Cleanup set for 200,000 waste tires left at Anderson business
State environmental officials are stepping in to clean up nearly 200,000 shredded tires left at a former central Indiana recycling business.
Indiana Department of Environmental Management
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Proposal to sunset Ohio River pollution standards yields flood of concern
Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission members, including three from Indiana, are preparing to vote on a proposal that would sunset the organization’s pollution control standards. That proposal has yielded thousands of pages of public comments from proponents who say ORSANCO’s standards are redundant and, more significantly, from opponents who fear water quality in Indiana would suffer.
Pence family gas stations left costly environmental legacy
The collapse of an oil company linked to the Pence family in 2004 was widely publicized. Less known is that the state of Indiana — and, to a smaller extent, Kentucky and Illinois — are still on the hook for millions of dollars to clean up more than 85 of the company’s contaminated sites, including underground tanks that leaked toxic chemicals into soil, streams and wells.
Delaware County officials end fight against 10,000-hog farm
Officials in Delaware County are dropping their fight against a proposed 10,000-hog farm after threats of legal action since a state agency has approved the project. County commissioners had put a hold on building permits for the farm in the northern part of the county.
Marathon to pay $335K for 2016 diesel spill
Marathon Petroleum Corp. has agreed to pay $335,000 for a 2016 spill where nearly 36,000 gallons of diesel fuel leaked into the Wabash River near the Indiana-Illinois border. The settlement came as about 42,000 gallons of diesel fuel spilled last week into Big Creek in Posey County.
Braun: Programs available to fund costs of protecting environment
For the State of Indiana to remain competitive in the 21st century and to attract and retain businesses and an educated workforce, it is vitally important that the quality of life for its citizens include clean air, soil and water.
Muncie residents protest lead plant’s permit renewal
The state Department of Environmental Management has renewed a central Indiana lead plant’s operating permit for another five years after declining to hold a public hearing. The department said a hearing wasn’t needed because it had answered all of the comments it received during a public comment period.
East Chicago facility settles suit over Clean Air Act violations
Cokenergy, SunCoke Energy and its subsidiary Indiana Harbor Coke Co. have reached a settlement including $5 million in penalties with the state and federal governments to clean up operations in East Chicago, resolving a case that involved hundreds of violations of federal pollution standards.
Bill would allow whistleblower complaints against state
Rep. Ed DeLaney, D-Indianapolis, has filed a bill that would extend whistleblower protections to state employees who speak up about government misdeeds or fiscal malfeasance. The legislation is in response to a split decision from the Indiana Supreme Court, which found the state whistleblower statute did not include workers in the public sector.
Justices rule state immune to ex-IDEM worker’s whistleblower claim
A divided Indiana Supreme Court has found that the state is immune from a non-tort claim made by a former state employee under the Indiana False Claims and Whistleblower Protection Act.
Indiana undecided on how to spend $41M Volkswagen settlement
Indiana officials have yet to decide how to use the $41 million the state will receive from a settlement federal regulators reached with Volkswagen, which cheated on emissions tests.
IDEM may ditch newspaper ads for online notices
Indiana may stop buying newspaper advertising to announce air pollution permits sought by businesses and industry and rely instead on online notices.
IDEM whistleblower makes argument to Indiana Supreme Court
A former employee of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management appeared in the Indiana Supreme Court courtroom Thursday arguing her right to bring a complaint against the state under the whistleblower provision of the Indiana False Claims Act.
Duke Energy plans to close coal ash ponds in Indiana
Duke Energy is planning to close coal ash ponds in Indiana because of new federal environmental regulations.
Coalition asks EPA to act on lead in East Chicago water
A coalition of community and environmental groups and law clinics has petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to act immediately to protect East Chicago residents from lead in their drinking water.
Indiana Senate votes to override 2 Pence vetoes
The Indiana Senate has followed the House's lead and voted to override two bills that former Gov. Mike Pence vetoed last year.
Indiana House votes to override 2 vetoes by ex-Gov. Pence
The Indiana House has voted to override two bills that former Gov. Mike Pence vetoed last year.
Former IDEM employee’s lawsuit highlights risks, rewards for whistleblowers
Suzanne Esserman claims the Indiana Department of Environmental Management fired her for questioning payments to private contractors, so she's filed a whistleblower lawsuit.
Former IDEM employee’s unlawful termination case can continue
A former Indiana state employee can continue her case against the Indiana Department of Environmental Management after the Court of Appeals decided Thursday that her unlawful termination complaint stated a claim upon which relief can be granted and that sovereign immunity cannot apply.
Agreement with Gary to resolve Clean Water Act violations
Federal and Indiana authorities have reached an agreement with the city of Gary to resolve longstanding violations of the Clean Water Act, including the release of raw sewage.