VALPARAISO, Indiana (From The Times) -- An ongoing foul odor in the area of the new Pratt Industries recycled paper mill has reportedly been attracting the objections of nearby residents.

It now has the attention of state environmental officials.

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management sent out water and air inspectors Thursday afternoon to explore the odor complaints, according to Keith Letta, administrator at the Porter County Health Department.

Letta said he contacted IDEM after the complaints were brought to his attention.

IDEM Public Information Officer Barry Sneed confirmed that his agency received the complaint and is investigating. The plant is located just south of U.S. 30 and east of Ind. 49.

Michael O'Regan, director of media affairs for Pratt, could not be reached Thursday afternoon for comment.

Porter County Councilman Jim Biggs, R-1st, who got the ball rolling by contacting the county health department, said he has been hearing complaints since the start of the year about the odors. They picked up in frequency during the time of the county fair near the end of July, Biggs said.

Sneed said no one at the state level has jurisdiction over odor issues. But an odor could indicate a related problem that does fall under IDEM's control, he said.

Biggs said he holds out hope Pratt will respond if it is determined the company is the source of the odor complaints.

"I'm confident that Pratt will do whatever needs to be done to stop it," he said. "They have been a good neighbor and surely want to continue being a good neighbor."

Pratt unveiled its new $250 million recycle paper factory in March, which was billed as the world's most modern, environmentally friendly paper mill. It was built next to the company's corrugated box factory.

Pratt owner Anthony Pratt said when the new plant was built that it will save an estimated 69,000 trees a day, or enough to cover 120 football fields.

The paper mill recycles memos, newspapers and other products harvested from corporations in Chicago's Loop and from waste disposal companies within a 200-mile radius, such as from Indianapolis and Fort Wayne. About 65 percent of paper that's recycled at the sprawling 250,000-square-foot paper mill goes right next door to Pratt's corrugated box factory.