Indiana House Republicans’ agenda includes effort to absorb disgruntled Illinois counties
House Republicans also introduced a slew of bills addressing trademark issues such as education, housing and health care.
Environment
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Swimming upstream? SCOTUS decision, Indiana legislation reignite wetlands debate
A ruling that was 15 years in the making has now sparked passionate discourse in the Indiana Statehouse as changes to wetlands occur.
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Government, environmental groups net win in forest fight
The Hoosier National Forest has been the focus of two lawsuits since 2020 aimed at stopping a controversial federal vegetation management plan that involves the logging and burning of several thousand acres within the forest.
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Toxic fallout: Remediation and lawsuits continuing at USS Lead Superfund site in East Chicago
The pictures of sun-drenched homes and neatly trimmed lawns in East Chicago showcase what is perhaps the best outcome. However, the images belie the nightmare many residents are still living. The homes along with the neighboring West Calumet Housing Project and Carrie Gosch Elementary School were all built on the USS Lead Superfund site.
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Draining protection: Deregulation bill sends conservationists scrambling to save Indiana wetlands
A controversial bill that would do away with state regulation of Indiana’s wetlands is on the fast track to becoming law, throwing environmental agencies and conservation advocates into a frenzy. Farmers and land developers support the legislation, arguing wetland regulations are burdensome.
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Articles
Harris and Trump offer starkly different visions on climate change and energy
As the Earth sizzled through a summer with four of the hottest days ever measured, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have starkly different visions on how to address a changing climate while ensuring a reliable energy supply. But neither has provided many details on how they would get there.
Biden administration proposes rule for workplaces to address excessive heat
The Biden administration proposed a new rule Tuesday to address excessive heat in the workplace, as tens of millions of people in the U.S. are under heat advisories due to blistering temperatures.
‘Green blitz’: As election nears, Biden pushes slew of rules on environment, other priorities
As he tries to secure his legacy, President Joe Biden has unleashed a flurry of election-year rules on the environment and other topics, including a landmark regulation that would force coal-fired power plants to capture smokestack emissions or shut down.
In suit co-led by Indiana, red states challenge Biden’s coal-plant pollution curbs
More than two dozen states, including Indiana, are challenging a new Biden administration rule that forces U.S. power plants to stifle greenhouse gas pollution, calling it an unlawful bid to remake the nation’s electricity system.
Tough new EPA rules would force coal-fired power plants to capture emissions or shut down
New limits on greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel-fired electric plants are the Biden administration’s most ambitious effort yet to roll back planet-warming pollution from the power sector, the nation’s second-largest contributor to climate change.
New EPA rule says 200 US chemical plants must reduce toxic emissions that are likely to cause cancer
More than 200 chemical plants nationwide will be required to reduce toxic emissions that are likely to cause cancer under a new rule issued Tuesday by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Supreme Court seems skeptical of EPA’s ‘good neighbor’ rule on power plant pollution
The U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority seemed skeptical Wednesday as the Environmental Protection Agency sought to continue enforcing an anti-air-pollution rule in 11 states while separate legal challenges proceed around the country.
Hamer: Commercial property environmental due diligence
Many new property owners and lessors also aren’t aware of — and don’t budget for — the duty to perform ongoing obligations in order to keep whatever legal defenses they may have from their environmental site assessment.
Alson and Pashos: Judicial deference to administrative agencies in 2024
In the four decades since Chevron was decided, it has been cited in more than 18,000 cases. Today, however, the future of the “Chevron deference” is uncertain.
Sugarman: Change coming to judicial review of agency action in Indiana?
Two cases currently pending before the United States Supreme Court have the potential to change the face of administrative law at the federal and, perhaps, state level by eliminating or significantly curtailing Chevron deference.
Holcomb signs first bill of 2024, rolls back wetlands protections
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb signed the first bill to hit his desk in the 2024 legislative session: one further eroding wetlands protections by redefining certain, protected wetlands to a less regulated class.
A little fish at the Supreme Court could take a big bite out of regulatory power
In a Supreme Court term increasingly dominated by cases related to former President Donald Trump, the justices are about to take up lower profile cases that could rein in a wide range of government regulations affecting the environment, workplace standards, consumer protections and public health.
Environmental groups want stronger rules for use of coal ash fill after EPA reveals new risks
In a draft risk assessment published last month by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as part of a proposed broader revision of its coal ash management rules, the agency now says using coal ash as fill may create elevated cancer risk from radiation.
Supreme Court will hear challenge to EPA rule limiting downwind power plant pollution in 10 states
The Supreme Court will hear arguments in February on whether the Environmental Protection Agency can continue enforcing its anti-air-pollution “good neighbor” rule in 10 states.
Following her curiosity: Chief Environmental Law Judge Davidsen preparing for retirement after 20 years
The path to judgeship wasn’t a straight shot for Chief Environmental Law Judge Mary Davidsen, but she let her curiosity lead her along the way.
EPA delays new ozone pollution standards until after 2024 election
The Environmental Protection Agency is delaying plans to tighten air quality standards for ground-level ozone—better known as smog—despite a recommendation by a scientific advisory panel to lower air pollution limits to protect public health.
Biden goes west to talk about his administration’s efforts to combat climate change
President Joe Biden will travel to Arizona, New Mexico and Utah next week and is expected to talk about his administration’s efforts to combat climate change as the region endures a brutally hot summer with soaring temperatures, the White House said Monday.
Deep sea mining permits may be coming soon. What are they and what might happen?
The International Seabed Authority — the United Nations body that regulates the world’s ocean floor — is preparing to resume negotiations that could open the international seabed for mining, including for materials critical for the green energy transition.
Bill seeks to prevent federal takeover of Indiana air pollution program
Indiana’s air pollution permitting program is low on money, edging toward violation of the federal Clean Air Act — and a potential U.S. Environmental Protection Agency takeover. And it’s because air pollution is decreasing.