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Porter County stormwater board approves NIPSCO permits for underground utilities and pole work
Summary
The Porter County Stormwater Management Board approved a series of NIPSCO permit requests to install underground fiber conduit, replace a gas main and set a utility pole within regulated drainage easements, imposing standard conditions including a hold-harmless agreement and a requirement to notify county staff 72 hours before work begins.
The Porter County Stormwater Management Board approved multiple permit requests from NIPSCO to install underground fiber conduit, retire and replace a gas main and install a utility pole within regulated drainage easements, the program manager reported and the board voted.
The program manager told the board that the applications (dockets in the SM26‑008 through SM26‑0013 series) would place two new 2‑inch DuraLine FuturePath 4‑way conduits and associated utility work across a number of regulated drains, including Flint Lake Garden Terrace Ditch, Hutt and Ditch arms and Crooked Creek. The staff report said horizontal directional drilling would be used, a minimum 5‑foot separation from the invert of open drains is required where the cable runs under ditches, temporary perimeter sediment controls must be installed and any disturbed areas must be restored “to a condition as good or better than that found prior to the commencement of work.” The staff report recommended approval with the standard terms and a hold‑harmless agreement.
Rachel, a presenter at the meeting, explained the reliability purpose of the fiber project: “One of the key things that we do to increase reliability across our substations is connect them with an underground fiber route,” she said, adding the conduit provides spare capacity for future projects so a new line would not have to be run for later work.
On docket SM26‑0012, staff described a separate NIPSCO proposal to abandon an existing 3‑inch gas main in place (capped and purged unless testing finds contamination) and to install a new 6‑inch medium‑density polyethylene gas main via horizontal directional drilling under Phillips Ditch to accommodate a State Road 8 small‑structure replacement. County staff said contaminated pipe would be removed but otherwise abandoned mains are typically capped and left in place after being purged.
For a utility pole proposal (SM26‑0013) the board was told the replacement pole would be set near 394 South 200 West within the regulated easement for Ludington Ditch Arm 16; staff said they had flagged drain tile in the area and the applicant must repair any tile damaged during construction.
Board members asked operational questions — whether the conduit would be under or along the ditch bank (staff and the presenter confirmed beneath the ditch with the required separation in the portions described) and about contractor documentation; the presenter said contractors will be listed on environmental compliance plans and as‑built drawings are standard and will be provided when completed.
Motions to approve the staff recommendations were made, seconded and approved during the meeting; the board recorded affirmative votes and the actions passed with the stated special provisions that the applicant provide a hold‑harmless agreement and contact the department at least 72 hours before starting work.
The program manager said these NIPSCO cases will be presented to the stormwater management board at its meeting on June 23 at 9 a.m., and that hold‑harmless agreements would be sent to project contacts after that meeting.
