Insurance fight prolongs Hartford City junk yard’s pollution
Five years of court battles haven't resolved the blame game between a western Indiana junk yard and one of the nation's largest insurance companies over water pollution.
Environmental Issues
Articles
Veteran VW engineer is first charged in US emissions probe
A veteran Volkswagen AG engineer pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud U.S. regulators and customers, the first criminal charge in the Justice Department’s yearlong investigation into the company’s rigging of federal air-pollution tests.
EPA adds Indianapolis groundwater plume to priority list
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday added an 18-acre contaminated groundwater site on the west side of Indianapolis to the National Priorities List of Superfund sites.
EPA objects to Vertellus Specialties acquisition plan
Indianapolis-based chemical company Vertellus Specialties Inc. is at odds with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over whether its proposed sale would provide adequate resources to address environmental cleanup needs at Vertellus-owned sites in Indiana and elsewhere.
Lawyer investigating lead at Indiana housing complex
An attorney for families in an Indiana public housing complex slated to be demolished because of lead contamination says he's investigating whether public officials knew about the problem and allowed children to be "poisoned."
COA affirms plaintiff can’t succeed on environmental action claims
The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed Thursday that based on the statute of limitations the owners of contaminated land can’t assert environmental claims against previous owners of the land who contributed to the contamination.
VW settlement could return $66M to eligible Hoosiers
More than 6,600 Hoosiers who bought certain Volkswagens or Audis designed to defraud diesel emissions tests may receive cash compensation, have their cars bought back or their engines modified. Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller announced Tuesday that restitution for eligible Indiana consumers could reach $66 million.
Federal judge strikes down Obama’s effort to regulate fracking
A federal judge struck down the Obama administration’s signature effort to regulate hydraulic fracturing on public lands, putting another of the president’s environmental initiatives in legal limbo months before he leaves office.
Indiana ministry sues zoning board over dairy farm approval
An eastern Indiana ministry that operates a children's church camp is suing zoning officials over their approval of a large dairy farm that would be built within a half-mile of the camp.
Michigan governor halts internal Flint probes after prosecutors object
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder on Thursday called for an end to civil and administrative investigations into how two state agencies contributed to Flint's lead-tainted drinking water crisis, after being warned they are hampering state and federal criminal probes.
Judge: Substantial progress in Volkswagen emissions talks
Volkswagen and attorneys for vehicle owners affected by the company's emissions cheating scandal are on target to meet a June deadline for a final settlement proposal, a federal judge said Tuesday.
Coal mine environmental risk grows with bankruptcies
As more coal companies file for bankruptcy, it’s increasingly likely taxpayers will be stuck with the very high costs of preventing abandoned mines from becoming environmental disasters.
EPA accuses Kokomo glass plant of violating Clean Air Act
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is accusing an Indiana art glass manufacturer of violating federal clean-air standards and emitting elevated amounts of potentially toxic materials.
Republican Senate effort again fails to block water rule
Democrats have again blocked a Republican proposal that would have forced the Obama administration to withdraw a federal rule to protect small streams and wetlands from development and pollution.
VW reaches outline agreement with US to overcome crisis
Volkswagen AG agreed to fix or buy back about 500,000 tainted cars in the U.S., taking a significant step forward in its effort to emerge from the emissions-cheating scandal.
3 charged with several crimes in Flint water crisis
Two state regulators and a Flint employee were charged Wednesday with evidence tampering and other felonies and misdemeanors, for the first time raising the lead-tainted water crisis in the Michigan city to a criminal case.
VW owners seek trial if there’s no fix in emissions case
Lawyers representing thousands of people who own diesel Volkswagens that cheat on emissions tests are asking a judge to order repairs and compensation if the company and government regulators don't agree to a fix by Thursday.
VW buys time to reach agreement in U.S. on diesel cheat fix
Volkswagen AG was given four more weeks to reach an agreement with regulators for getting 600,000 diesel vehicles off U.S. roads as it faces hundreds of lawsuits for rigging pollution control systems to cheat emissions tests.
Pence vetoes compromise environmental bill
A bill that originally would have barred the Department of Environmental Management from passing “no more stringent” regulations than federal rules was vetoed Thursday by Gov. Mike Pence, despite a compromise on the bill agreed to by both industry and environmental groups.
Abortion, med-mal, private university police bills await Pence’s decision
High-profile bills involving restrictions on abortion, increasing the caps on medical malpractice damages and slightly lifting the secrecy of police units at Notre Dame and other private universities are among the unsigned bills remaining on the final day for Gov. Mike Pence to act.