperate.

City staff told the committee that IDEM had provided the Jan. 14 notice and that responses from the business to that notice were incomplete. Staff said the building department’s stop‑work order would remain in place until IDEM notified the city that demolition activity could safely resume and that IDEM has been communicating with city staff about expectations, including a full site characterization and a remediation/soil‑management plan if contaminants are found.

Committee action: Council Member White moved to approve the resolution recommending denial of the license; the motion was seconded and carried on roll call (Committee Member Gooden Rogers — Aye; Vice Chair White — Aye; Committee Chair Warner — Aye; Citizen Member Kane Kojewski — Aye; Citizen Member Thomas Gray — Aye). The resolution denying the license will go forward to the full council for final action.

Clarifying: Staff said an agreed order from IDEM (a common enforcement mechanism) could be negotiated between IDEM and the property owner; as of the meeting no agreed order addressing the Jan. 14, 2025 violations had been provided to the city. Staff also said there is an earlier agreed order that remains in force from 2023 tied to prior ownership; that existing order carries obligations that the current owner also inherits.

Ending: The committee recommended denial and asked staff to continue coordinating with IDEM, the building department and neighborhood representatives on site characterization, remediation planning, and next steps if the business declines to comply.