How you can give comments on Indiana environmental laws right now
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Indiana environmental laws could change, but first IDEM is asking for public comments
Gov. Mike Braun called for a review of environmental regulations this spring. Business groups like the Indiana Chamber of Commerce say it’s a chance to modernize outdated regulations. But groups like Hoosier Environmental Council believe the comment period will be used as a megaphone for businesses that want to see Indiana’s thin environmental protections weakened even further. The comment period ends June 30. The agency will review comments and send a report to the governor and legislative leaders by Dec. 31. The Indiana Chamber, which represents thousands of businesses, will ask members which regulations they find burdensome and submit a comment on their behalf. The state has lost at least 350 acres of wetlands since the end of the first Trump administration in 2021, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, every acre destroyed can cost millions of dollars to replace. They reduce the risk of flooding and improve water quality while it slowly releases it while it filters it and releases it slowly, the agency says. They also reduce the chance of polluted water and open the door to more hazardous waste.
Gov. Mike Braun called for a review of environmental regulations this spring. He said eliminating burdensome regulations would unleash the productive side of Indiana’s economy while protecting natural resources.
Business groups like the Indiana Chamber of Commerce say it’s a chance to modernize outdated regulations, like some that require paper documents.
“We may find at the end of this process that there’s really very little work to do and that most of our rules, with few exceptions, need to be revised or modernized,” said David Ober, a senior vice president at the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.
But groups like the Hoosier Environmental Council believe the comment period will be used as a megaphone for businesses that want to see Indiana’s thin environmental protections weakened even further.
“I don’t know that a lot of people were aware that this public comment period was even happening,” said Sam Carpenter, executive director of the Hoosier Environmental Council. “I think this was intended for business and industry to give feedback on where their business interests were limited or hampered by environmental regulations.”
The comment period ends June 30. Here’s what you need to know.
Why is Indiana asking for public input?
On March 12, Braun issued a pair of executive orders about environmental regulations.
The first order prohibits state agencies from using “environmental justice” considerations like race, ethnicity and other social factors when making permitting, enforcement or grant decisions.
The other order prohibits state agencies from adopting any new rules, regulations or programs that are “more stringent” than federal rules unless required by Indiana law or deemed necessary by the governor.
Indra Frank, water policy director for the nonprofit Hoosier Environmental Council, testifies during a public hearing on a draft wetland permit for a Franklin Township development Tuesday, April 9, 2024. Credit: Enrique Saenz/Mirror Indy
“Adhering to the national standards will give Hoosier businesses and communities regulatory certainty and encourage new businesses to invest and grow here in Indiana where they know the compliance framework already,” Braun said in a news release.
The second order also requires agencies like the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to identify “unduly burdensome” regulations that raise the cost of living, are not supported by current law and the best available science, or do not benefit Indiana’s environment.
And that’s where you come in. IDEM is asking the public to submit comments by June 30.
The agency will review comments and send a report to the governor and legislative leaders by Dec. 31.
The Indiana Chamber, which represents thousands of businesses, will ask members which regulations they find burdensome and submit a comment on their behalf.
Ober said businesses are looking to streamline permitting processes. He gave an example: He said some regulations require businesses to submit paper forms instead of allowing them to submit the forms digitally.
“Some of these rules may have been developed back in the ‘80s and ‘90s and are no longer fit for purpose in this new economy that we all live and operate within,” he said. “If we’ve got a regulation where a target was set in 1995, and if it’s not rooted in contemporary science, then maybe that’s something that should be looked at and updated or modernized.”
Ober previously served three terms in the Indiana House and then was a commissioner on the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, which regulates the electric, gas, water and wastewater utilities.
He noted that the chamber will place some guardrails on which rules it will ask the state to review.
“There’s political risk here for everybody involved,” Ober said. “We don’t want to be seen as asking for things that would erode public health and safety and our general environment.”
Why are environmental groups concerned?
Groups, like the Hoosier Environmental Council, are concerned that comments from regulated businesses could give receptive lawmakers the opportunity to take away protections — resulting in more hazardous waste, open burning, polluted water and fewer wetlands.
For example, Indiana lawmakers have removed protections for the state’s few remaining natural wetlands. Since the end of the first Trump administration in 2021, Indiana has lost at least 350 acres of wetlands.
Wetlands act as a sponge that traps water and slowly releases it while filtering it. They naturally reduce the risk of flooding and improve water quality. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, every wetland acre destroyed can cost communities millions of dollars to replace its water filtration functions.
Wetlands restored by conservationist Ray McCormick are seen on May 20, 2021, in Vincennes, Ind. Credit: Robert Scheer/IndyStar via Imagn Content Services
Carpenter said relying on federal standards to protect the health of Hoosiers could also backfire because the Trump administration is working to weaken many regulations.
On March 12, the same day Braun issued his executive orders, the Environmental Protection Agency announced it was rolling back dozens of environmental regulations in order to “give power back to states to make their own decisions.”
The nonprofit Environmental Protection Network, which is made up of over 650 former EPA staff members, estimates the rollbacks could result in the premature deaths of 200,000 people and more than 100 million asthma attacks through 2050.
The federal rollbacks could affect Indianapolis residents living in areas like the near west side, who are already more likely to develop lung disease or cancer than other parts of the city and state. They’re also more likely to visit the emergency room for breathing problems.
Public comments can be submitted online to efficiency@idem.IN.gov until June 30. IDEM requests that commenters be as specific as possible and include supporting data like financial impact and Indiana Administrative Code citations when referencing specific regulations. The Hoosier Environmental Council has a tool people can use to help write their public comments. It can be found at the nonprofit’s website.
Mirror Indy, a nonprofit newsroom, is funded through grants and donations from individuals, foundations and organizations.
Mirror Indy reporter Enrique Saenz covers west Indianapolis. Contact him at 317-983-4203 or enrique.saenz@mirrorindy.org. Follow him on Bluesky at @enriquesaenz.bsky.social.
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How you can give comments on Indiana environmental laws
Some environmental rules in Indiana could soon change, but first you will have a few days to share your opinion with state regulators.
Gov. Mike Braun called for a review of environmental regulations this spring. He said eliminating burdensome regulations would unleash the productive side of Indiana’s economy while protecting natural resources.
Business groups like the Indiana Chamber of Commerce say it’s a chance to modernize outdated regulations, like some that require paper documents.
“We may find at the end of this process that there’s really very little work to do and that most of our rules, with few exceptions, need to be revised or modernized,” said David Ober, a senior vice president at the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.
But groups like the Hoosier Environmental Council believe the comment period will be used as a megaphone for businesses that want to see Indiana’s thin environmental protections weakened even further.
“I don’t know that a lot of people were aware that this public comment period was even happening,” said Sam Carpenter, executive director of the Hoosier Environmental Council. “I think this was intended for business and industry to give feedback on where their business interests were limited or hampered by environmental regulations.”
The comment period ends June 30. Here’s what you need to know.
Why is Indiana asking for public input?
On March 12, Braun issued a pair of executive orders about environmental regulations.
The first order prohibits state agencies from using “environmental justice” considerations like race, ethnicity and other social factors when making permitting, enforcement or grant decisions.
The other order prohibits state agencies from adopting any new rules, regulations or programs that are “more stringent” than federal rules unless required by Indiana law or deemed necessary by the governor.
“Adhering to the national standards will give Hoosier businesses and communities regulatory certainty and encourage new businesses to invest and grow here in Indiana where they know the compliance framework already,” Braun said in a news release.
The second order also requires agencies like the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to identify “unduly burdensome” regulations that raise the cost of living, are not supported by current law and the best available science, or do not benefit Indiana’s environment.
And that’s where you come in. IDEM is asking the public to submit comments by June 30.
The agency will review comments and send a report to the governor and legislative leaders by Dec. 31.
What do businesses think of the comment period?
The Indiana Chamber, which represents thousands of businesses, will ask members which regulations they find burdensome and submit a comment on their behalf.
Ober said businesses are looking to streamline permitting processes. He gave an example: He said some regulations require businesses to submit paper forms instead of allowing them to submit the forms digitally.
“Some of these rules may have been developed back in the ‘80s and ‘90s and are no longer fit for purpose in this new economy that we all live and operate within,” he said. “If we’ve got a regulation where a target was set in 1995, and if it’s not rooted in contemporary science, then maybe that’s something that should be looked at and updated or modernized.”
Ober previously served three terms in the Indiana House and then was a commissioner on the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, which regulates the electric, gas, water and wastewater utilities.
He noted that the chamber will place some guardrails on which rules it will ask the state to review.
“There’s political risk here for everybody involved,” Ober said. “We don’t want to be seen as asking for things that would erode public health and safety and our general environment.”
Why are environmental groups concerned?
Groups, like the Hoosier Environmental Council, are concerned that comments from regulated businesses could give receptive lawmakers the opportunity to take away protections — resulting in more hazardous waste, open burning, polluted water and fewer wetlands.
For example, Indiana lawmakers have removed protections for the state’s few remaining natural wetlands. Since the end of the first Trump administration in 2021, Indiana has lost at least 350 acres of wetlands.
Wetlands act as a sponge that traps water and slowly releases it while filtering it. They naturally reduce the risk of flooding and improve water quality. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, every wetland acre destroyed can cost communities millions of dollars to replace its water filtration functions.
Carpenter said relying on federal standards to protect the health of Hoosiers could also backfire because the Trump administration is working to weaken many regulations.
On March 12, the same day Braun issued his executive orders, the Environmental Protection Agency announced it was rolling back dozens of environmental regulations in order to “give power back to states to make their own decisions.”
The nonprofit Environmental Protection Network, which is made up of over 650 former EPA staff members, estimates the rollbacks could result in the premature deaths of 200,000 people and more than 100 million asthma attacks through 2050.
The federal rollbacks could affect Indianapolis residents living in areas like the near west side, who are already more likely to develop lung disease or cancer than other parts of the city and state. They’re also more likely to visit the emergency room for breathing problems.
How to submit a public comment
Public comments can be submitted online to efficiency@idem.IN.gov until June 30.
IDEM requests that commenters be as specific as possible and include supporting data like financial impact and Indiana Administrative Code citations when referencing specific regulations.
The Hoosier Environmental Council has a tool people can use to help write their public comments. It can be found at the nonprofit’s website.
This article first appeared on Mirror Indy and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
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