Indianapolis councilors warn LEAP water deal threatens Eagle Creek

Twenty-one Indianapolis City-County councilors sent a letter Thursday warning that a major industrial development in Lebanon poses serious environmental risks to Eagle Creek Park — one of the city's most visited natural assets.

The LEAP district — short for Limitless Exploration/Advanced Pace — is a roughly 9,000-acre industrial park being developed in Lebanon along Interstate 65. It's tenants include Eli Lilly manufacturing facilities and a Meta data center campus.

At the center of the dispute is a deal for Citizens Energy Group, Indianapolis's public water utility to supply up to 25 million gallons of water per day from Indianapolis sources — including Eagle Creek Reservoir — to Lebanon Utilities by 2031. Under current plans, Lebanon Utilities would then discharge treated industrial wastewater from the LEAP site through a pipeline back into Eagle Creek Reservoir.

Residents have protested the plan for months, raising concerns that wastewater discharged into reservoirs could harm wildlife such as birds and fish.

The council letter — signed by 21 of the 25 members — sent Thursday to Mayor Joe Hogsett, Lebanon Mayor Matt Gentry, Citizens Energy CEO Jeffrey Harrison and Lebanon Utilities General Manager Edward Basquill said it could not support the city’s participation in the project until those concerns are addressed.

“All decisions made for this project to date concerning water and wastewater provisions have been for the benefit of Lebanon, Citizens, and the LEAP tenants — and at the expense of Indianapolis and its citizens," the letter said.

In response to concerns about transparency, Citizens Energy Group said it received the letter from the city-county councilors, and that “the concerns that were outlined are consistent with those previously discussed in our conversations with public officials and stakeholders—as well as at the community meetings we’ve attended and the public information sessions that Citizens has hosted.” 

In a statement, Citizens Energy Group wrote that they are “committed to protecting local water resources and has been consistent in our communications about ensuring environmental protection.” 

Some state lawmakers are also raising concerns.

Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis), the House Democratic floor leader whose district borders Eagle Creek Park, wrote to the Indiana Finance Authority in February asking it to reconsider the project, citing “immense secrecy and detrimental environmental impact.”