Environmental group warns against revival of crippling policy measure in 2015

Ahead of Indiana’s 2015 legislative session, the Hoosier Environmental Council has raised concern that lawmakers will revive a measure that would prohibit Indiana regulators from implementing stricter environmental standards than allowed under federal guidelines.

Jesse Kharbanda, executive director of Hoosier Environmental Council worries that if the measure is approved, it could tie the hands of agencies like the Indiana Department of Environmental Management from acting in cases that require immediate attention.

The proposal would allow for lawmakers to craft legislation with stricter guidelines in the three to four months that they convene at the beginning of the calendar year.

House Bill 1143 was introduced in the 2014 session as a means to keep the government from overregulating, but failed to pass.

The Hoosier Environmental Council also cited budgeting for the Clean Water Indiana program as a focal point in the General Assembly in the coming session.