IDEM

Co-leaders of the youth activist group Confront the Climate Crisis Rahul Durai (left) and Ashlyn Walker (right) at an event last year urging lawmakers to create a climate task force.

Indiana passed over for funding to help cut greenhouse gas emissions, aims to do so anyway

Rebecca Thiele

A federal grant spurred Indiana to create its first climate plan and the state hoped another grant would put it into action.

To estimate how much each state action could reduce emissions, IDEM set targets based on what it felt was achievable for Indiana. Advocates say, at least for now, those targets are not very ambitious.

Indiana creates its first climate action plan. Advocates say the targets lack ambition

Rebecca Thiele

Indiana’s climate action plan prioritizes things like expanding renewable energy and green industrial processes, making buildings more energy efficient, adopting electric vehicles, reducing food waste, and filling out Indiana's urban tree canopy.

At a public meeting, IDEM officials said that tightening emissions limits on BP's Whiting Refinery would require a change to federal or state laws.

IDEM says it can't make air pollution permits stricter. Experts say that's only partially true

Rebecca Thiele

At a public meeting, IDEM officials said that tightening emissions limits on BP's Whiting Refinery would require a change to federal or state laws.

Beanblossom Bottoms is a wetland nature preserve near Bloomington. HB 1383 would lower the number of wetlands that could fall into Class 3 — the only class that didn’t lose significant protections when the state changed its wetlands law in 2021.

Wetland experts say they weren't consulted on state bill reducing protections

Rebecca Thiele

An outgoing state wetlands employee has joined a growing list of stakeholders that say they weren't consulted on a bill that would reduce wetland protections.

Residents, activists urge tighter restrictions on air pollution at East Chicago steel plant

Rebecca Thiele

Northwest Indiana residents and environmental groups want the state to reduce pollution at a steel plant in East Chicago.

IDEM said little construction has happened on the Riverview Energy site, which is why the company's permit is no longer valid.

State says air permit for controversial coal-to-diesel plant no longer valid

Rebecca Thiele

IDEM said little construction has happened on the Riverview Energy site, which is why the company's permit is no longer valid.

Controlling such a widespread chemical could be a challenge for the EPA. Some states that have tried to regulate PFAS have faced lawsuits from manufacturers.

What to do if there are PFAS in your water

Rebecca Thiele

So far, IDEM has found unhealthy levels of PFAS in 19 drinking water utilities — 10 midsize utilities and nine small water utilities.

City utilities violated EPA requirement for drinking water testing

Lucas González

The city said the required monthly sample of total organic carbon in drinking water was not reported to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management because of a shipping error.

Aviation Indiana officials say smaller airports like the Monroe County Airport in Bloomington often aren't eligible for much of the state grant funding for infrastructure improvements.

Bill to fund airport gas tank cleanups, improvements heads to Holcomb's desk

Rebecca Thiele

A bill that would use some money for cleaning up gas leaks for upgrades at the state’s airports is headed to the governor’s desk.

Roachdale, Indiana residents were worried that soil from East Palestine might contain highly toxic dioxins.

Waste sampling shows soil from East Palestine contains safe levels of dioxins

Ethan Sandweiss

According to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, the contaminated soil appeared “suitable for disposal” at the Heritage Landfill in Roachdale, Indiana, which has operated since 1981.