The Indiana Natural Resources Com-mission has scheduled three hearings to accept public comment on a package of proposed rule changes.

The changes include those governing deer hunting, wild animals found dead, nuisance wild animals, cottontail rabbits, wild pigs, quail and pheasant hunting on Department of Natural Resources (DNR)-managed properties, ruffed grouse, wild turkey hunting, reptiles, amphibians, exotic fish, sport fishing and commercial fishing on Wabash River boundary waters and other inland water.

Among the proposed changes are rules allowing the use of high-powered rifles for deer hunting, a 25-fish daily bag limit on sunfish (includes bluegill) and suspension of the ruffed grouse hunting season. For a complete list of proposed amendments with additional information about each, see www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/2362.htm

The hearings will be:

•March 16, 5:30 p.m. at Spring Mill State Park, 3333 S.R. 60 E., Mitchell

•March 17, 3:30 p.m. at The Garrison Conference Center, Fort Harrison State Park, 5753 Glenn Road, Indianapolis

•March 25, 5:30 p.m. at the DNR Northeast Regional Office, 1353 Governors Dr., Columbia City

Public comments may be submitted by going online at www.in.gov/nrc/2377.htm and locating the “comment on this rule” link in the Rules Docket for the Fish & Wildlife Biennial Rules Amendment Package.

Comments also may be mailed to: Natural Resources Commission, Indiana Government Center South, 100 North Senate Ave., Room N501, Indianapolis, IN 46204-2200. The deadline for submitting public comments is midnight, March 25.

Winona Lake contaminated

by chemical plant fire

On Feb. 6, Indiana conservation officers assisted multiple police, fire and hazmat units at the scene of a chemical plant fire in Warsaw.

Warsaw Chemical Co., located at 2325 E. Durbin Street, had a fire followed by an explosion at 10:55 a.m. The explosion ruptured tanks containing potentially hazardous chemicals.

A passing Warsaw city police officer was in the area and heard the blast and called for assistance to the scene.

As a result of the fire there were reported eight people, including firemen, treated at Kosciusko Community Hospital for chemical inhalation and skin irritation. One plant employee was treated for burns to his hands. The exact cause of the fire is not known.

An unknown quantity of chemicals consisting mostly of methanol ran into the storm drains and into Winona Lake. The contamination turned the lake and snow blue and green from the dyes in the chemicals. It is believed thousands of gallons of chemicals and water mix ran off following the explosion and fire and washed into the lake.

The ice on Winona Lake was significantly thinned by the methanol runoff. Conservation officers are advising fisherman not to venture out on the ice or eat any fish from the lake until further notice.

The effect on the fish and wildlife is unknown, although no fish or wildlife were observed dead or in distress.

The Elkhart County Fire Department Hazmat team, Clay Fire of St. Joseph County, Warsaw City Fire Department, Winona Lake Fire Department, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Homeland Security, Environmental Remediation Services, Warsaw and Winona Lake police departments and many others descended on the scene to fight the blaze and environmental contamination.

Environmental Remediation Services of Fort Wayne will be using large, portable air compressors to introduce mass amounts of oxygen into the lake to evaporate the contaminants and aid the fish and wildlife in it.

Indiana DNR Recreation

Guide is now online

Hoosier outdoor lovers’ guide to Indiana’s best values in outdoor recreation is now available online at www.in.gov/dnr/5280.htm

The DNR’s 2015 Indiana Recreation Guide is the source for information on state parks, lakes, state park inns, Fish & Wildlife Areas, state forests and other DNR properties.

Local retail outlets, state parks, lakes and other DNR properties will have free printed copies available.

The guides also will be available at the DNR booth at the Indianapolis Boat, Sport and Travel Show Feb. 20-March 1, at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis.

Annual entrance passes may be purchased in person at the gatehouse or offices of state park properties during business hours, at the Indiana Government Center South in Indianapolis during business hours or at http://stores.innsgifts.com

Indiana resident passes cost $40. For individuals 65 years old or older, the price is $20. Annual passes for vehicles with out-of-state license plates are $60. Normal daily gate fees for residents at most properties are $5 per vehicle.

For more information on Indiana state park properties, visit www.in.gov/dnr/parklake

Five New Members

For Trails Advisory Board

DNR Director Cameron F. Clark recently appointed five members to the Indiana Trails Advisory Board. The 15-member volunteer board advises Clark on trails-related issues.

The members represent bicyclists, health/higher education, off-road motorcyclists, parks and recreation agencies and water trail users. The members’ terms will begin March 1 and they will serve until Feb. 28, 2018.

The new Trail advisory board members are: Bicyclists, Jessica Hall; Health/higher education, Joan Cook; Off-road motorcyclists, Richard Dorfmeyer; Parks and recreation agencies, Melody Jones; and Water trail users, Joseph Rozsahegyi.

The new members will be introduced at the March 5 board meeting. To learn more about the Indiana Trails Advisory Board, see www.in.gov/dnr/outdoor/4094.htm

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments may contact Jack Spaulding by email at jackspaulding@hughes.net or by writing to him in care of this publication.