Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
The Indiana Senate has passed controversial legislation that would repeal state oversight of wetlands.
The Senate approved Senate Bill 389 by a vote of 29-19 on Monday afternoon. Nine Republicans joined 10 Democrats in opposing the measure. The bill moves to the Indiana House for consideration.
The bill, authored by Republican Sen. Chris Garten of Charlestown, would eliminate any state regulation of wetlands.
Wetlands would still be regulated by the federal government under the Clean Water Act, but that oversight would apply to only about 20% of the remaining wetlands because of how former President Donald Trump’s administration defined wetlands.
President Joe Biden’s administration could change the definition, but that has not happened yet.
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and several environmental groups are opposed to the bill. But farmers and developers support the legislation and have argued that the state regulation has become an unnecessary burden.
According to IDEM, 85% of Indiana’s wetlands have already disappeared over the years and officials are concerned about losing protections for the remaining 15% because wetlands have several environmental benefits, such as preventing flooding by absorbing water, providing a habitat for wildlife and helping with water quality.
But Garten argues that IDEM is over-regulating what’s known as isolated wetlands, meaning they are surrounded by dry land instead of any waterway, and farmers and developers are being harmed.
“I have major concerns that our farmers are being singled out,” Garten said.
Sen. Karen Tallian, D-Portage, said the legislation is just trying to help a handful of farmers and developers who have complained about IDEM’s mitigation requirements.
“I find myself saying, ‘Does that mean we get rid of the entire program?’” Tallian said.
Sen. Sue Glick, R-LaGrange, said IDEM’s regulatory practices need to be tweaked, but dissolving all oversight is not the solution.
“When I have a problem with a state government agency, I go to the agency… and I discuss matters with them,” Glick said.
Republican Sen. Mark Messmer, who is a co-author of the bill, said he did try to talk to IDEM about the complaints he was hearing from constituents.
“You know what the response was?” Messmer said. “Crickets chirping.”
The bill would also dismiss any pending appeals to IDEM mitigation orders, and that is another detail several Democrats voiced concerns about.
Tallian said there are seven cases that would be dismissed if this bill became law.
“As an attorney, I don’t believe that I have an ethical ability to do that … to just legislate over pending cases,” Tallian said.
Senate Minority Leader Greg Taylor said that aspect of the bill is “a direct violation of separation of powers.”
“This would get rid of every administrative or judicial case that is pending right now,” Taylor said. “We are the Legislature. We are not administrative law judges. We are not judicial officers.”
Please enable JavaScript to view this content.
Sheesh. I can’t wait to see how this affects things in 20 years.
Such a Hoosier thing to do, just pillage the earth.
o
We don’t need wetlands. We don’t need wildlife. All we need is to protect the right of individuals and companies to MAKE MORE MONEY!! Oh – and let’s not forget our elected representatives. They need to keep changing the laws to benefit their special interest constituents to ensure they are able to raise enough campaign funding to buy a ridiculous amount of signs and tv commercials beating down their opponents so they don’t get voted out by a lesser qualified opponent… perfect.
let them develop, then let them flood. Wait, then they would ask for some kind of public assistance.
Indiana just gets worse all the time. What a waste.
Agree with you all. But maybe it will be amended in conference committee. I hate to give up hope
Thanks for the positive thoughts Mary B. It’s the better approach.
This is a sad day for Indiana, but yes, Mary B., we can’t lose hope.
(Dan speaking)
It’s now in the House. When it’s assigned to committee (Environment or Agriculture, I expect), we need to put full pressure on those legislators–particularly from voters in their districts.
I am disturbed by how quickly this dangerous bit of legislation slithered through the Senate.
Our Senate has no sense of the importance of wetlands now, and for future generations. Just pillage and plunder and to hell with future generations.
It’s outrageous that our lawmakers are passing this legislation at the expense of the environment and community to line the pockets of the few.