I-69 opponents file lawsuit

Citizens for Appropriate Rural Roads, the Interstate 69 Accountability Project and landowners affected by the proposed I-69 route, filed a lawsuit Aug. 1 against the Indiana Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration and U.S. Department of Transportation.

The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the southern district of Indiana, alleges INDOT and the Federal Highway Administration violated the Clean Air Act, Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Administrative Procedures Act and the Transportation Act.

“INDOT and Governor Daniels must comply with federal law, whether they like it or not,” the plaintiffs’ attorney Mick Harrison said in a statement.

Harrison’s statement was in response to Gov. Mitch Daniels announcement that I-69 would be run through Bloomington “whether they like it or not” while visiting U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center, located southwest of Bloomington along the proposed route.

The lawsuit covers Section 4 of I-69 construction, slated to run from U.S.-231 to SR-37.
The suit alleges I-69 construction would pollute water, increase flooding, disrupt groundwater flow and negatively impact species living in caves.

This lawsuit follows a February lawsuit filed by Citizens for Appropriate Rural Roads and Hoosier Environmental Council over the proposed I-69 route through Greene and Davies counties, which violates the Clean Water Act.

— Colleen Sikorski