Government

July 28, 2020

Changes to NEPA could negatively affect minorities

Recent changes to one of the nation’s central environmental laws is predicted to negatively affect minorities.
July 23, 2020

Federal Appeals Court Upholds EPA Lake County Ozone Designation, Orders Redo of Porter County Designation

Court decides EPA must redo its pollution calculations for air designations in several Midwestern states, but keeps Lake County ozone “attainment” designation.
July 20, 2020

EPA Proposes Removing 671 East Chicago Homes from Superfund List

EPA, IDEM say remediation objectives met for some homes in USS Lead Superfund site, but some contamination questions remain .
July 8, 2020

Comment period for NIPSCO Bailly plant in Chesterton underway

The EPA has opened the 45-day public comment period for the proposed cleanup plan of an inactive power plant in Chesterton.
June 29, 2020

Groups Say EPA Failed to Ensure Huntington Had Plan to Clean Up Sulfur Dioxide Air Pollution

Three environmental groups sued the EPA for allowing IDEM and other agencies to go months and years without submitting plans for cleaning up air pollution violations.
June 24, 2020

EPA administrator signs National Pollinator Week Proclamation

EPA administrator Andrew Wheeler signed the agency’s first proclamation recognizing the week of June 22 as National Pollinator Week.
June 22, 2020

Purdue professor appointed to EPA agricultural committee

A Purdue professor was appointed to the EPA’s Farm, Ranch and Rural Communities Committee.
June 11, 2020

EPA awards Indiana Finance Authority $300,000 to clean up contaminated properties

The EPA awarded the Indiana Finance Authority $300,000 in supplemental funding for brownfield cleanups.
June 10, 2020

Trump issues executive order allowing federal agencies to waive environmental laws to speed up federal project approvals

A new executive order will allow federal agencies to waive environmental laws to speed up federal approval for infrastructure projects.
June 3, 2020

EPA limits states’ ability to challenge energy project construction

The EPA finalized a rule that would limit the time states, tribes and the public have to object to federal permits for energy projects.
May 22, 2020

EPA to add 172 PFAS chemicals to Toxics Release Inventory

The EPA added more than a hundred PFAS substances to the nation’s official list of toxic chemicals.
May 20, 2020

Changes to Reporting Law Could Weaken Public’s Knowledge of Toxic Substances Produced Nearby

Health and environmental groups say changes to Toxic Substances Control Act will allow more companies to avoid reporting the production and importation of toxic substances.
May 19, 2020

Monroe County, Environmental Groups Sue to Stop Hoosier National Forest Management Plan

Lawsuit claims the plan will pollute Lake Monroe and violates a federal law requiring environmental assessments of federal projects.
May 14, 2020

Lawmakers introduce bill to block Trump rule limiting scope of federal water protections

The bill would block the implementation of a Trump administration rule limiting the scope of bodies of water that fall under federal jurisdiction.
May 7, 2020

EPA Announces $2.7 Million in Indiana Brownfield Assessment Grants

Brownfield sites from seven Indiana communities among 155 chosen nationwide
April 29, 2020

Major Indiana coal company receives $10 million small business loan

Terre Haute-based Hallador Energy received $10 million from a federal loan program designed to help small businesses stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic.
April 28, 2020

INDOT’s highway proposal could threaten rare habitat

An INDOT highway proposal could result in the harm of rare habitat and natural resources in the southern part of the state
April 28, 2020

IDEM Releases COVID-19 Noncompliance Requests

From retrofitting to produce hand sanitizer to delaying an environmental investigation affecting thousands, Indiana industries have asked the state’s environmental agency for permission to skirt some legal requirements.
April 22, 2020

Report finds decrease in EPA enforcement and rise in violations in Midwest

Industries are polluting more and getting penalized less due to reduced EPA enforcement, according to a new report.
April 10, 2020

EPA Region 5 donates PPE to help the fight against COVID-19

U.S. EPA Region 5 said it plans to donate more than 10,000 pieces of personal protective equipment to help health professionals treat COVID-19 patients.
April 9, 2020

EPA, IDEM Relaxing Enforcement During COVID-19 Pandemic

Environmental groups worry companies will pollute more due to federal, state “enforcement discretion” guidance.
March 25, 2020

DoD finds 50% more installations contaminated with PFAS

The U.S. Department of Defense said PFAS chemicals may have been used or released at many more installations than initially reported.
March 12, 2020

Trump administration pressures coastal communities to evict homeowners from flood-prone areas

The Trump administration is using the threat of withholding federal money to force communities to evict homeowners living in flood zones.
March 12, 2020

Indiana Backs Trump Administration Changes to NEPA Law

Attorneys general for 16 states, led by Indiana, submit comments supporting changes that shorten environmental reviews for federal projects.
March 10, 2020

FDA, FTC warn companies to stop selling fraudulent coronavirus treatments

Two federal agencies have issued warning letters to seven companies to stop selling products that claim to treat or prevent COVID-19.
March 5, 2020

Indiana-based Companies in Charge of Incinerating Military’s PFAS Firefighting Foam Stockpiles

Heritage Environmental Services LLC and Tradebe Treatment and Recycling LLC are caught in the middle of a lawsuit between the DoD and groups that want PFAS incineration to stop.
March 4, 2020

TCE report “altered radically” at White House direction

The White House reportedly ordered the rewrite of a report that linked a chemical compound used in dry cleaning and as an industrial solvent to birth defects.
February 27, 2020

Indiana organization awarded EPA grant for nutrient reduction in Great Lakes

A West Lafayette organization was awarded a nearly $480,000 grant to enhance nutrient reduction efforts in the Great Lakes.
February 26, 2020

IDEM, Marion County continue jet fuel clean up at Pleasant Run Creek

“Undetermined” amount of jet fuel entered creek after Feb. 20 tanker accident
February 25, 2020

Indiana Bill Seeks to Reduce Firefighters’, Hoosiers’ Exposure to PFAS Contamination

House Bill 1189, which awaits final approval by the governor's office, would limit the use of potentially toxic firefighting foam in training
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