Holcomb orders inspection of toxic material from Ohio
Gov. Eric Holcomb said Thursday he is ordering third-party testing of hazardous materials being transported from the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment to a landfill in Putnam County.
Environmental Issues
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Holcomb objects to decision to ship toxic materials to Indiana landfill
Gov. Eric Holcomb said Tuesday that he strongly objects to the EPA’s decision to transport hazardous materials from the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment to a facility in western Indiana, a nearly 400-mile journey.
Manufacturer to pay $9.8M for environmental cleanup at Elkhart Superfund site
A furniture manufacturer has agreed to pay $9.8 million to fund cleanup efforts at an Elkhart federal Superfund site.
District court rules against CAFO, Corps
A ditch system dug nearly 100 years ago to drain Beaver Lake, formerly the largest natural lake in Indiana, is at the center of a legal battle between a 4,350-dairy cow CAFO and the neighboring Newton County residents.
In Senate debate, McDermott goes on offensive against incumbent Young
The first and only debate among the three Indiana candidates for U.S. Senate gave Democratic hopeful Tom McDermott a rare opportunity to verbally spar with Republican Sen. Todd Young, who is seeking another six-year term as the state’s senior senator.
Biden administration launches environmental justice office
President Joe Biden’s top environment official visited what is widely considered the birthplace of the environmental justice movement Saturday to unveil an office that will distribute $3 billion in block grants to underserved communities burdened by pollution.
BP reaches $2.75M deal over Indiana refinery pollution
Oil titan BP reached a $2.75 million settlement Thursday over air pollution from its largest refinery after environmentalists complained of repeated emissions violations at the Whiting facility in Indiana.
Biden signs massive climate and health care legislation
President Joe Biden signed Democrats’ landmark climate change and health care bill into law on Tuesday, delivering what he has called the “final piece” of his pared-down domestic agenda, as he aims to boost his party’s standing with voters less than three months before the midterm elections.
Oil processing facility in Indianapolis agrees to $310K penalty, clean emissions
Metalworking Lubricants Co. will pay a $310,000 penalty to federal and state agencies for allegedly violating the Clean Air Act by emitting more than 25 tons of hazardous air pollutants per year at its used oil processing facility in Indianapolis.
U.S. Supreme Court limits EPA in curbing power plant emissions
In a blow to the fight against climate change, the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday limited how the nation’s main anti-air pollution law can be used to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants.
Harrell & Oriola: 5 steps for implementing measurable ESG strategy
The immense amount of work to achieve carbon “net zero” or “net negative” milestones is a global Rubik’s Cube and means that we cannot afford the luxury of perfection. Perfectionism in sustainability is unsustainable. Yet implementing the “good” instead of waiting for the “perfect” — especially in the fast-paced and sometimes ambiguous world of environmental, social and governance (ESG) — is not easy.
Fort Wayne businesswoman sentenced for illegally storing hazardous waste, falsifying document
The former president of a Fort Wayne business that portrayed itself as an environmental services company providing waste management services has been sentenced in federal court, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday.
Biden finalizes rule restoring broad review of big projects
The Biden administration is restoring federal regulations guiding environmental reviews of major infrastructure projects such as highways and pipelines that were scaled back by the Trump administration in a bid to fast-track the projects.
New law will remove DNR oversight of dams near city of Peru
Homeowners in a lake-filled housing development in northern Indiana will no longer be on the hook for major repairs to six aging dams under a new state law.
Justices to weigh limits on reach of Clean Water Act
The Supreme Court said Monday it will consider reining in federal regulation of private property under the nation’s main anti-water pollution law, the Clean Water Act.
Justices turn away VW appeals over emissions scandal suits
The Supreme Court on Monday turned away appeals from Volkswagen that sought to stop state and local lawsuits related to the 2015 scandal in which the automaker was found to have rigged its vehicles to cheat U.S. diesel emissions tests.
Judge OKs $626 million settlement in Flint water litigation
A judge on Wednesday approved a $626 million deal to settle lawsuits filed by Flint residents who found their tap water contaminated by lead following disastrous decisions to switch the city’s water source and a failure to swiftly acknowledge the problem.
High court adds climate change, immigration cases to docket
Over the objections of the Biden administration, the Supreme Court agreed Friday to consider a climate change case that could limit the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to curb greenhouse gas emissions. The court also said it would hear a Republican-led immigration challenge.
Federal court tosses finding that Clean Water Act does not apply to Newton County CAFO
Finding the Army Corps of Engineers did not follow its own guidance and procedures, the Northern Indiana District Court has thrown out the Corps’ decision that a concentrated animal feeding operation built on a former wetland in Newton County is not under federal regulation.
Indy environmental cleanup case partially remanded on liability questions
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has vacated an Indiana Southern District Court ruling in an environmental cleanup dispute in Indianapolis, finding its determinations on apportionment and allocation of liability required remand.