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NRC Approves Fees for McCormick's Creek Centennial Cabin
Indiana Ag Connection - 11/15/2018

The Natural Resources Commission (NRC) approved rental fees for the new Centennial Cabin at McCormick's Creek State Park at its meeting yesterday at Fort Harrison State Park.

The approved fees are $199 a night plus tax for Sunday through Wednesday; $209 plus tax per night for Thursday through Saturday, and $219 plus tax per night for holidays. The 1,400-square-foot, three-bedroom furnished cabin, which overlooks McCormick's Creek Cove Nature Preserve, has three bedrooms, air conditioning, heat, a full-size kitchen and dining area. Year-round reservations can be made at camp.IN.gov or 866-622-6746.

The NRC also approved amendments to Information Bulletin # 2, Roster of Indiana Animals, Insects, and Plants that are Extirpated, Endangered, Threatened, or Rare (aka "Special Concern"), as proposed by the Division of Fish & Wildlife (DFW). The amendments update the non-rule policy to reflect changes that already had been made by administrative rule as well as removing the Northern leopard frog from the special concern list and adding the plains gartersnake to the special concern list for reptiles.

DFW's approved changes included adding the three species of bats that were added to the state's endangered species list earlier this year -- little brown bat, Northern long-eared bat and tri-colored bat; adding rufa red knot to the list of endangered species of birds and removing osprey; and removing the following mussel species -- pyramid pigtow, orangefoot pimpleback, pink mucket, tubercled blossom, longsolid and white wartyback -- from the list of endangered species of invertebrates because all are considered to be extirpated from Indiana.

The NRC also approved the Division of Hearings' proposed amendments regarding the NRC's role regarding conservancy districts. The amendments clarify the notification of other state agencies regarding the establishment of such districts, or the addition of territory, addition of purpose, and dissolution of existing conservancy districts.

Regarding 2019 meeting dates, the NRC approved Jan. 15, March 19, May 21, July 16, Sept. 17 and Nov. 19. Each meeting will be at Fort Harrison State Park in Indianapolis.

The NRC also granted preliminary adoption to amendments from the Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology (DEPP) regarding aquatic invasive species and from the Division of Law Enforcement regarding extending a no-boating zone in Lake Michigan near Whiting.

The first amendment from DEPP would add two species to the list of prohibited invasive aquatic plants (312 IAC 18-3-23). The two species are starry stonewort and water soldier. The second amendment would repeal 312 IAC 18-3-21, which governs the control of another aquatic invasive plant, hydrilla. The purpose of that proposal is to eliminate redundancy. Hydrilla is already listed a prohibited invasive in 312 IAC 18-3-23 (6).

DNR Law Enforcement's amendment to 312 IAC 5-8-2 would extend the no-boating zone in Whiting, off Whihala Beach County Park's East Swimming Beach, from 200 feet to 300 feet. The purpose is to ensure safety of participants on the "Whoa Zone" from passing watercraft. The zone is an in-water fitness challenge course recently added by the City of Whiting. The proposal seeks to make permanent an emergency rule signed in 2017 and renewed this year.

The NRC's Division of Hearings will now cause publication of a Notice of Intent to adopt the rules that received the NRC's preliminary adoption and will submit fiscal analyses prepared by DEPP and DNR Law Enforcement to the State Budget Agency (SBA). The proposed rules will soon be added to the NRC's Rulemaking Docket (nrc.IN.gov/2377.htm), which includes a link to an online comment form. If the SBA approves the fiscal analyses, public hearings will be scheduled to allow for additional public comment. Ultimately, the amendments, along with the public comments, will be sent back to the NRC for consideration for final adoption.

The NRC is an autonomous board that addresses topics pertaining to the DNR. More details on these actions are available at nrc.IN.gov/2350.htm under "November Agenda."

The NRC is a 12-member board that includes the DNR director, heads of three other state agencies (Environmental Management, Tourism Development, and Transportation), six citizens appointed by the governor on a bipartisan basis, the chair of the DNR's advisory council, and the president of the Indiana Academy of Science. The Academy of Science president and the agency heads, other than the DNR director, may appoint proxies to serve the commission in their absences.


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